The state government this week granted the university $9m to build a facility on the Sherwood Park campus to house a hydrogen research project.

The facility will house the Hycel Technology Hub that will aim to develop and manufacture hydrogen fuel technology with a focus on transport and heavy vehicles, storage and industry applications.

As part of the project, Deakin is looking to transition the Warrnambool campus from gas to hydrogen and convert the Warrnambool Bus Lines fleet to clean energy.

The federal government has already committed $2m to the project, which has seen a hydrogen test-bed created on the campus.

The hub is predicted to accommodate 290 jobs in research, manufacturing and the energy sector and foster learning and research opportunities for school groups, university students, community and industry.

The region's building industry is expected to get a further boost with about 78 jobs created during construction, which is slated to start in 2022.

The project is good news not only for a campus which faced closure back in 2016 but the region. It underlines why the community passionately fought for the campus to be given a lifeline. It also highlights the innovative thinking the community called for. Where there's a will, there's a way.

This week Warrnambool campus director Alistair McCosh described the planned hub as a facility of "national and international significance".

It has the potential to thrust the region into the spotlight like never before if the best minds assembled can achieve their goals. Research projects are never easy and time and patience are essential. The possibilities are significant and definitely help our environment.

Those behind the hub have every right to be excited - firstly for daring to dream and think outside the square - but secondly for harnessing business and government support. The campus' future looks bright and so too the region's.