Heritage Grants for Seroja Repair

Applications are now open in Durack to help with the clean-up and restoration of heritage assets that were significantly damaged by Tropical Cyclone Seroja.

Federal Member for Durack, the Hon. Melissa Price said the Cultural and Heritage Asset Clean-Up and Restoration Grant Program is part of a package of support for individuals, community members, primary producers, business owners and local governments.

“A reimbursement grant of up to $20,000 is available to assist with costs to clean-up and repair significant cultural and heritage sites across the cyclone-impacted area,” Ms Price said.

“Six months ago, Tropical Cyclone Seroja caused major havoc and devastation across our region and I urge those impacted who think they may be eligible to apply for this grant. This is an opportunity for eligible property owners and operators to defray some of their costs, help subsidise restoration works and conserve the historical significance of our heritage places,” Ms Price said.

I encourage owners and operators of heritage and cultural places to check out these grants to help related businesses and tourism in the region.

The $2 million Cultural and Heritage Asset Clean-Up and Restoration Grant Program is part of a $104.5 million jointly Commonwealth-state funded package under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to assist with clean-up, repairs and resilience works at heritage buildings and Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.

Eligibility and application details are available at www.emergency.wa.gov.au/recovery. 

Works must be completed by June 2023 and claims can be lodged until July 2023.

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 Media Contact:

Rose Crane 0427 587395, Rosemea.Crane@aph.gov.au.

More Assistance for Cyclone Seroja impacted businesses

Small businesses in Durack directly impacted by Tropical Cyclone Seroja can now access grants of up to $25,000 to help with clean up and reinstatement costs to resume operations.

The Small Business Recovery Grants are jointly funded by the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Federal Member for Durack said the grants will provide local small businesses in 16 local government areas with access to a range of practical assistance measures to help get them back to business.

“It’s crucial for the recovery of our region that we get small businesses back on their feet. Many local businesses sustained significant damage from Cyclone Seroja. There are costs related to cleaning up, repairing premises, replacing tools and stock — not all of which was covered by insurance,”  Ms Price said.

“These businesses are at the heart of their communities and need support to meet these costs and get up and running again,” she said.

The grants can assist with the following eligible costs:

•                materials and additional labour costs to undertake clean-up

•                carting away and disposing of damaged goods and material

•                payment for tradespeople to conduct safety inspections

•                essential repairs to premises and internal fittings

•                purchase or lease costs for equipment essential for the immediate resumption of operations

•                leasing of temporary premises, and

•                replacement of stock which is essential for the immediate resumption of operations.

The Small Business Recovery Grants are in addition to the earlier Small Business Cyclone Seroja Grant Scheme managed by the Small Business Development Corporation. Eligible businesses may also apply for the Small Business Recovery Grant. Applications are now open online at www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/seroja

The list of eligible LGA’s is attached.

Ends.

Media Contact:

Rose Crane 0427 587395, Rosemea.Crane@aph.gov.au.

The list of eligible LGAs for the grants in Durack:

• Carnamah

• Carnarvon

• Chapman Valley

• Coorow

• Dalwallinu

• Dandaragan

• Greater Geraldton

• Irwin

• Koorda

• Mingenew

• Morawa

• Mount Marshall

• Northampton

• Perenjori

• Shark Bay

• Three Springs

Stronger Communities Funding Round 7 opens in Durack

The Morrison Government is providing a further $150,000 in funding for small-scale upgrades and new equipment that will assist community groups and local governments in Durack.

Expressions of interest are now open for Round 7 of the Stronger Communities Programme (SCP), to nominate projects with a ‘Supporting Tourism in Durack’ theme for grants of up to $20,000.

Federal Member for Durack, the Hon. Melissa Price said more funding for Durack would deliver the infrastructure and equipment our communities need to be successful and grow.

“I have seen some great results in Durack from this funding program across Durack and I look forward to seeing the successful outcome for more Durack communities with this round. From the funding and installation of defibrillators and kitchen upgrades in community facilities, to improvements in tourism signage and local interpretative displays from previous SCP rounds,” Ms Price said.

“I strongly encourage interested organisations to contact my office regarding projects important to them and our community. Grants from $2,500 up to $20,000 are available to cover up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs, or up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs for local governing bodies,” Ms Price said.

The Stronger Communities Programme support local jobs, grow local economies and delivers lasting infrastructure and much-needed equipment. The Morrison Government is providing $22.7 million under Round 7 to deliver investment in regional areas, to ensure our regions remain great places to live and visit.

The Morrison Government is continuing to back regional and remote communities, providing opportunities for them to get ahead and prosper into the future. Through the Stronger Communities Program, the Government has provided more than $135 million for projects for community-building and job-creating projects across Australia.

Expressions of Interest close Friday Nov 12.

Ends.

Media Contact:

Rose Crane 0427 587395, Rosemea.Crane@aph.gov.au.

