An $800,000 Brumby Government grant is backing a major upgrade to one of Australia’s most popular surf walks.
The Surf Coast Walk from Torquay to Lorne – the walker’s equivalent of the Great Ocean Road – will be improved and extended under a $1.35 million Surf Coast Shire works program.
The Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said upgrading the walk would boost tourism and improve connections for local communities.
“The Surf Coast Walk is one of the region’s great tourist drawcards as well as a community-linking asset for residents,” Ms Tierney said.
“The Brumby Government is delighted to partner with Surf Coast Shire in upgrading and extending this important infrastructure.
“This is a major investment in developing an asset that will boost the regional economy through increasing tourism, enhance connections between communities and raise quality of life.
“I congratulate Surf Coast Shire on developing this important well-designed project to complement the region’s popularity as one of Victoria’s tourist drawcards.”
The works program will:
upgrading the existing trail to Australian standards and improving access points along the trail;
extending the walk to create connections to the existing trail; and
enhancing the walking experience with interpretative signage and infrastructure such as information boards and seating.
The grant is being made as part of the $7.6 million Provincial Pathways Program, which is developing pathways, walks and trails across Victoria, boosting tourism and providing transport infrastructure.
The Victorian Transport Plan has allocated an additional $5 million towards developing provincial pathways
The program is part of the Brumby Government’s Regional Infrastructure Development Fund – through Regional Development Victoria – which has provided $448.1 million to fund 216 projects worth more than $1.26 billion.