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Northe Welcomes Regional Growth Fund Milestones •Regional Growth Fund delivers a record 1,500 projects •RGF has invested $17.2 million in 67 projects across the Morwell electorate leveraging $61.3 in total investment By Russell Northe - 30th July 2014 - Back to News · Coalition Government achieved in three years what Labor couldn’t in 11 years The Victorian Coalition Government’s $1 billion Regional Growth Fund has reached its 1500th project milestone. Member for Morwell Russell Northe welcomed Deputy Premier and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan’s announcement this week that the Coalition Government’s Regional Growth Fund had funded its record 1,500th project. "Over the past three years, the Regional Growth Fund has invested almost $420 million to support 1500 projects, leveraging $1.7 billion in total investment," Mr Northe said. "It is supporting local projects such as hall upgrades, upgrades to local parks and gardens, rail trails, tourism projects, repairing historical buildings and new community hubs. "It is helping local councils build and repair bridges, footpaths and roads, and investing in local businesses and farming enterprises to boost exports and create new jobs. "They key to the Regional Growth Fund is that we don’t dictate to communities what sorts of projects it should fund, they tell us. "This ensures the Regional Growth Fund invests in projects that are championed by the community and deliver real benefits to local people." Mr Northe said in the Morwell electorate the Regional Growth Fund had invested $17.2 million to deliver 67 local projects, leveraging $61.3 million in total investment. Mr Northe said this included: · $800,000 for the development of the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail · $340,000 for the Yallourn North Town Hall and Amenities Upgrade · $350,000 for Stirloch Constructions to develop and construct a precast concrete fabrication facility Mr Northe said Daniel Andrews and the Labor Party planned to scrap the Regional Growth Fund if elected to government in November, sending regional and rural Victoria backwards. "Without the Regional Growth Fund, key local projects such as the Wright Street Footbridge replacement in Traralgon would not have been possible," Mr Northe said. "Hall upgrades, redeveloped parks and gardens, vital industry support, rail trails, tourism initiatives, repairing historical buildings, new community hubs, or funding for bridges, footpaths and roads, is all at risk. "Regional and rural communities are only now beginning to recover from 11 years of Labor neglect, they cannot risk another four years of Labor." Media contact: 5133 9088
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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