The NSW Government has announced it will invest a total of $8.8 million in four Western and Far West NSW projects with funding from its Regional Development Trust to promote economic growth and employment creation.

Together with the co-contributions from the four successful applicants, the projects will inject up to $20.5 million of investment into the region.

These four projects are:

$5 million – Critical Airport upgrades for Broken Hill

Broken Hill City Council will increase the maximum strength and weight capacity of its tarmac and taxiway to accommodate larger planes.

The improvements provide vital access to flights for business, education, essential goods, and health and emergency services for Broken Hill and surrounding areas.

The upgrades will also boost tourism opportunities and contribute to long-term economic and sustainability goals for the region.

Broken Hill City Council is providing a co-contribution of $1,000,000 towards the total project cost of $15.5 million and is working to secure the additional funding required before construction will commence.

The Council is required to secure all necessary approvals and the additional funding within 12 months to enable the project to proceed.

$1.8 million – Develop an on-Country cultural centre promoting native food tourism and education

The Narrabri Local Aboriginal Land Council will develop the Narrabri Cultural Food Production, Education and Tourism Initiative.

The centre will be a barn style air-conditioned shed with storage, landscaped gardens, bathroom facilities, seating for 100+ people set amongst three hectares of established native food gardens and river vegetation used for native food demonstrations.

The project will allow for partnerships with local businesses to manage a commercial kitchen offering native paddock-to-plate training and opportunities.

$1.24 million – Infrastructure upgrades to enhance the visitor experience at White Cliffs Caravan Park

The project will see Central Darling Shire Council deliver essential replacements and upgrades at the White Cliffs Caravan Park (pictured) including roads, caravan sites, solar power, signage, fencing and new landscaping.

The upgrades and improvement will ensure that the caravan park is fit for purpose for the long-term and continues to add to the White Cliffs visitor economy.

$799,999 – Fund Royal Far West to place eight allied health assistants in schools

The project will provide funding for eight trained healthcare workers (Allied Health Assistants) to be placed in schools located in Wilcannia and Broken Hill to support developmentally vulnerable children.

Over an 18-month period Royal Far West will also work with schools to train them on how to incorporate the Allied Health Assistants into their teams.

Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said funding to support upgrades at the Broken Hill Airport will mean bigger planes can land, helping locals stay connected to essential services and giving tourism and business a real boost.

“The White Cliffs Caravan Park is a key part of the local visitor economy, and these upgrades will make sure it will be well-equipped for years to come,” said Ms Moriarty.

“Putting Allied Health Assistants into remote schools in Far Western NSW will give developmentally disadvantaged kids the support they need to thrive, so they can better engage with their communities and local opportunities.

“The new cultural food centre in Narrabri delivers another unique experience and place of interest for visitors and locals who can get to better understand and see local Aboriginal knowledge and food. Demand for this form of on-Country travel experience and training is growing and it’s shown to also strengthen local communities.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler thanked the Minister and the NSW Government for the local funding.

“All of these initiatives are extremely welcome,” he said.

“Health and early intervention through Royal Far West for young people to assist in overcoming developmental issues in the Far West, maintaining cultural links with indigenous food production in Narrabri with a tourism angle, upgrading visitor infrastructure to encourage more people to visit and stay longer in White Cliffs, are all incredibly important in supporting local economies and communities.

“The airport upgrades in Broken Hill are something for which we’ve been advocating for a long time alongside Broken Hill City Council. The Mayor Tom Kennedy is absolutely correct, we now look to the federal government to supplement this funding for the ongoing viability of Broken Hill airport, allowing the vital work of the Royal Flying Doctor Service to continue and for larger aircraft with more passengers and cheaper fares to service Broken Hill.

“I will be heading to Canberra soon to talk to the federal minister about their contribution to the upgrades and many other projects.”

Broken Hill Mayor, Tom Kennedy said the grant would provide an important platform from which to seek Federal financial support to make much-needed upgrades to the city’s runway.

“Council has been pursuing Government funding for airport upgrades for many years, so it’s great to see the level of support we’ve received from the NSW Government in contributing $5 million to the project and we thank the Premier and Minister for their support.

“There’s going to be a significant increase in demand for air travel in the coming years as major mining and energy projects ramp up in the region, along with the tourism demand and it is critical that Broken Hill’s airport infrastructure can handle that growth for the betterment of the region.”

Central Darling Shire Council Administrator, Bob Stewart always welcomed the funding announcement.

“The upgrades will benefit the Caravan Park by making it an even more attractive destination and will also boost visitor numbers and create economic development and employment opportunities across the Far West, including supporting First Nations tourism at the nearby Mutawinji National Park,” he said.

“We also hope to see economic benefits flowing through to the economy with an increased number of visitors shopping locally in White Cliffs and the surrounding towns.”

Further announcements regarding other successful projects from the Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program will be made in the coming months.

For more information, go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust.

Via: Inside Local Government