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Shire seeks action on Corner Inlet

It’s time: campaigner for the Long Jetty restoration, Paul MacPhail urges the local community to attend the meeting on November 28.

TOURISM in the local region is set for a major boost with millions being sought for a major Corner Inlet project.
The South Gippsland Shire Council will vote tomorrow, Wednesday, November 23 on a bold tourism proposal that would see an injection of $1.5 – $2.1 million for the Corner Inlet Tourism Development Project.
This major tourism project comprises four already identified priority projects including Port Welshpool’s Long Jetty restoration, the Great Southern Rail Trail extension from Foster to Welshpool, a feasibility study including detailed design of the Port Welshpool Marina development and the dredging of the Toora Channel.
Talking to The Star after a meeting in Melbourne with Regional Development Victoria last Friday former South Gippsland Shire Tourism Coordinator and now Manager Customer Relations Christian Stefani said this new project has created a lot of excitement.
“A lot of work has gone into this project over many years and we are all very excited,” Mr Stefani said.
“The Council, CEO Tim Tamlin,  the Mayor Warren Raabe and community groups have been working hard to see these four priority projects go ahead,” he said.
Following the council’s decision on the major funding for the project a Community Consultation meeting will be hosted by Regional Development Victoria at Port Welshpool on November 28.
Mr Stefani said this meeting would primarily be an update on the work and findings of the Long Jetty Project Control Group, appointed by the Deputy Premier and Member for Gippsland South, Peter Ryan.
The other three major components of the Corner Inlet Project would be addressed and Mr Stefani said there would be some indication of the total costings of the whole project, estimated to run into multi millions of dollars.
“The council would be seeking major funding from the Federal and State governments for the Corner Inlet Tourism Development Project,” Mr Stefani said.
Mr Ryan committed $3 million in funding for the restoration of the Long Jetty before the last State election and Mr Stefani said that offer still stands.
Long time Save the Jetty campaigner and Welshpool and District Advisory Group President Paul Macphail said, “The $3 million funding is not quite enough so the shire will be looking to government to secure more funding.”
“It is very important that the local community attend the meeting on November 28 and give their opinions about the importance to the region of the Long Jetty,” Mr Macphail said.
“We need it fixed, is what the Port Welshpool community needs to say to this meeting,” he said.
“The Long Jetty is a lovely old structure and will become a tourist attraction once it has been restored.
Mr Stefani said the Corner Inlet project is significant not just for South Gippsland but for the Wellington Shire and indeed the whole region.
“There would be tourism benefits for the whole State,” he said.
“We have an overwhelming reliance on natural attractions for tourism in this region and there hasn’t been a lot of tourism infrastructure and this project offers multiple facets and would offer huge benefits for the region.
“This is really a bold move by council.”
South Gippsland Shire Chief Executive Officer Tim Tamlin said, “Corner Inlet is one of the most pristine beautiful locations in the world, and up until now we haven’t been in a position to capitalise on it.”
“Over the past ten years we have carefully managed our financial position back to health, and this now provides us with a window of opportunity to leverage funds to obtain appropriate grants from the Federal Regional Development Australia Fund (which is currently calling for Expressions of Interest) and the State Government Regional Growth Fund.”
“Much work has already been done with local community groups and State Government departments to bring these projects to an ‘investment ready’ stage,” he added.
“The Gippsland Regional Plan has a clear focus on Tourism and Development projects, so it is timely that Council takes this synergistic approach and aligns its priorities with those of the State and Federal Governments to capitalise on funding opportunities and build on the advocacy work we have done over the past year.”

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Posted by on Nov 22 2011. Filed under Featured, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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