Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Cardinia’s Princes Highway Trail is one step close to completion, with support from the Andrews Labor Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund backing construction of a crucial section in Officer.

Local Government Minister Shaun Leane and local Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing have announced that the project will receive $990,000 from the Growing Suburbs Fund.

The funding will help Cardinia Shire Council to complete the trail’s 2.6km section from Fairweather Parade to Heatherbrae Recreation Reserve in Officer with a sealed, dual-use cycling and walking path.

The completed shared pathway network will run from Beaconsfield to Racecourse Road in Pakenham and give local people access to important community, commercial and recreational facilities as well as opportunities to get active.

Through support for a wide variety of different projects like Princes Highway Trail, the $25 million expansion to the Growing Suburbs Fund will continue its strong record of job creation and investment in communities – an important contribution to recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Growing Suburbs Fund investment complements the Victorian $2.7 billion Building Works Package, which includes over $278 million in shovel-ready infrastructure projects across the state to be delivered through councils.

Since its establishment in 2015, the Growing Suburbs Fund has invested $275 million in funding 221 community projects. This has created more than 7470 jobs and leveraged more than $755 million in investment.

A full list of the successful projects is available at localgovernment.vic.gov.au/grants/growing-suburbs-fund.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“The Princes Highway Trail will help bring our community together and will be a great asset for Officer – linking people with the facilities they need and encouraging more cycling and walking.”

“It’s fantastic that the Government has been able to give the project support through the Growing Suburbs Fund.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane

“The Princes Highway Trail is a really worthwhile project and I’m pleased the Growing Suburbs Fund has been able to support it.”

“The Growing Suburbs Fund has built a legacy of investment in our fastest-growing communities – creating jobs and delivering the facilities communities need to thrive. This is going to be more crucial than ever as we recover from the impact of coronavirus.”