Cr Helena Kirby, Mayor attended an important funding announcement by The Hon Lily D'Ambrosio, MP last week in Ballarat.
The State Government announced $500,000 to help transition one of Victoria’s strongest renewable energy regions towards a thriving low-carbon economy.
The Grampians New Energy Taskforce (GNeT), of which Golden Plains Shire is a member via the Central Highlands Regional Partnership, will use the funding to develop a roadmap to transition the region to a low-carbon economy by 2050.
GNeT includes all 11 Grampians Local Government areas, the Central Highlands and Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Partnerships, RDA Grampians, Wimmera Development Association and the Committee for Ballarat. DELWP (the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning) is providing the secretariat for the GNET working group.
The State Government will also provide $50,000 to Federation University TAFE Australia to develop a business case for an Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre in Ballarat. The proposed training centre would produce an industry-recognised skilled workforce to construct, install and maintain renewable energy infrastructure. The proposed Training Centre in Ballarat has the potential to boost local jobs in the renewable energy sector, which could mean more jobs for Golden Plains Shire residents.
Read the State Government media release here.