Pedal to the metal

By Kath Gannaway
THE State and Federal Governments have come good with $2.3 million to buy and fit out the Marysville Motor Museum building into a business precinct.
The announcement, made on Monday, follows months of lobbying by the Marysville and Triangle Development Group who have argued the building could provide an interim business hub to facilitate the economic recovery of the town.
Premier John Brumby said the Victorian Government would invest $1.15 million while the Rudd Government has pledged $1.2 million through its $650 million Jobs Fund to fit-out the building, including constructing car parking facilities, lighting, signage and draining.
MATDG chairman Graeme Brown welcomed the announcement saying he believed the building had already been bought and the plan would be to get it fitted out and call for expressions of interest very quickly.
“The thinking has been to put tenants in to operate their businesses and get cash flows going while they can then take the time they need to re-build their businesses in the main street,” Mr Brown said.
“Once the recovery and rebuilding phase has finished, it will revert fully to community use,” he said.
Mr Brumby said the facility would provide a major boost to the local economy.
“It will help get the Marysville community back on its feet by providing commercial operators with low-cost interim accommodation, but also important retail services to the community as it rebuilds,” he said.
Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction, Bill Shorten, also welcomed the injection of funds saying it would provide an important meeting space and community centre and make a real difference in the recovery of the Marysville community and create 48 jobs, three traineeships and four work experience positions.
A management committee chaired by the authority and including representatives from the local, Victorian and Commonwealth Governments as well as relevant community representatives would be established to co-ordinate the fit out, operation and management of the facility.