We've all heard the old saying 'pick your battles'. Some things are worth fighting for.
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This week the south-west finally received some good news on two key projects. Designs of a new $9.2m visitor viewing facility for the 12 Apostles were unveiled and then on Friday the state and federal governments made a joint announcement stage two works on upgrading Warrnambool's embattled train line were being fast-tracked.
Both projects are the results of long, energy-sapping campaigns. They were indeed worth fighting for.
The south-west is home to a spectacular coastline but for decades various agencies, groups and individuals have suggested we need to enhance visitors' experiences. For too long the Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles have been a day-trip for those prepared to venture to the western end. We have bemoaned the loss of potential tourism expenditure from overnight stays but anyone who has been to the 12 Apostles viewing platform on a sunny summer day knows it can be far from a pleasant experience.
This centre and platform will help draw tourists back to the region when the COVID-19 pandemic allows. The designs, three years in the making after consultation, centre on Indigenous themes, another positive.
Warrnambool's train line, one of the worst performing in the state for reliability and punctuality in the past decade, had been crying out for investment.
Persistent campaigning brought some success under the previous coalition state government before the state Labor government and Federal coalition government upped the ante.
The biggest hurdle to faster, new rolling stock, has been the track and signalling. Both aspects have been undergoing change, albeit slow progress. Friday's announcement that stage two works were being brought forward before the end of stage one upgrades was more than welcome. The only catch is the promise of new VLocity carriages are still two years away at the earliest.
Like the fight, upgrades take time. But the wait should be worthwhile.