$10 mill for Sovereign Hill

REGARDLESS of which party wins the Federal election next month, Sovereign Hill will be getting ten million dollars.

The money will go towards an improved entry to the site, works at the diggings exhibit and the Gold Museum.

It was announced by Federal tourism minister Simon Birmingham last weekend from funds included in the budget but not detailed on budget night.

The move was quickly matched by Federal member for Ballarat, Catherine King.

“A Shorten Labor government, if elected on May 18, will invest $10 million in upgrading this facility,” she said at Sovereign Hill on Saturday afternoon.

“We know the entrance has not been upgraded for a long period of time and also the gold panning area.

“There’s a lot more that need to be done here but this is a great start to making sure that this iconic tourist attraction… can continue, not just today but into the future.”

Because the funding announcement was part of the recent Federal budget, and that document is yet to be passed by parliament and dependent on the outcome of the election, any spending needs both sides to commit for it to happen.

That commitment was something Ms King said she was quick get.

“I spoke to the shadow tourism minister [Anthony Albanese] this morning and he knows this facility well, having visited here in the past… and he was very pleased to join me with announcing this today,” she said.

In a Coalition press release detailing the $10 million, Liberal candidate for Ballarat, Timothy Vo, praised the living museum’s tourism and educational role.

“Sovereign Hill is an iconic tourist destination that brings Victoria’s gold rush era to life,” Mr Vo said.

“Thousands of school kids have explored Sovereign Hill’s main street and experienced the stunning sound-and-light show, and I’m delighted this funding will see this occur well into the future.”

The Federal tourism minister said the decision to allocate the money was due to Mr Vo’s support of the issue.

Mr Birmingham also took the opportunity to champion the Liberal candidate’s credentials.

“Having a candidate like Timothy, with a strong educational background and strong commitment to regional development, is so important in growing a region,” Senator Birmingham said.

“His advocacy, in making sure local projects get backed, such as this Sovereign Hill upgrade, is the type of thing you want to see in a local MP, someone who’s committed to growing jobs, creating new opportunities and getting things done.”

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Samantha McIntosh welcomed the funding announcements from both sides.

She said as the 50th anniversary of Sovereign Hill drew closer, increased cash was key to the continued success of the city’s major “drawcard.”

“As we near Sovereign Hill’s 50th anniversary, this project is a once in a generation major upgrade of this popular, multi-award-winning museum,” she said.

“The funding will support an extensive upgrade of Sovereign Hill’s historical, entertainment and commercial products to better meet contemporary expectations of its visitors.”