Media Releases

 The Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty, today welcomed the announcement that Grampians Regional Tourism Board will receive $500,000 through the Coalition Government’s $2.5 million Tourism Floods Recovery Program to promote regional tourism destinations affected by the floods.

The grant will be used for a long term recovery plan. This will include not only growing visitation but ensuring business resilience towards natural events such as floods.

The Coalition Government through Tourism Victoria will work in conjunction with the Grampians Regional Tourism Board to deliver Tourism Excellence workshops and leadership programs focused on media training, business profitability, environmental sustainability and crisis preparedness.

The grant will go a long way in developing the resources and skills to be better prepared to respond to crises, so as to lessen the impact on tourism operators and the local economy,” Mr Delahunty said.

A further $475,000 has also been allocated to support event development and public relations activities for the regions significantly affected by the floods.

Mr. Delahunty said the floods did enormous damage to western Victorian roads including Grampians Tourist Road, a key tourist route which links Dunkeld and Halls Gap.  This road sustained extensive damage after heavy rains in January opened last month.

“The repair works were part of a range of measures by the Coalition Government to restore and repair Victoria's flood-damaged parks as well as a targeted national media campaign to encourage visitation.”

This included profiling the Grampians to an 800,000 strong national audience on the Channel Nine’s Today show.

As a result of the first $1 million allocation to the Tourism Flood Recovery Program in January, strong visitation during peak times such as Easter was recorded in parts of regional Victoria. 

“The Coalition Government has announced an additional $1.5 million of relief funding as part of the 2011-12 State Budget to assist to bring tourists back to our outstanding regional areas,” Mr Delahunty said.

In April the Coalition Government announced a multi-million dollar package to assist in restoring the Grampians National Park. Almost $5.5 million was set aside in the 2011-12 Budget to repair extensive damage to visitor infrastructure, roads, walking trails, wildlife habitat and traditional sites.

“This is great news for tourist operators in the Grampians as well as visitors to western Victoria during the school holidays,” Mr Delahunty said.

 The Casterton Kelpie Festival, Hamilton Eisteddfod, as well as Horsham’s Blue Ribbon Speedway Carnival and Volleyball Victoria country championships were among regional events highlighted by the Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty in Parliament this week.

Mr Delahunty also encouraged members of Parliament to visit the Wartook Valley or consider coming along to the Casterton Kelpie Festival next year.  Mr Delahunty said the Kelpie Festival is a “great event to go to, with the high jump and the hill climb for kelpies, as well as the opportunity to buy a great kelpie.”

Members were impressed to hear about the top price this year for the sale of a kelpie was $9000.

Progress on important economic developments in the region was also highlighted, with the commencement of works for the Illuka rail project and the Wimmera Freight Hub last week.

Mr Delahunty advised the Parliament the Illuka project is “expected to reduce truck movements by 20,000 a year in Western Victoria.” 

Both the Illuka project and the Wimmera Freight Hub development will see rail infrastructure built which is intended to reduce truck movements in the region, a good outcome for our communities and highways.