The Andrews Labor Government will launch a special events booster fund to help kickstart the recovery of regions affected by the summer’s devastating bushfires.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula said that the dedicated Bushfire Recovery round of Regional Events Fund would deliver up to $300,000 to help organisers to attract more people to events.

Events in 15 local government areas will be eligible for funding: Ararat, Alpine, Ballarat, East Gippsland, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Indigo, Mansfield, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Towong, Wangaratta, Wellington and Wodonga.

Applications for up to $20,000 will require the support of either a local council or regional tourism board.

Visit Victoria will manage the program and applications will open this month, with a fast-tracked application process. An ordinary round of the Regional Events Fund open to all local councils will also commence soon.

Confirmation of the Bushfire Recovery events program follows a number of Labor Government initiatives aimed at helping local tourist operators and communities get back on their feet, including:

• The Business & Sport for Bushfire Recovery program, which has seen more than 185 organisations pledge to hold conferences and events in regional Victoria
• Grants of $200,000 each for Tourism North East and Destination Gippsland
• Support for today’s High Country Comeback farmers market, which runs from 11:00am-5:00pm at 351 Plummer Street, Port Melbourne.

Visit Victoria will spend up to $2 million on marketing in coming months to support regional communities.