A funding grant of $35,000 will allow the Victorian Goldfields Railway to proceed with plans for the future.
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Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards announced the funding on Friday alongside representatives from the Victorian Goldfields Railway and Mount Alexander Shire.
The funding will support the VGR Service Reorientation – Business Case and Design stage one project from the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.
This funding will mean the VGR can now move forward with its plans for the future.
“The VGR is enormously popular as a tourist attraction in our region and its potential to attract even more tourists is immense,” Ms Edwards said.
“It is such an iconic and well respected organisation and the volunteers who run the VGR do an outstanding job”.
“I look forward to the completion of the business case and to continuing to advocate for the organisation’s future proposals”.
Starting in Maldon, the VGR runs through Muckleford and finishes in Castlemaine.
It was built and opened in 1880 and operated until the 1970s when bushfire damaged several bridges.
Upon closing, volunteers ensured the heritage railway was preserved and redeveloped as a tourist attraction.
The funding announcement follows on from the March opening of the Maldon to Castlemaine rail trail.
The 17.7 kilometre trail begins at Maldon Station, goes through Muckleford and ends at Castlemaine while running parallel to the heritage Victorian Goldfields Railway.
With $800,000 of funding from the state government’s Local Infrastructure Fund, the Maldon to Castlemaine rail trail project cost $1,011,000.
It is hoped that by improving the tourist offering in the Goldfields region, more people will come to stay in local towns, spending money in the local business and helping to boost the economy for local hotels, restaurants and businesses.
Head to www.vgr.com.au for more information on the Victorian Goldfields Railway.