THE Peppin Hub Community Centre project has received good news in the form of two grants from Community Bank Mansfield & District.

Peppin Hub Inc is set to receive a total of $75,000 aimed to push the Community Centre project to move onwards.

The $75,000 will pay for architectural, engineering, and mechanical drawings as well as legal documentation required to move the project onwards.

"Bendigo Bank Community Bank Mansfield & District is thrilled to be able to contribute these funds for the development of architectural design drawings and building plans for Peppin Hub Community Centre, place of last resort and shed to house their community Fire Tanker," said David Mayne, Chair of the Bendigo Bank - Community Bank Mansfield & District.

"We are excited to see the progress that the Peppin Hub community have made over the last couple of years and thrilled to be able to support their efforts to become shovel ready.

"Combined with the $10,000 contribution from the Mansfield Shire, Bendigo Bank Community Bank Mansfield & District is proud to support the Peppin Hub Community with this significant grant, to help provide this essential infrastructure for thriving community in the foothills of the Victorian High Country."

Peppin Hub Inc are now working with Mansfield Shire Council to tender the drawings and specifications which will take the project to the planning and building permit stage in the new year.

The Peppin Hub Community Centre is intended to house a fire tanker and equipment belonging to the CFA.

“It’s a massive step forward in our quest to build a community centre and storage facility,” Nick Calvi, Peppin Hub Inc President said.

“We are over the moon and we are grateful to Bendigo Bank.

“Bonnie Doon and Maindample CFA are half an hour away from parts of Peppin.

“With our tanker, we are able to manage fires quickly and decisively.”

Peppin, situated along a small and winding road around Lake Eildon, has a permanent population of around 600 people.

That number can grow north of 5000 on long weekends when the weather is warm and inviting, according to Mr Calvi.

This, he says, makes it extremely prone to fires in hot weather and ensuring an appropriate response is a longstanding vision and a dream of the Peppin community.

“The grants from Bendigo Bank will take us to building permit stage and we will look for further funding to progress the project," he said.

“From federal, state, and local government, from business and other benefactors.

“We hope to be shovel ready by the middle of next year but we need help and support to get there.”