The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed confirmation of the final $1 million to allow works to commence in the Morwell town centre.
Mr Chester said the Federal Government was providing $2 million toward the Morwell CBD revitalisation project, which would improve lighting and deliver new trees and gardens to make the CBD greener and more pedestrian friendly.
The State Government yesterday confirmed it would contribute $1 million toward the project, allowing works to begin later this month.
Mr Chester said the project would support business owners who had invested their own resources into Morwell by making the CBD more attractive to customers. The project will create 12 jobs during the construction phase.
“Governments at all levels need to work together to build up the small business sector – it is the key to strengthening the local economy and creating more jobs in the Latrobe Valley,” Mr Chester said.
“The closure of Hazelwood has thrown us some challenges, but we must look to the future and work out how we can support the Morwell community to thrive.
“Part of the answer, I believe, lies in making the town’s central commercial area more attractive as a place to do business, shop and socialise.”
Mr Chester said the Federal Government funded new CCTV cameras in Morwell CBD which were switched on last month and provided real-time feeds into the Morwell Police Station.
Other federally-funded projects under construction include Morwell Recreation Reserve upgrades ($5 million from the Federal Government), Morwell-Traralgon Shared Pathway ($1.6 million), the Traralgon West clubrooms ($300,000), Churchill hockey pavilion ($200,000), and Rosedale Streetscape and road safety improvements ($2 million).
“These projects will deliver long-standing benefits to our community to make the region more attractive to live and visit,” Mr Chester said.
“But there’s more to be done – and I will continue working to make sure the Latrobe Valley receives its fair share of government funding and resources for a prosperous future.”
