Plans to revitalise the Scone CBD have received a funding boost after the announcement of $8 million in federal funding towards the project on Friday, January 28.
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Allocated as part of the federal government's Community Development Grants program, the funding will support the Upper Hunter Shire Council project which aims to increase pedestrian-focused public spaces in the town to retain and attract economic opportunities following the recent completion of the bypass road.
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England Barnaby Joyce visited Scone for the announcement and said the funding was a "massive win for the Scone community and the wider Upper Hunter".
"A project like this has the ability to transform towns, rejuvenate businesses and boom the local economy," Mr Joyce said.
"I can't wait to visit and see the finished product and am particularly looking forward to the Equine Walk of Fame."
Upper Hunter Shire Council Mayor Maurice Collison welcomed the federal funding he said would ensure all of Kelly Street would be revitalised.
"It's been a long time coming and to finally be able to get the funding to finish this project is amazing," Cr Collison said.
Cr Collison said the council was hoping to begin the tender process for the project in April now that funding had been secured.
"Give it a couple of months after that (for council) to source who's going to get the contract and then let's get into it," he said.
Cr Collison said he was confident that once the project had been completed Scone would attract more tourists and tree-changers from the cities into the region.
"The confidence is there (that Scone will attract) people from the cities coming into our towns," he said.
"This is nothing but positive to have our street done up and I'm confident we'll get visitors to come."