SIGNS promoting “hidden treasures” on French Island are among 200 projects to be paid for by the state government in metropolitan and regional towns having fewer than 5000 residents.
“Western Port Biosphere has received $8000 to deliver informative and visually striking signs for French Island to highlight the hidden treasurers that the island possesses,” Hastings MP Paul Mercurio said.
A further $50,000 would go to Mornington Peninsula Shire Council for a new amenities block at Bittern Community Hall. The shire would add another $50,000 towards the block.
Mercurio said the $20 million Tiny Towns Fund would “make our smallest communities even better places to live, work, stay and play”.
Victoria’s largest offshore island, French Island, is in Western Port and, according to the 2021 census, has a permanent population of 139 people. French Island National Park covers about 70 per cent of the island and is administered by Parks Victoria. Ferries depart Stony Point for the island daily and the operator Western Port Ferries urges passengers to “escape the overwhelming sights, sounds and distractions of modern day life and explore the idyllic, unknown and untouched” island. “So quiet it’s deafening is an apt description of this self-sustained island twice the size of Phillip Island,” the company’s website states.
Mercurio said the money for the French Island signs and Bittern hall was included in the first round of allocations from the Tiny Towns Fund. “The successful projects celebrate each community’s local spirit and will drive visitation to these vibrant towns,” he said. “The [fund] is just one of the ways we’re creating stronger communities, more tourism opportunities and backing more local jobs, with our $25 million council support package also helping get shovel-ready projects off the ground in our regional cities and surrounding towns.”
Mercurio’s Upper House colleague, MP for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh, said $22,000 from the fund was being given to Point Nepean Men’s Shed association to enlarge its workshop for additional equipment in its secondary building at Stringer Reserve, Blairgowrie.
Whitecliffs to Camerons Bight Foreshore Reserve management committee would receive $21,754 for water fountains, two bicycle repair stands and new all-accessible picnic tables.
“We’re backing the community and volunteers in the peninsula’s tiny towns with these terrific local projects,” he said.
“These investments will help small towns thrive with improved infrastructure for everyone to enjoy the best of what the peninsula has to offer.”
First published in the Mornington News – July 9, 2024
