Burrumbuttock’s Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre will receive a significant boost following news that plans to expand the centre have been backed by funding from the Coalition Government’s Building Better Regions program, Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley announced today.
Ms Ley said that the Wirraminna centre re-development would receive $38,210 Australian Government funding, making the expansion of the centre a reality.
“Wirraminna will receive great benefit from this project, including through the creation of additional ongoing full and part time employment opportunities, in along with jobs created during the construction stage,” Ms Ley said.
“Long term, the centre’s opening hours will increase from one to five days per week, with regular artist-in-residence workshops, the hosting of cultural programs fostering Wirraminna’s relationship with the Indigenous community, and other community based projects also been planned.
“The community of Burrumbuttock have worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition and should be commended on their efforts; it’s great to see it delivered today,” said Ms Ley.
The Building Better Regions Fund received more than 500 applications and the Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre was one of about 100 which were approved.
Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said she created the Building Better Regions Fund to help build strong communities for decades to come.
“I aim to help build the kinds of regional communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to, and projects like this one do exactly that,” Minister Nash said.
“After a competitive merit-based selection process, there are always those who were not successful and are naturally disappointed. We know this and we’ve got dedicated staff in the Department of Industry to give tailored feedback to each unsuccessful applicant to help improve those applications for next time. They can be contacted on [email protected].”
Minister Nash said she expected to open another round of BBRF before the end of the year.
Wirraminna Education officer, Stacee Bell said today, “We are thrilled with this announcement; the Discovery and Learning Centre extension gives Wirraminna more opportunities to support environmental and cultural education, Landcare groups and threatened species programs in our region.”
Wirraminna’s Chairman, Darryl Jacob added that winning this grant is testament to the value to their group of volunteers and partnerships in supporting strong and resilient communities.
“It is very exciting to be able to open our doors every day to share our natural environment with members of the community of all ages,” said Mr Jacob.
Mayor of Greater Hume Shire, Cr Heather Wilton commended the Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre on being a national award winning organisation which has been able to attract large numbers of visitors and students to Burrumbuttock and the Shire more generally for a long period of time.
“Wirraminna are to be commended for their continued growth in the Centre and their educational programs; this is a much needed extension to the existing Discovery Centre which will ensure the continued growth of the organisation”, Cr Wilton added.
Minister Nash will announce the successful applicants for funding under the BBRF’s Community Investments Stream – for projects designed to support a range of local capability-building activities – in the coming months.
More information about the Building Better Regions Fund is available at: www.business.gov.au/bbrf
