The Victorian Government is accelerating regional Victoria’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by investing in dozens of projects that create jobs, encourage visitors and support local communities.
Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas announced support of $500,000 for acclaimed tourist attraction Sovereign Hill in Ballarat – to back its Winter Wonderlights campaign to encourage more visitors.
The allocation is part of a $10 million investment in more than 50 projects through the Government’s Regional Recovery Fund – designed to address community needs and help businesses thrive.
Each year, Sovereign Hill is transformed into a winter wonderland with Christmas decorations, light projections and falling snow but due to the pandemic, the event was cancelled last year. The new funding will drive a marketing campaign to encourage more visitors over the winter months, including overnight visitation.
The campaign will support the region’s recovery from the pandemic, which severely reduced visitor numbers to Sovereign Hill – a major economic driver for the Ballarat region.
More support from the Regional Recovery Fund for local events will be announced in coming weeks. The fund addresses priorities identified by regional communities and is part of almost $30 billion invested by the Victorian Government in regional and rural Victoria since 2015.
Successful projects were identified based on their ability to provide an immediate economic response and assist with recovery efforts while also laying the groundwork for future growth.
For more information visit rdv.vic.gov.au.
Source: Vic Government