• Silo Art Trail expansion
The Wimmera-mallee is primed to set a new international benchmark for landscape-scale artwork with speculative plans for a major expansion of the region’s Silo Art Trail.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, in announcing $500,000 in regional tourism and planning money, said the project could expand by 12 silos through a coordinated approach.
He announced details during a visit to Sheep Hills between Minyip and Warracknabeal and later expanded on the subject during an address to a Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Assembly at Horsham Town Hall.
He said the government was providing $500,000 primarily to establish an over-arching tourism plan.
“That will mean we’re in a strong position to be able to further support extra silos being done and properly linking all the other great tourism attractions – everything from Lake Toolondo, the various wineries, eateries, coffee trails, all sorts of different things that this region is known for, or are growing, and turn them all into a really strong industry,” he said.
“That creates jobs and sees not a few busloads, but lots and lots of busloads of people visiting.
“It’s a small investment but I think it will make a powerful difference.”
Mr Andrews said the government would be ‘delighted to be able to provide a couple of hundred thousand dollars’ to make further silo projects a possibility.
“Once that planning work is done with that $500,000 we’ll be able to consider, quite quickly I think, the bid for another dozen or so silos that the councils and others in the community are very keen to get on and do.”
The 200-kilometre Silo Art Trail, inspired by an initial Brim silo project and pursued further through the direction of former Yarriambiack Shire Council mayor Ray Kingston, includes six giant murals running south-north from Rupanyup to Patchewollock.
Internationally renowned street and landscape artists have worked with individual communities for inspiration for their paintings.
The trail, described as the largest outdoor gallery in the world, is already attracting international interest and visitors.
The tourism plan will be designed to boost visitors, diversify the economy and make more of what the broader Wimmera, including the Grampians and the Mallee, has to offer.
It will explore ways to encourage adventure and cultural activities, including increased use of the region’s outstanding natural assets and trails.
The plan will build on the Grampians Peaks Trail, under construction, as well as the Silo Art Trail.
A Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Partnership last year identified developing and supporting a vibrant tourism industry for the region as a regional priority.