The Andrews Government is delivering $50,000 in the Victorian Budget 2023/24 to the Harcourt Progress Association (HPA) – to help volunteers continue to deliver important community projects.

For years, the HPA has brought Harcourt locals together to help make the community a fairer and better place to live, work and raise a family.

The group have backed important local projects like the Harcourt roundabout redesign and the repurposing of the Harcourt Railway Station into a community space.

They are currently embarking on developing a neighbourhood house for Harcourt which will further extend their connection to the community, and further strengthen community participation.

Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards MP said she was proud to deliver funding that matters for Harcourt.

“I congratulate the Harcourt Progress Association on securing this funding, and for their advocacy over many years to make Harcourt a better place to live,” she said.

“Their plans to develop a neighbourhood house for Harcourt are exciting, and will provide even more opportunities for our community to come together.

“Volunteer groups like Harcourt Progress Association are the beating hearts of communities right across Bendigo West. We’ll always back the groups that help make our region great.”

The Victorian Budget 2023/24 delivers $550,000 in funding to community groups across the Bendigo West electorate, as well as funding in education upgrades, creative industries and health infrastructure.

Across Regional Victoria, the Victorian Budget 2023/24 invests more than $5 billion for rural and regional Victoria – with fairer V/Line fares, free kinder and creating thousands of good local jobs by bringing back the SEC.