Eight rural communities in the Farrer electorate will share in more than $2.4 million in economic development grants to diversify economies, create jobs and build stronger communities.
Federal MP for Farrer Sussan Ley and Minister for Water Keith Pitt congratulated recipients on the wide-ranging projects, which are part of over $5m being spent in irrigation districts through the southern Murray Darling Basin.
Ms Ley said the successful applications for Rd 2 of the Murray Darling Basin Economic Development Program were designed to lift spirits of communities, attract more visitors, helping broaden the local economic drivers for each region, helping maintain or create new jobs.
“From building a micro-abattoir, supporting paddock to plate tourism, a new golf driving range, to recreational fishers helping restore river health, the range of proposals were simply outstanding.”
“It just shows the breadth of great ideas our communities have to secure the region’s future.”
Minister Pitt said the Coalition Government is getting behind those ideas and I congratulate all the successful applicants for generating innovative and practical projects which will have an enduring positive impact for Basin communities.”
“Locals are always best placed to identify what is needed to boost economic activity, attract jobs and build community resilience to overcome the effects water recovery has had on main streets and business turnover in recent years.”
The Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program (Round 2) was open to 31 eligible communities including: those moderately impacted by water recovery activities under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan; those impacted by the proposed acquisition of A Class licenses in the Lower Darling and Barwon-Darling; and those announced as eligible during the 2019 federal election period. Grants are being funded through to 2022-23.
To find out more, go to the Murray Darling Basin Economic Development Program website
Successful projects which impact Farrer
- *$600,000 to Barooga Sports Club for the Cobram-Barooga Golf Club Entertainment Driving Range: To create a technology-based driving range, multi-use outdoor covered space, relocation of several greens to enhance user experience and create function opportunities.
- *$1,607,950 to Murray Dairy Limited’s Fodder for the Future: To develop ‘closed loop’ fodder production systems across the southern Basin and to encourage cross-sectoral collaboration
- $430,000 to OzFish Unlimited’s River Repair Bus: To establish a River Repair Bus so recreational fishers can undertake river restoration activities and build awareness of river health while also creating jobs.
- *$450,000 to Sunraysia Rural Counselling Service for their SunRCS Business Plus: To deliver a program to enable participants to start, build and grow business and community initiatives.
- $450,000 to Murray River Council for a Murray Plains Meat Cooperative Micro-Abattoir: To build a micro-abattoir at Deniboota to service ‘paddock to plate’ producers that help underpin regional tourism and that will support ongoing jobs.
- $387,000 to Hay Shire Council’s Recalibrate Hay Phase II: To invest in building local businesses through establishing marketing and booking platforms and through workshops and events, creating ongoing jobs.
- $174,480 to Murray House Wentworth Aged Care’s Enhancement Program: To renovate the facility’s dining and barbeque facilities to enable meals to be prepared for others in the community, helping residents and the jobs that support them stay in the region
- *$1,110,000 to Outback Academy Australia Limited’s Follow the Flowers – an Aboriginal Cooperative Business for the Murray Corridor – to establish a cooperative business for honey, wildflowers, botanicals and food, linked to tourism, and creating jobs during the delivery phase with lasting tourism opportunities.
Please note (*) indicates total funding amount (including neighbouring federal electorate allocations)