INCREASED tourism thanks to the Silo Art Trial has invigorated Rupanyup residents to further pursue plans for new retail precinct.
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Plans include creating a plaza on Cromie Street to incorporate a larger supermarket, a number of specialty shops and market piazza.
Enterprise Rupanyup has been working on the project since 2013.
The group’s chairman Malcolm Uhe said the community banded together after a number of shops closed in town.
“We decided that the most important thing we wanted in the town was a new shopping precinct, particularly with a full service supermarket,” he said.
“We’re hopeful that existing pharmacy depot, which got burnt out 18 months ago and is now operating out of temporary premises, will now move in to become part of that.
“Also getting a bakery in there as all the tourists tell us they want a bakery in the town.”
He said the group had undertaken serious groundwork to get to their stage they were currently at.
“We’ve done designs, spoken to the current owners of the property to see whether they’re willing to sell and we’re raising money,” he said.
“We need about one million dollars to pull this project off, and the key element to that will be state government funding through Regional Development Victoria.”
Support and funding for the project has come from the Rupanyup Bendigo Bank, the Yarriambiack Shire Council and the federal government.
“We have about half (the funding), and we need the other half from the state government; we feel positive after Jaala’s visit today,” he said.
He said the precinct would help boost the town’s economy.
“It will be a lifeblood for the town,” he said.
“The Silo Art Trial has brought lots of visitors to the town and they need somewhere where they can go to different shops.
“The locals have to travel to Horsham to get most of their stuff, an that’s becoming more difficult due to age and it’s a long way to go.”
Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford visited Rupanyup on Wednesday and spoke to locals about their plans.
“We’re not quite there at the moment to make an announcement of funding,” she said.
“It’s good to get out here and see how much this means to the community.”
