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 is 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) has a focus on achieving better economic outcomes by building on the strengths of communities. Advancing Country Towns is also working to ensure people are able to take advantage of education, skills and training opportunities.
Project managers have been working 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 four townships and five groups of towns. Each township is receiving $810,000. Groups of towns are receiving $890,000.
Information about each project is available at the links below.
The four townships:
The five groups of towns:
- Eildon, Thornton and Alexandra
- Clunes, Creswick and Talbot
- Heywood, Lake Condah, and surrounding towns (Condah, Myamyn, Miltown, Drumborg and Heathmere)
- The Mallee Track (Ouyen, Walpeup, Underbool, Cowangie and Murrayville)
- The Lower Tarwin District (Meeniyan, Koonwarra, Buffalo, Dumbalk, Tarwin, Tarwin Lower, Middle Tarwin, Stony Creek, 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 2011 in Fish Creek.
Progress Report
Advancing Country Towns Progress Report July 2011 - September 2012 (Word 212 KB)
Contact Us
For more information about the Advancing Country Towns program, please email the Program Manager.
* Advancing Country Towns was formerly two separate programs, Revitalising Regional Towns and Small Towns Adaptation.