Victoria's most famous coastal landscape has come into view following the structural completion of a rooftop lookout at the new Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre, a project that will change how domestic and international visitors experience the region.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, representing Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes, today visited the visitor centre site, which is under construction as part of a $126 million investment through the Geelong City Deal.
The Visitor Experience Centre and surrounding precinct will provide a world-class experience for the millions of people who visit the iconic destination each year, celebrating the area's cultural heritage and encouraging longer stays and increased spending in the region.
Completion of the rooftop structure represents the 'topping out' of the building, a significant milestone on the road to full completion late next year.
The milestone was marked with the planting of a Sheoak tree, the first ofan extensive revegetation program at the precinct, which is set to feature a rooftop garden alongside the new lookout.
The tree was chosen by the Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation and will complement a Welcome Garden at the precinct to celebrate the Eastern Maar community's cultural and environmental values.
The project is already delivering benefits while in the construction phase, creating up to 90 full-time positions.
A number of local businesses from Warrnambool, Colac, Geelong and Ballarat are involved in the project, providing a boost to the local construction sector and supply chains.
The Twelve Apostles Visitor Experience Centre is part of the Geelong City Deal, a $676 million investment by the Australian and Victorian governments to unlock the potential of the Great Ocean Road visitor economy.
The development of this major project follows the recent completion of other lookouts at the Twelve Apostles Precinct, including the new 'Poombeeyt Koontapool' viewing area atthe Loch Ard Gorge Blowhole. These are in addition to a major streetscape renewal at nearby, thanks to funding from the Australian and Victorian governments and the Corangamite Shire Council.
For more information: www.development.vic.gov.au/projects/twelve-apostles(opens in a new window)
As stated by Federal Labor Senator for Victoria, Senator Raff Ciccone:
"The Twelve Apostles are an icon and we are proud to support this precinct to create an even better experience for visitors.
"We are committed to creating jobs and unlocking economic opportunities throughout regional Australia through projects like the Twelve Apostles Precinct Redevelopment."
As stated by Victorian Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes:
"The completion of the Visitor Experience Centre's main structure offers a real sense of the amazing experience visitors can expect when the centre opens next year."
As stated by Victorian Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts Harriet Shing
"We're delivering a landmark centre that blends world-class design with cultural and environmental values, creating a precinct that will serve the region for decades to come."
As stated by Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos:
"The topping out of the centre is a major milestone in this project ─ the new centre will be a massive boost for local tourism along the Great Ocean Road while also supporting more than 90 jobs during construction."
