Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast attracts 2.6 million visitors a year and projects like the Timboon’s streetscape upgrade give visitors even more incentive to explore the hinterland.
The project has provided new street furniture such as seating, picnic tables, bike racks, and bins – improvements designed to encourage people to enjoy the town’s central area, visit the shops, and spend money in the local businesses.
The streets have been landscaped and the public open space has been increased with the creation of a new grassed plaza area, which will be available for events, markets and community activities.
Pedestrians now have improved access between the CBD, nearby car parks, the Timboon Railway Park Precinct and rail trail.
The works also connect to Timboon Fine Ice Cream, which the Victorian Government is also supporting with a $150,000 grant to deliver several upgrades that will lead to the creation of 11 new jobs in town.
Unni Menon of Regional Development Victoria’s Barwon office says regional communities are incredible places to live, visit and explore – and investments like this make a big difference to small towns.
The Victorian Government is committed to building the visitor economy, as it is crucial to the future economic development of regional Victoria, contributing $11.5 billion to the state’s regional economy and supporting 114,400 regional jobs.
“We have so many fantastic towns and experiences on offer for visitors to the Barwon region – with added investment and infrastructure improvements, these are even more attractive to visitors, and more liveable for locals,” says Unni.
“Corangamite Shire Council has delivered the Timboon Streetscape project, with support of a $400,000 Victorian Government grant,” Unni says.
The Victorian Government’s contribution is part of its Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, which is driving job creation, new investment and infrastructure across regional Victoria.