Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash and Federal Members for Gippsland and McMillan, Darren Chester and Russell Broadbent, have announced the members of the Latrobe Valley Regional Jobs and Investment Packages (RJIP) Local Planning Committee today.
- $20 million to drive economic growth and create jobs in the Latrobe employment region
- Funding will be invested across three streams – local infrastructure projects, business innovation grants and skills and training.
- Local Planning Committees will lead the program in the Latrobe region
Mr Peter Ceeney has been nominated chair of the committee along with the following members:
- Mrs Sue Abbott
- Mr Gary Van Driel
- Mr Richard Elkington
- Mr Brian Stevens
- Ms Mary Aldred
“These leaders are the drivers of their community and know their region best, this package will be locally led through this Local Planning Committee in line with our vision for the future, said Minister Nash.
“This Local Planning Committee will nominate the sectors of local industry the package will invest in.”
The Local Planning Committee will develop a local investment plan that will identify forward looking strategic growth sectors that drive economic growth and create jobs.
Mr Chester said there was an existing resource of regional development plans for the Latrobe Valley and the RJIP investment plan would complement these.
“There has been no shortage of reports, plans and documents between local, state and federal governments over the past 10 years, putting forward ideas to boost the Latrobe Valley economy,” Mr Chester said.
“These committee members bring with them a level of local experience and deep knowledge of those plans. They will seek to bring together these bodies of work in the new investment plan, so we can start funding projects as quickly as possible.”
Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent said once the investment plan was finalised, funding across all three streams of the programme would open for applications.
“This $20 million investment is designed to strengthen and stimulate long-term economic growth and deliver sustainable employment,” Mr Broadbent said.
“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel in determining our local economic priorities, but we do need to clearly articulate the priority investment areas for the purpose of the Latrobe RJIP.
“This is a great opportunity for the private sector to work with government on projects that are going to make the Latrobe Valley stronger.”
For more information, visit the Regional Jobs and Investment Package website.
