MEDIA RELEASE

2008/09 Kimberley Regional Grants Scheme Allocations Announced

Kimberley Development Commission Chairperson, Mr Patrick Dodson, today announced the successful projects to receive funding through the 2008/09 Kimberley Regional Grants Scheme.

The Kimberley Regional Grants Scheme is a component of the $40million Regional Grants Scheme being administered by the State's nine Regional Development Commissions under the Royalties for Regions program.

“These projects will contribute towards generating positive social and economic outcomes to the Kimberley and its people,” Mr Dodson said.

“Through the Kimberley Regional Grants Scheme, over $4million has been allocated across a range of projects around the region that will have direct benefits to the people of the Kimberley . Many of those projects will provide an opportunity to attract further Government and industry partnership funding to the region.”

In the Kimberley , our Board has supported a wide range of projects targeting small and large communities, infrastructure and social projects as well as building much needed capacity in our region.

These grants come at an important time for our region.

“The level of project activity currently underway in the Kimberley is highlighted by the 117 applications received seeking funding through the 2008/09 Kimberley Regional Grants Scheme.”

“The Kimberley Development Commission is looking forward to contributing towards these valuable projects at this important time for the people of the Kimberley . We also expect to very soon be in a position to proceed with a new and larger round of grants that will create more opportunity in the Kimberley . The second round of grants will be opened in the next few months.” Mr Dodson said.

Projects funded through this round of the Kimberley Regional Grants Scheme have included:

• $130,000 to the East Kimberley Volunteer Marine Search and Rescue Association to support that vital community service expand by constructing a building to store their new rescue vessel, radio communications centre and provide an administration office.

• $220,000 in 2008/09 and $200,000 in 2009/10 to the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley to engage a Business Development Manager to assist that community with the unprecedented development pressures faced in planning land development and release.

• $100,000 per year for three years to Rewards Project Ltd on behalf of the industry, to bolster and develop new export development by carrying out verification work on a Cold Disinfestation Protocol for red fleshed grapefruit in the Ord River Irrigation Area.

• $100,000 to Warmun Community in an innovative programme to continue the work of the Gija Total Health coordinator improve all areas of physical, social, mental and environmental health for Gija people.

• $450,000 to the Wunan Foundation to assist in their support to Halls Creek Aboriginal people to move from welfare into employment, by funding the headworks component of the new Halls Creek Workers Accommodation Facility.

• $100,000 to the Kimberley Stampede Rodeo Club to support new infrastructure and particularly to rebuild and fit-out facilities at the Halls Creek Race Course and Rodeo Ground.

• $150,000 to the Warlayirti Artist Aboriginal Corporation in support of developing Indigenous Art, to upgrade the Warlayirti Artist Art and Culture Centre in Balgo.

• $300,000 to the Karrayili Adult Education Centre as part of the construction costs associated with the expansion of the Centre to facilitate improved services into Fitzroy crossing and the Fitzroy Valley .

• $50,000 to Leaping Joey for the innovative ‘Men's Shed' project in Fitzroy Crossing to improve social outcomes for local men and their community.

• $145,000 to the Shire of Derby West Kimberley for the much needed redevelopment of community infrastructure at the Derby Memorial Swimming Pool.

• $50,000 to the Billard Learning Centre to examine Indigenous suicide prevention strategies, and particularly to run a 3 day summit, the Blank Page Summit on Suicide.

• $100,000 to the Broome Historical Society in support of heritage preservation and interpretation to restore and conserve the historic former sailmakers shed as a rare remaining example of an original period building associated with the operation of the pearling industry in Broome.

• $100,000 in 2008/09 and $90,000 in 2009/10 to the Alan Duff Charitable Foundation in an innovative cross regional project to boost literacy, and provide a range of books for all pre-primary and intermediate school students attending all of the 41 Kimberley primary schools.

A list of all projects funded through the Royalties for Regions, Kimberley Regional Grants Scheme is available on the Commission's website at www.kimberley.wa.gov.au . Media contact: Kelvin Barr, Deputy Director (08) 9193 6795.

Media Release - pdf (42KB)

Kimberley Regional Grants Scheme 2008/09 Successful Applications