Manufacturing, tourism and processing jobs are the focus of the McGowan Government’s third round of Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants in the Great Southern.
Eleven recipients from the lower and upper Great Southern will share in a total of $911,634 from Round 3 of the RED grants program.
Gnowangerup transport equipment manufacturer Duraquip will use its $160,000 grant to diversify into manufacturing a new seeding bar, generating an estimated 12 new positions in the next year.
Albany’s Westerberg Aluminium Boats will receive $93,808 for an advanced Computer Numerical Control Router to streamline boat production, expand product offerings and offer training opportunities in partnership with South Regional TAFE.
The Dune Brewing Company will receive a $150,000 grant to develop a family friendly microbrewery and restaurant at Emu Point in Albany, incorporating a nature walk featuring the history and culture of the local Menang Noongar people.
An $89,945 grant to Beck and Call Coffee will see the establishment of a new coffee micro-roastery, barista academy and cellar door at Kalgan, which will create at least three new short-term and three long-term jobs.
The Great Southern grants are anticipated to support more than 200 jobs in the next three to five years, boosting economic growth in the region.
This latest allocation of funds adds to the $1.52 million provided to 17 projects in the Great Southern from the previous two rounds of RED grants.
The McGowan Government has committed an additional $5 million to extend the initiative for another year – with a total of $33.8 million directed to RED grants over six years for projects that will directly benefit regional communities.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“Our RED Grants are continuing to deliver jobs on the ground in regional WA, and this latest round will help to drive economic diversification in the Great Southern.
“Boosting the manufacturing capacity of the Great Southern will drive long-term job creation in the region and create a solid base of economic activity in our regional capitals.
“These investments will help to revive local economies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as we work to build long-term resilience in our regional communities.”
As stated by Albany MLA Peter Watson:
“The RED grants are a terrific initiative that are assisting local enterprises to grow and develop and become more resilient in today’s dynamic business environment.
“The Great Southern has a lot to offer and the McGowan Government is working hard with local business, industry and communities on initiatives like this to help our region to grow and thrive.”
Successful Round 3 RED grants projects for the Great Southern:
| Applicant | Project | Funding |
| Beaufort River Meats | Fire hydrant and ring main system installation – to install key infrastructure required for an extension of its cutting room to improve efficiencies. | $82,000 |
| Dune Beer Company | Dune Brewery – development of a family friendly microbrewery and restaurant at Emu Point in Albany, which incorporates a playground and nature walk, featuring the culture and history of the local Menang Noongar people. | $150,000 |
| Beck and Call Coffee | Coffee micro-roastery – to produce and supply roasted coffee from Kalgan to local hospitality businesses, a unique cellar door experience for tourists and a barista training academy. | $89,945 |
| Westerberg Aluminium Boats Pty Ltd | Marine fabrication diversification through the use of an advanced Computer Numerical Control Router to streamline current boat production, expand product offerings and offer training opportunities in partnership with South Regional TAFE. | $93,808 |
| Duraquip | Sheet metal fabrication diversification – to help diversify from manufacturing transport equipment to include production of a seeding bar at Gnowangerup. | $160,000 |
| Bremer Bay Brewing Company | Upscale and renovation – to install three new fermenters and storeroom conversion to accommodate increased tourist and local demand. | $80,000 |
| Albany Classic Motorsport Club | Around the Houses pedestrian bridge – to construct one of two temporary pedestrian bridges to enable entry and exit to the centre of the two-day event in Albany. | $27,000 |
| Taste Great Southern 2021 | Food, wine and produce events – to support events that promote local produce, businesses and tourism in the lower Great Southern. | $15,000 |
| WA Meat Marketing Cooperative (WAMMCO) | Water Regeneration project – installation of a reverse osmosis water treatment plant to reallocate potable water to a second processing shift to expand capacity at its Katanning site. | $80,000 |
| Raintree Solutions | The DAM Agri-tourism showcase – establishment of a restaurant, cellar door and small goods processing facility west of Denmark. | $53,000 |
| Shire of Katanning | Destination Development Project to elevate the capacity of Katanning and surrounds to provide tourist ready experiences and cohesive marketing programmes to attract tourists to the region and provides quality visitor experiences. | $80,881 |
