Last Friday I was in Portland with the Minister for Regional and Rural
Development, Jacinta Allan, when she announced a Brumby Labor government
injection of $280 000 for the region, specifically for the Great South Coast
strategic plan. Great South Coast councils include the Colac-Otway, Corangamite,
Glenelg, Moyne and Southern Grampians shire councils, along with the Warrnambool
City Council. They will now be able to employ an executive support officer to
assist in a project identifying planning priorities for the next 20 years. Great
South Coast has many iconic tourist attractions that we are all well aware of
which draw people to the area, but it is resource rich and well positioned to be
a key engine driver in sustainable regional development.
It was great to see so many representatives from the councils
at last Friday’s gathering, and I am particularly pleased to support this
project, which will ensure that local councils work collaboratively and will
have a priority list for the region to enable them to engage with government so
that together we can grow and develop the economic and social base of the Great
South Coast.