$6m for makeover of Port Campbell streetscape

Corangamite Shire councillors will also tip in $5.3 million towards the project after it gave the tick of approval to its budget this week.

But the project is still awaiting a federal government investment of $5.6 million.

The project will provide a new amphitheatre along the foreshore, viewing platforms, picnic areas, major streetscape and road improvements, upgraded town entry from the Great Ocean Road and integrated artwork by Gunditjmara artist Dr Vicki Couzens.

The revitalisation project promises to put Port Campbell at the heart of the world-renowned Shipwreck Coast and will improve the quality and quantity of visitor experiences along the Great Ocean Road.

Mayor Ruth Gstrein said she was absolutely delighted with the announcement from the state government.

"This is the largest capital works project that Corangamite's ever had on its books. We see Port Campbell as a world-class destination and we really need to have a streetscape that reflects that," she said.

"We need to get this happening before we get international visitors coming back."

Ms Gstrein said that the last thing businesses, who had been hard hit by the pandemic, needed was to have the main street being dug up and inhibiting trade at a time when Australia's borders were opening up and international tourists were starting to return to the region.

Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas announced $6 million for the Port Campbell Town Centre Revitalisation Project as part of the Regional Infrastructure Fund - Stimulus Round.

The funding will also enable the Corangamite Shire Council to upgrade connections between the foreshore and the town centre and improve linkages between the 12 Apostles and Port Campbell National Park.

About 2.6 million visitors make their way to the 12 Apostles each year and these improvements will encourage more people to stay in the region longer, boosting the local economy.

The stimulus round aims to boost local economies as they recover from the effects of the pandemic and create jobs while improving tourism and community infrastructure.

"Whether you live on the land, in our smallest country town or a bustling regional city, we are making all our communities even better places to live, work, visit and invest," Ms Thomas said.

"This project will boost visitation along the Great Ocean Road while creating more jobs, ensuring Victoria continues to have our nation's most vibrant and successful regional economies."

Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said the first stage of the Port Campbell Town Centre Revitalisation project would support the town's economic development and liveability.

"We are delighted to invest in this important project," she said.

Cr Gstrein said the shire had been advocating strongly with Wannon MP Dan Tehan for the federal government to contibute to the project.

"Ultimately we'd like to see all three level of government come on board for this project," she said.

"It's transformational for Port Campbell and very needed. The streetscape there is looking very tired.

"It's really about trying to revamp the streetscape, make it more user friendly, make Port Campbell more of a destination, they stay longer, they spend more."

Councillor Jamie Vogels said he was ecstatic with the news saying Port Campbell needed a facelift.

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