People experiencing food insecurity in Ballarat could soon have improved access to fresh food following an announcement on Friday.
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Ripon MP Louise Staley and Nationals leader Peter Walsh announced the Liberal-National Coalition will contribute $1.5 million to create a food distribution centre in Ballarat if successful at the November state election.
The funding will support the Ballarat Foundation to purchase land at the Ballarat West Employment Zone and construct a 100 square metre warehouse to host the Ballarat Food Security Centre.
A further $2.5 million is required to have the centre ready for operation by the end of 2019. The funding will be provided by the Ballarat Foundation and the Ballarat community through contributions to the Feed Ballarat Appeal.
More than 12 per cent of Ballarat's population accesses emergency food relief each year, according to Ballarat Foundation research.
Nationals leader Peter Walsh said there was an increasing need for emergency food relief with rising costs of living putting pressure on many members of the community.
The Food Security Centre will act as a pantry to charities and community groups in Ballarat who feed those going hungry. It will be the first Foodbank hub in regional Victoria.
The Labor Party has not made a commitment to fund the centre. Ballarat Foundation chief executive Matt Jenkins said the issue of food insecurity needs bipartisan support.