Advancing Country Towns
Advancing Country Towns* brings local knowledge and government resources together to develop solutions to the challenges of changing populations, industries and environments.
The $9.4 million investment aims to create new opportunity and improve quality of life for local people living in communities experiencing complex disadvantage. The program will work on improving links between local, regional and rural services in nine communities to ensure they respond appropriately to local needs.
The four year program (2011-2015) will focus on achieving better economic outcomes by building on the strengths of communities. Advancing Country Towns will also work to ensure people are able to take advantage of education, skills and training opportunities.
Project managers will work with local people, business and government to develop local funding proposals for grassroots projects that address identified needs in the community.
This program builds upon the solid work already under way in regional areas. All of the funded communities are addressing priorities linked to Community Plans, Regional Strategic Plans and other regional initiatives.
The communities benefiting from the investment are a mixture of townships and groups of towns. Groups of towns receive a larger allocation of funds to help cover wider geographical areas.
The four townships receiving $810,000 are:
- Benalla
- Colac
- Lakes Entrance
- Robinvale
The five groups of towns receiving $890,000 are:
- Alexandra, Eildon and Thornton
- Clunes, Creswick and Talbot
- Heywood, Condah, Myamyn, Miltown, Drumborg and Heathmere
- Mallee Track, Ouyen, Walpeup, Underbool, Cowangie and Murrayville
- Meeniyan, Koonwarra, Buffalo, Dumbalk, Tarwin, Tarwin Lower, Middle Tarwin, Venus Bay and Fish Creek
The Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development, Peter Ryan, officially launched the Advancing Country Towns program on Friday 8 July in Fish Creek.
Contact Us
For more information about the Advancing Country Towns program, please email Heather Whitaker, Program Manager, Advancing Country Towns.
* Advancing Country Towns was formerly two separate programs, Revitalising Regional Towns and Small Towns Adaptation.