- 10 Wheatbelt projects to share in $1.16 million Regional Economic
Development (RED) Grant funding
- Cook Labor Government
investments support
regional job creation in agribusiness, tourism, hospitality, manufacturing, and
telecommunication sectors
Ten Wheatbelt projects will share in $1.16
million funding to help build regional business resilience and economic
diversity under Round 7 of the Cook Labor Government's Regional Economic
Development (RED) Grants program.
The RED Grants program is investing $55.85
million over nine years toward locally driven projects to stimulate economic
growth in regional WA.
The announcement was made by Regional
Development Minister Don Punch today at the Darken Hotel, which was one of the
successful Wheatbelt recipients.
The Darkan Hotel will use a $182,350 grant to construct an
accommodation precinct adjacent to the existing premises on the Coalfields
Highway, which will help to address the critical shortage of short-stay
accommodation in the Shire of West Arthur.
In 2022, 43 community members purchased the
Darkan Hotel and, following refurbishment, launched as a social enterprise in
August this year.
The grant will go towards earthworks, services
development, and landscaping for the accommodation area, along with the
construction of the first of four units with ensuites.
Among the Round 7 recipients is Williams-based
Price's Fabrication and Steel, which has been awarded $196,000 to support its
steel manufacturing expansion and automation project.
The funding will support the purchase and
installation of a laser automation machine to improve productivity, precision,
and efficiency in the business's steel fabrication processes to produce custom-made
agricultural sheds and structures.
A $200,000 grant awarded to Avon Valley
Toyota will supercharge Electric Vehicle and ICE vehicle servicing capacity
through a major infrastructure expansion and new apprenticeship program.
The funding will go towards the cost of a
new showroom, the transformation of the current showroom into a pre-delivery
fit-out centre, the construction of additional workshop space to accommodate six
additional vehicle bays, and the installation of two additional EV charging
stations.
The project will address the growth in
servicing demands for internal combustion engine and electric vehicles in the
Northam area, and create six new jobs for the community.
Northam-based Eclipse Brewery will use a $155,000
grant to fit-out a new production facility and expand their hospitality
offering in the Wheatbelt.
The funding will contribute to the brewery
equipment refurbishment and commissioning, landscaping, and installation of the
new entertainment and kitchen equipment.
The project is expected to create 13 new full-time
positions within the first 12 months of operation.
Mortlock Timber
Pty Ltd will use their $100,000 grant to enhance their production line of timber
products to meet the
growing demand for premium, customised architectural, and furniture timber
products and support diversification away from native timbers.
The grant will also help the proponent
replace an end-matching machine, significantly increasing production speed and boosting
overall productivity and output at their Cunderdin facility by 20 per cent.
An $80,000
grant for CRISP Wireless Regional Innovation Hub will help the establishment
of a regional innovation hub committed to the expansion and delivery of
regional connectivity initiatives in the Wheatbelt.
The funding will go towards the fit-out of
the hub facility, including the installation of industrial shelving units,
security system, and internetto meet the
identified needs of the business growth and expansion.
The establishment of this hub will provide a
centralised, permanent location for CRISP Wireless locally in Narrogin and support
the expansion of the telecommunications industry in the Wheatbelt.
Successful projects in Round 7 will
diversify the agribusiness, tourism, and hospitality offerings in the Wheatbelt,
and support regional job creation in the manufacturing and telecommunication
sectors.
Comments attributed to Regional Development
Minister Don Punch:
"Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants
offer a unique opportunity to diversify our regional economies and create new
jobs and sustainable employment opportunities.
"Since the inception of this program, the WA
Labor Government has invested more than $3.88 million dollars in 48 locally-driven
projects in the Wheatbelt, helping to build a better region for the community.
"Congratulations to all the successful RED
grant recipients this year; the diverse range of Wheatbelt projects reflects
the robust, thriving, and innovative work happening across the region.
"With a record $10 million on offer for
Round 7 'Mega REDs', we are fostering regional development that is making
meaningful change, creating real jobs and diversifying regional economies."
Successful
Round 7 RED Grant recipients - Wheatbelt
