Projects ready to roll
Regional Development Australia Great Southern committee chair Milton Evans says the progression of eight local projects to the final stages of funding by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport, shows the Government is confident the projects are “shovel ready”.
Round three, to be approved in June, allocates $50 million in grants of $50,000 to $500,000 to towns with a population of fewer than 30,000 people.
Local projects in the running for this round are the Shire of Plantagenet Collet Barker Court independent living units for seniors, the Shire of Jerramungup’s Bremer Bay town centre, the Shire of Denmark construction of the Denmark Riverside Club, and Green Skills’ construction of the Denmark Environment Centre office.
Round four provides $175 million in grants of $500,000 to $15 million.
Projects shortlisted for this stage are the Great Southern Community Housing Association’s Norman House affordable student housing project, the City of Albany Great Southern Centennial Park arena and the Shire of Plantagenet Sounness Park community recreation development.
Denmark Riverside Club chairman Alan Davis said the tick of approval instilled more confidence that their project would come to fruition.
“We look forward with some anticipation and some genuine confidence that we’ve got a worthy case and hope it strikes that chord with our masters in Canberra,” he said.
RDA Great Southern WA projects officer Penelope Cuthbert said Albany would benefit greatly if the projects were successful.
“The Norman House project is seeking $1.17 million of a total $2.6 million project, the Centennial Park project is seeking $8.75 million out of a total of $17.8 million project, and Sounness Park is seeking $1 million of a total of $9.5 million project,” she said.
“We are hopeful of a positive outcome for the Great Southern region.”
Department of Sport and Recreation regional manager Chris Thompson said the Centennial Park and Sounness Park projects were key projects for Albany and Mt Barker.
