Two significant Indi projects were awarded federal funding under the Growing Regions Program on Thursday. Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines congratulated Benalla Art Gallery on being awarded more than $2.9 million towards its redevelopment and expansion and Mansfield Shire Council for receiving more than $1.4 million to help fund the new Lords Reserve Pavilion.

“These are valued projects within the Benalla and Mansfield communities, and I am delighted to see them receive this funding,” Dr Haines said.

“I was pleased to write letters of support for these projects and to advocate for them in my Indi Budget Submission.”

The funding for the Benalla Art Gallery includes refurbishment of the existing galleries, visitor amenities, cafe and collections storage and management. While the new community sports pavilion at the Lords Reserve in Mansfield will be funded for changing room facilities and meeting spaces thatimprove social interaction and community engagement.

“This money will go a long way to bringing the long-term visions of the Art Gallery and the pavilion to life and will mean a great deal to the volunteers and organisations working hard behind the scenes to make these projects happen,” Dr Haines said.

The Growing Regions Program was established in October 2022 alongside the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program. Together the two programs account for $1 billion to be delivered for projects in regional, rural and remote Australia.

“This is the first round of funding to flow to the regions from these Australia-wide programs and I’m pleased that two of the 40 successful Growing Regions recipients are from Indi,” Dr Haines said.

“These programs provide necessary funding streams for projects in regional and rural communities.

“I’ve expressed to the government my disappointment and concern that there was no ongoing and increased funding for the Growing Regions and Regional Precincts and Partnerships programs in the federal budget and I will continue to fight for greater investment opportunities for regional communities.”

ENDS