By Michael Doran
Yarra Ranges Council’s Rivers and Ridges project package is a step closer to gaining $10 million in federal funding.
On Saturday 27 October in Kalorama, Casey MP Tony Smith announced that the council’s application for the Federal Government Regional Growth Fund initiative had progressed to a 16-project shortlist.
The package includes the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination’s first stage, Yarra Valley Trail stage one, RidgeWalk and the Warburton Recreation Precinct.
“A lot of work has gone into this and it’s really about tourism and local jobs,” Mr Smith said.
“The Yarra Ranges is the number one destination in Victoria and we want to bring more people here to see everything it has to offer.
“Many people have heard about different parts of the Yarra Valley and we want them to see the Dandenong Ranges as well.
“We know that active tourism, where people want to get out of their cars and do things is growing.”
Yarra Ranges Council’s environment and engineering director, Mark Varmalis, said the next stage was to submit the detailed business case to secure the $10 million grant.
“The detailed business case requires council to show that it has the capacity to make the project work and that all the funding contributions are secured,” he said.
“There is around $35 million of work to be done over the next two years or so.
“We expect the project to generate more than 750,000 new tourist visits, $80 million extra economic activity per annum and 535 new jobs in the area.”
“A lot of the local economy is only surviving on weekend tourism, but these projects will bring seven-day-a-week tourism, and will really boost the local economy.”
Yarra Ranges Mayor Len Cox said the projects would bring tourists from all around the world “to come and spend some time and dollars in our municipality”.
La Trobe MP Jason Wood said the RidgeWalk would open up new possibilities for both the local and tourism communities.
“Sometimes it can be pretty difficult to walk around the hills and this walk will link the whole area together,” he said.
“Also to capture the artistic and cultural experience is a great initiative.
“The history points and sculptures and the focus on art and the landscape – just as artists like Roberts, Boyd and Streeton found in their great works – brings a different aspect for visitors.”
Emma Jennings has recently opened a gallery in Sassafras and is excited about the place art will have in the project.
“As artists it’s great to be able to connect all of the spaces together, both as a resident and a creative person,” she said.
“It’s such a privilege to be connected with all of the other artists who have come to the hills to paint for hundreds of years and the indigenous community who have been doing it for much longer.”
