Community-minded people will be encouraged to share their big ideas to revitalise Shepparton’s town centre as part of the Liberals and Nationals positive plan for Victoria’s recovery.
Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh announced a new $30 million Local Shopping Strip Recovery Plan this week, which will support the Shepparton region to recover and rebuild.
This $30 million fund will provide grants of up to $500,000 for small businesses to join together and reinvigorate local shopping strips and town centres.
“The sheer volume of empty shop fronts I see in our formerly thriving regional towns is disheartening to see as I travel around the state,” Mr Walsh said.
“During lockdowns, local shopping strips were often the only places where locals could feel like a community. Our positive plan will set these spaces up for a better, brighter future.
“Local people know their town best. Filling empty spaces with pop-up shops, art installations or street fairs, and making practical improvements to outdoor dining spaces, parks, lighting and footpaths are just some of the ideas I’ve heard to date.
“The Nationals will provide a dose of positivity and bring vibrancy back to our country towns by funding communities to put pen to paper to plan out their future.”
Mr Walsh said further grants of up to $20,000 will also be available for marketing and promotional campaigns.
“Local people and businesses deserve a government that will actually work with them and support them to thrive. If elected in November, that’s exactly what the Liberals and Nationals will do,” Mr Walsh said.
“No more lockdowns. No more mask mandates or QR Code check-ins in low-risk settings. A positive plan to fix the healthcare crisis and to keep our schools open.
“Regional communities and local businesses have been slammed by unfair state-wide lockdowns and decades of neglect under Victorian Labor.
“The Liberals and Nationals will reverse this devastating trend by supporting communities in the Shepparton region to recover and rebuild.”
See The Nationals’ full plan for Victoria’s recovery at vic.nationals.org.au/recover-rebuild-2022