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An Edenhope caravan park owner says he was "astonished" after hearing the park would receive $1 million from the Victorian government's latest round of regional tourism funding.
On Tuesday, August 9, the state government announced more than $4 million across the region to go towards new cabins and amenities at several Wimmera caravan parks.
Included in the funding was $1 million for Edenhope Lakeside Tourism Park for a major renovation.
Park owner Chris Craig said the funding announcement was the culmination of hard work from West Wimmera Shire Council in pushing for tourism in the region.
"I have been in this industry for a long time, what people say and what people get sometimes tend to be two different things," he said.
"The council has done a wonderful job in getting it - and special thanks to the council members who worked so hard on our behalf."
The renovation will see all buildings at the park removed and replaced with a modern unit with a common room, kitchen and games area.
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Mr Craig said the renovation would result in a much-needed modernisation for the park and free up capacity for more lakeside views.
"It will bring more powered sites, and frees up some space for people to see the lake from the caravan park," he said.
"We hope that will bring more people to the park, which transcribers to more people buying stuff in the town. Anything that can help people come into town the better for the both of us."
Elsewhere in the Wimmera, $3 million will be spent on installing 16 new cabins across three of the region's shires.
Caravan parks in Dimboola, Jeparit, Rainbow, Minyip, Goroke, Harrow, Lake Charlegrak and Kaniva will get the new cabins.
Wimmera Mallee Tourism acting executive officer Wayne Street said the cabins would offer a wider variety of accommodation for tourists in the region.
"The motivation for it was that we have known for a long time that the Silo Art Trail has generated an emerging tourism market for the region and it started to flow onto places like the Stick Shed, Lake Tyrell and our national parks," he said.
"Our big gap has been with the range of accommodation. We have had a pretty good accommodation offering for people who bring their accommodation with them in an RV or tent, but not too much choice in terms of fixed accommodation."
The modular-style cabins will be accessible and come with sustainable features, such as rainwater tanks and solar panels.
The complete installation of the cabins is expected to finish by 2023, subject to building industry pressures and material availability.
Mr Street said the funding was a win for the region's tourism sector after a difficult past two years under the COVID pandemic.
"We have lost a third of the economic contribution tourism has made in the past three years," he said.
"Whilst it has been slightly offset from locals travelling around Victoria we have lost some interstate visitation."
EARLIER, Tuesday:
WIMMERA tourism is getting a big boost from the Victorian government, with an investment of more than $4 million across multiple accommodation sites in the region.
Wimmera Mallee Cabins will receive $3 million to construct 16 state-of-the-art cabins across its three caravan parks located in Hindmarsh, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack shires.
More than $1 million has also been allocated towards modernising Edenhope Caravan Park, increasing the park's capacity and providing visitors with a new common room with kitchen and games area.
Additional funding will also go towards Lilydale Pine Hill Caravan Park as part of the same round of funding.
The projects will generate up to 37 construction jobs and 13 ongoing employment positions, with works expected to be finished in 2023 and 2024.
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In 2019 more than 1.9 million visitors stayed overnight in a caravan park or campground in Victoria, delivering an important tourism stream to local communities - supporting businesses across the state including tourism and experience operators, hospitality businesses and retail outlets.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said the project looked to deliver more tourists to the Wimmera Southern Mallee region.
"Many Victorians have cherished childhood memories from stays at caravan and holiday parks across the state, which collectively provide more accommodation to domestic tourists than any other sector in Victoria," he said.
"These three projects will deliver even more holiday makers to Victoria's regions - and with even more to offer they'll stay longer, supporting local businesses and the people behind them."
Victorian Caravan Parks chief executive Scott Parker welcomed the investment.
"Caravan parks remain such an integral way for Victorians to explore and enjoy what this great state has to offer," he said.
"We thank the Victorian Government for this investment."
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