Tourism projects move closer to investment across Victoria

Good tourism infrastructure projects need strong planning, which is why the Enabling Tourism Fund is important. The fund helps tourism projects in regional and rural Victoria get ready for future investment. It supports early planning work, such as feasibility studies, design work, business cases and funding strategies.

Thanks to the fund, 4 projects across Victoria are now better placed to move to the next stage. These projects could help attract more visitors, support local jobs and grow regional tourism.

Japanese Bathhouse detailed design plan, Hepburn Springs

Shizuka Ryokan offers an authentic, immersive Japanese inn experience with minimalist Zen aesthetics, traditional omakase dining, and holistic wellness spa, all located in a peaceful bushland setting.

This project supported a detailed design package to expand its current offering, including:

• final costings
• preparation for a planning application
• financial readiness and project staging.

The proposed bathhouse would create up to 15 jobs for unique wellness experience in the region and support year-round visits to the Daylesford–Hepburn Spa area.

The project explored extending the current offering to include:

• a new dedicated bathhouse facility
• treatment facilities
• Dojo (flex space for yoga/wellness activities and meetings)
• landscaping and pools
• guesthouse.

The Ranch World Class Action Sports facility design development, business planning and funding strategy, Mornington Peninsula

The Ranch in Boneo is a 200-acre adventure park and farm stay. Visitors can enjoy guided trail rides, Australia's only purpose-built mountainboarding park, and outdoor camps for schools and groups. This project supported planning to turn the property into a world-class action sports facility. It delivered:

• progression of the site’s master plan
• feasibility studies
• town planning work
• design development.

The project explored extending the current offering to support year-round visitation, including:

• indoor and outdoor skateboarding
• mountain biking
• BMX
• mountainboarding
• wakeboarding
• aqua chimp
• artificial snow slope
• an airbag training facility.

Green Olive Retreat feasibility study, concept design and planning approvals, Red Hill

Green Olive at Red Hill is a vineyard, olive grove and an immersive, paddock-to-plate farm experience. It celebrates sustainable farming and guests can enjoy estate-grown wines, delicious food, cooking workshops, and even a pickleball court.

This project delivered planning works for eco-friendly accommodation to help bring the property’s whole-of-farm visitor experience closer to reality. The project delivered:

• site investigations
• concept designs
• town planning requirements, which are now approved.

Rails To Gold feasibility study, Gippsland

This project delivered a feasibility study into the possible extension of the Walhalla Goldfields Railway. The railway offers a scenic, one-hour round trip on heritage carriages through the spectacular Stringers Creek Gorge in Gippsland. The study included:

• assessment of current facilities and capabilities
• tourism research
• stakeholder and community engagement.

The Enabling Tourism Fund is helping deliver a strong pipeline of demand-driving tourism infrastructure projects across Victoria.

To see a complete list of projects funded through the 2024 round of the Enabling Tourism Fund on the Tourism Industry Support website.