BOOSTING tourism at the start of the Great Ocean Rd would help offset job losses with the closure of Alcoa’s Anglesea power station, according to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford.
Ms Pulford announced funding of $300,000 to improve road access to a new tourism precinct on the Great Ocean Rd.
One of the attractions in the new precinct is the $8 million Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie creating an expected 57 full-time equivalent jobs when it opens in early 2016.
Ms Pulford said the roads to the precinct were inadequate for a tourist attraction expected to attract 570,000 patrons by the end of its first year.
“Upgrading the access roads will cater for significant increases in traffic, enable them to carry larger vehicles like buses and coaches and provide a stopping option for buses away from the Anglesea Riverbank area,” she said.
“The project will also help attract businesses to the precinct, creating jobs and boosting tourism and local spending in off-peak holiday seasons.
“This project will boost the Surf Coast Shire’s tourism sector, which contributes about $84 million to the region each year and accounts for one in six jobs.”
The $600,000 Tourism Precinct Enabling Road Infrastructure Project is being managed by Surf Coast Shire Council, contributing $250,000.
The Great Ocean Road Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery will contribute $50,000.
