Victorian Minister for Regional Development, Mary-Anne Thomas, today visited Bellbridge to announce a $120,000 grant towards the Lake Hume Masterplan.
“These projects will be a game changer in the region, supporting the community’s recovery while creating more jobs and supporting businesses to bounce back,” said Minister Thomas.
The Lake Hume Masterplan will be delivered by Towong Shire Council, with community input to guide a strategy that will attract more visitors to the area by identifying future accommodation options and scenic tours.
Lake Hume is a tourism destination used by locals and visitors for fishing, boating and swimming activities. The Masterplan will support the Towong Shire’s tourism industry to bounce back from challenges associated with the Black Summer bushfires and the pandemic.
It will also encourage local food and beverage businesses to invest in new opportunities to stimulate the local economy, the Minister said.
Starting in Bellbridge, the Great River Road project stretches approximately 150 kilometres along the Murray River, showcasing the peaks of the Snowy Mountains all the way to Khancoban in New South Wales with shared trails, picnic areas and artworks for motorists, cyclists and sightseers.
Construction is underway on the project’s second stage, backed by $5 million from the State Government’s Local Economic Recovery program. The second stage includes the Pine Mountain interpretive centre, which will highlight the Indigenous and natural history of the region featuring shelter, seating and picnic areas for visitors.
“We are unlocking the High Country’s tourism industry through these two exciting projects to support our local economy and increase the number of visitors to the region,” said Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes.
