Stewart McArthur (Corangamite, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to acknowledge a visit made last Wednesday to the electorates of Corangamite and Wannon by the Hon. Jim Lloyd. The minister met with representatives of the Surf Coast Shire and with its mayor, Councillor Libby Mears. They put forward propositions in relation to the tourist centre at Lorne, which was funded largely by the Commonwealth with assistance from state and local government. They raised the issue of the population that does not live in the electorate and also their concern about the allocation of federal funds. They acknowledged, as did the Colac Otway Shire, what a wonderful federal government initiative the Roads to Recovery program has been, with its additional funding of $300 million.

The minister also met with members of the Colac Otway Shire and its mayor, Councillor Warren Riches. They were concerned about their agricultural industries, including the dairy industry, and tourism on the Great Ocean Road. They too were delighted with the Roads to Recovery program.

The minister then visited the Twelve Apostles and Lock Ard Gorge on the Great Ocean Road. As you know, Mr Speaker, there is some debate about where the Great Ocean Road resides; most of it resides in the electorate of Corangamite and not in the electorate of Wannon. The road attracts 2.5 million tourists annually and the minister was most impressed with it. (Time expired)