THE Alpine Resorts Victoria Board has been made eligible for federal infrastructure funding.

In an announcement by Independent member for Indi Dr Helen Haines, it was confirmed that the Alpine Resorts Victoria Board has now been listed as an eligible organisation under the $600 million Growing Regions Program, the Government’s major investment vehicle for regional Australia.

“The Alpine Resort Victoria Board operates in much the same way as local governments and for too long they have not been treated as such when it comes to federal funding programs that they should be eligible for,” Dr Haines said.

“I am proud that this has finally changed.”

Dr Haines wrote to Infrastructure Minister Catherine King in May and the Minister’s office confirmed last week the Alpine Resorts would be treated in the same way under the grant guidelines as other similar entities such as the Lord Howe Island Board and the Outback Communities Authority.

“Our Alpine areas are major tourism drivers for Victoria and a significant contributor to the regional economy of Indi,” Dr Haines said.

“There are many worthy infrastructure projects which should be eligible for funding consideration under the Growing Regions Fund.

"These include Mt Hotham Business, Visitor and Community Centre and the the Falls Creek Recreation and Events Centre.”

The Growing Regions Program provides grants of between $500,000 and $15 million to local government entities and not-for-profit organisations, for capital works projects that deliver community and economic infrastructure projects across regional and rural Australia.

The program is open competitive with grants awarded on a merit basis and expressions of Interest open on July 5.