Cottage by the Sea to get upgrade with federal grant

QUEENSCLIFF’S Cottage by the Sea will get $1.5 million for upgrades and new programs through the latest round of the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson visited the cottage on Sunday to announce the grant from the BBRF’s Infrastructure Projects stream.

The funding will cover half the cost of the cottage’s $3 million project to renovate and restore the Flinders Street building, open up programs to children with physical disabilities, broaden opportunities for staff with mobility/ accessibility issues and increase opportunities for volunteering to the Queenscliff region.

As well as Cottage by the Sea, other projects in the Geelong region to receive BBRF grants in this round include making the Apollo Bay Aquatic Centre an indoor pool ($180,000), installing lighting at King Lloyd Reserve for touch rugby ($269,000), and building three indoor multi-purpose indoor courts ($5 million) and a third soccer pitch with lighting ($360,500) in Torquay North.

Ms Henderson said the grants were a significant investment in the region’s future,with the five projects receiving more than $7 million.

Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government John McVeigh said the projects would deliver significant economic and social benefits to the community.

“Under round two of the Building Better Regions Fund – Infrastructure Projects stream, the Coalition Government is investing well over $200 million in 136 projects with a total leveraged project value of $459 million.

“This means, in each successful community much anticipated local projects are receiving the funds needed to take a big idea and make it a reality.”