Andrew Broad (Mallee, National Party, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

One of the things I always said when I was running as a candidate for the electorate of Mallee was I would look after the people in our country towns. We're very pleased to be announcing that we've got $16.8 million in the latest round of the Regional Growth Fund. Whilst last round we got $10 million for an indoor sports facility in Mildura, the country towns that also matter are the towns of Swan Hill, Robinvale, Koondrook, Charlton, Donald, Bridgewater, Boort, Wedderburn and Pyramid Hill. This money will transform the township of Swan Hill. Swan Hill has the river and the town. This will open up access so that people will very much have the river as a connection to their town. They'll be able to walk straight from their central business district to the beautiful parks that are going to be opened up to the town of Swan Hill.

There will also be waterfront beautification in Robinvale, a wonderful part of the world with pop-up cafes and restaurants. In Koondrook, there will be waterfront upgrades, so lots of things along the Murray River. In Charlton, we're going to put the weir boards back so there will be water in the main street of Charlton, a beautiful part of the world. And in Donald, there'll be walking paths and barbecue areas and upgrades to the Donald River precinct. In Bridgewater On Lodden, we'll upgrade the river foreshore. It's personally satisfying. I have only become the federal member for Bridgewater in the last redistribution but that's where I went to primary school and to actually get something for my own home town straight away is very good.

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