Building Better Regions in Durack

The Morrison Government continues to invest in the future of Durack with funding for 11 projects under Round 5 of our highly successful Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

Announcing the successful recipients today of the latest BBRF round, Federal Member for Durack, the Hon. Melissa Price said she is thrilled with the outcome of this round. 

“Funding for these projects in Durack is testament to the dedication of the many local government and community organisations that have worked so hard to achieve this funding for projects they have been planning for a long time,” Ms Price said.

“From the crucial $7.5 million infrastructure upgrade of taxiways at the Kununurra airport, a $6 million investment in a new surf lifesaving club in Broome as part of the Cable Beach foreshore re-development, to projects in the Wheatbelt to build on the increase of domestic tourism, I am thrilled at the diversity and substantial funding achieved by the applicants,” Ms Price said.

“The Morrison Government’s investment will deliver better facilities and economic opportunities across Durack, delivering the services and infrastructure our communities deserve. We are backing these projects so local people have the facilities for the future, while creating jobs to boost our economic recovery,” she said.

This latest funding round takes the Morrison Government’s total support through the BBRF to $1.38 billion across nearly 1,300 projects.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Government is focused on ensuring our regions remain strong, continuing to work hard on behalf of Australians living in regional and remote communities.

A full list of successful Durack projects is attached here.

 Ends,

 Media Contact:

Rose Crane 0427 587395, Rosemea.Crane@aph.gov.au.

South-West WA Drought Hub to Broaden its Focus

T h e H o n. D a v i d L i t t l e p r o u d M P

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia

Deputy Leader of the Nationals

The Hon. Melissa Price MP

Minister for Defence Industry

Federal Member for Durack

The Australian Government is expanding the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub to catalyse agricultural innovation, drive commercialisation and create jobs.

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the Government has allocated additional funding for each Hub to develop regionally focused and responsive innovation and adoption strategies and to undertake activities.

“This investment is the next phase in the evolution of the Drought Hubs from being just drought focused to being focused on Innovation more broadly,” Minister Littleproud said.

South-West WA based hub led by the Grower Group Alliance is one of eight established across the country in April this year through the government’s $5 billion Future Drought Fund.

“These hubs are key to unlocking the potential of the agricultural innovation system, enabling people to collaborate and deliver regionally targeted productivity gains.

“The hubs will build connections between researchers, technology developers, investors, producers and agribusinesses to drive innovation and digital technology uptake across industry and the supply-chain.

“The hubs will always be a shopfront for farmers to access innovative technologies and practices that enable them to be more prepared and resilient to drought.

“Now, as part of the National Agricultural Innovation Agenda, we are expanding their remit into broader agricultural innovation activities and outcomes.”

Federal Member for Durack, Melissa Price, said the South-West WA Hub base at Merredin will become the flagship for agricultural innovation in this part of the state.

“The hub has nodes located in Albany, Bunbury, Esperance, Geraldton, Katanning, Manjimup, Carnarvon and Northam which provides an extra reach for farmers”.

“It provides a physical platform for stakeholders from across our great region to come together and translate research and knowledge to make real impacts on the ground.

“The hub already has an extensive list of members, and this is another great win for WA agriculture,” Ms Price said.

“We are providing the right conditions to help the agricultural sector to modernise, improve, innovate and grow,” Minister Littleproud said.

For more details visit https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/future-drought- fund/research-adoption-program/adoption-innovation-hubs/south-west-wa-hub

Ends.

Media Contact:

Rose Crane 0427 587395, Rosemea.Crane@aph.gov.au.

Fast Facts:

• Under the National Agricultural Innovation Agenda, the government is providing

additional funding to the eight Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs to expand their

current remit of drought resilience to broader agricultural innovation outcomes.

• $20 million in additional funding is available to support activities which will lead to

uptake of innovation by producers, stimulate collaboration and increase commercialisation.

• The key activities of the hubs will include:

o developing regionally focused and responsive innovation and adoption strategies

o providing a local “shopfront” to access to knowledge, advice and support

o collating knowledge relevant to the region so it is accessible and available for adoption, and

to understand knowledge gaps and priorities

o trialling of new technologies and practices that are high priority

o demonstration, extension and communication to support uptake and scaling up of successful

innovations

o working with researchers to improve their ability to co-design research, so it delivers to

end-user needs and context

o developing and supporting use of information and decision support tools that help farmers

understand and respond to risks and opportunities

o attracting commercial investors and supporting commercialisation

o building regionally based entrepreneurial skills and leadership

o linking in with the Research and Development Corporations, where it makes sense.

• The hubs were established through the forward-thinking Future Drought Fund – a long term, sustained investment of $100 million each year to build drought preparedness and resilience.

• An independent Advisory Committee chaired by Mr Brent Finlay provides oversight across the hubs, supporting them to become interconnected agricultural innovation precincts.