THE battle for Indi intensified on Monday when the highly sought after marginal electorate scored a funding bonanza from the federal government.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Indi had five of the 19 successful projects in Victoria awarded cash from the National Stronger Regions pool of funding.
The biggest winner in Indi was Towong Shire with $2.65 million for the Destination Tallangatta project.
Indigo Shire scored $900,000 for the Rutherglen economic revitalisation project and the Benalla airport upgrade received $715,000.
Yea saleyards ($363,000) and Mansfield youth hub ($200,000) were also successful.
Sophie Mirabella, the former Indi MP who is trying to win the seat back from independent Cathy McGowan at next year's election, made the funding announcements in Wodonga on Monday with Towong mayor David Wortmann and recently elected Indigo mayor James Trenery.
The only other Victorian electorates to get multiple projects funded were Wannon (three) and Mallee (two).
The Coalition government awarded Wodonga Council $10 million for CBD works in the first round of stronger regions funding earlier this year.
Indigo Shire has been successful in both rounds with Wahgunyah recreation reserve receiving $200,000.
Mrs Mirabella attempted to deflect attention away from the looming battle for Indi by congratulating councils on their successful applications.
"I know it is going to make an enormous difference in those towns," she said.
"I would like to think the hard work the councils did and their hard advocacy has paid off.
"We've been to Canberra, we've seen ministers and brought ministers into Indi to see first hand where the investment was really needed.
"We've seen some good investment over the border in Sussan Ley's electorate of Farrer.
"This government believes in not just supporting rural and regional communities, but building them up.
"I am not sure what Cathy has done, but as the Liberal candidate in Indi, these are Coalition policies, Coalition projects and Coalition funding grants."
Ms McGowan also congratulated the councils on their successful bids.
“The Indi way is working," she said.
"Clearly the more we are on the national radar, the more we are being heard.”
National Party candidate Marty Corboy was in Benalla to announce the airport upgrade funding.
"The stronger regions fund is a National Party initiative," he said.
"It is great to see it being rolled out across the electorate."
