NORTHERN Grampians Shire Council has endorsed a new master plan to help bolster tourism and investment at Halls Gap.
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The key initiatives in the master plan will look at growing town events and attractions, upgrading Halls Gap village and developing public open space.
Northern Grampians Shire councillor Jason Hosemans said the master plan had been developed around a three horizons framework.
“Some of these measures can be implemented in a short time frame to shore up Halls Gap’s tourism activity, while others look to extract greater value from the trade already passing through town,” he said.
“The plan also focuses on new markets that will be created by iconic long-term projects like the Grampians Peaks Trail.”
Cr Hosemans said now presented the perfect time to focus on reinventing and re-energising the tourist town.
“Over the past few years there has been an increased awareness of the environmental values of the area, and the threat to these from development,” he said.
“This has resulted in a series of state government level planning reforms, which have placed restrictions on local development and forced us to to look at new approaches to achieve planning approval.
“With plans underway for the redevelopment of one of the main street sites and the opening of the Halls Gap Community and Tourism Hub, there is a great opportunity for the re-vitalisation of Halls Gap village.”
Grampians Tourism chief executive Will Flamsteed said council’s move to endorse the Halls Gap master plan was an outstanding result for the Grampians region.
“It has been on the drawing board for at least two years and we now have an opportunity to better service our visitors, appreciate their value and encourage longer stays,” he said.
“Parks Victoria, Regional Development Victoria and local community groups will be major stakeholders in the project.”
Mr Flamsteed said buildings not impacting on views to the national park and car park space were a priority. “We will work with council to offer visitors the best experience here and not diminish that in any way,” he said.