First RRP funding of $7m going to five projects in East Gippsland

The hard-hit region of East Gippsland in Victoria is set to receive $7 million in funding from the Commonwealth’s Regional Recovery Partnership (RRP) project.

The five projects selected for funding include:

• Krautungalung
  walk, Lakes Entrance ($2.2 million);
• East
  Gippsland Rail Trail ($2 million);
• Forest
  Park, Orbost ($1.3 million);
• Slip
  Road, Paynesville ($1 million); and
• Koala
  Discovery and Rehabilitation, Paynesville and Raymond Island $500,000.

Announcing the
successful projects this week, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the
Federal Government recognised East Gippsland has been one of the regions
hardest hit by the combined impacts of drought, bushfires and the coronavirus.

“The RRP
program reflects the Government’s commitment to working in partnership with
other levels of government to deliver targeted initiatives supporting jobs, economic
recovery and economic diversification,” he said.

The
successful projects all have funding commitments from the state or local
government and the capacity to be delivered over the next 12 months.

East
Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Mendy Urie said the Federal Government funding would
accelerate development on projects the Council had already identified as high priorities.

“We welcome
the funding announcement because it allows Council to bring forward projects we
had already part-funded by us or secured grants from other sources,” Cr Urie
said.

The Federal Government has committed $100 million over two years to fund Regional Recovery Partnerships in 10 regions whose economies have been impacted by Covid-19, including: 

• The
  Snowy Mountains; Hunter and Newcastle; and Parkes Regions (NSW);
• Cairns
  and Tropical North Queensland; Gladstone; and Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday Regions
  (Qld);
• all
  of Tasmania;
• Gippsland
  Region (Vic);  
• Kangaroo
  Island (SA); and
• The
  South West Region of WA.