Projects supporting industry expansion and bringing new tourism experiences to the Mid-West have received funding through the McGowan Government’s Regional Economic Development (RED) grants.
Seven projects across the Mid-West region will share in $813,121 through Round 2 of the RED grants program.
The McGowan Government has committed $28.8 million over five years for RED grants to back projects that will directly benefit regional communities.
The Shire of Cue will use its $135,000 to construct a new six-unit building to expand its industrial area to meet demand for more facilities, particularly with two new mine sites due to open in the area in 2020, and create local job opportunities.
Fresh produce business 4 Ways Pty Ltd will receive $111,000 for an innovative project to build the resilience of the region’s horticultural industry. The project will test a dam evaporation and renewable energy system for horticultural production. The system has the potential to significantly reduce valuable rainwater losses and support the businesses’ production area expansion within two years.
Southerlys has been allocated $110,000 to bring a new food and beverage tourism experience to the Dongara/Port Denison area, through the installation of a microbrewery and live lobster tank at the venue. The project is set to create up to seven new local jobs.
The Vision 2020 Property Investment Partnership will direct $250,000 towards the construction of a 300-person conference facility in the Geraldton central business district to host regional conferences to attract more people into the town, providing wider economic benefits to local businesses such as accommodation providers, restaurants and cafes.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“The McGowan Government is investing in projects to grow and develop our Mid-West region, maximise local job opportunities and build the resilience of regional communities.
“We are continuing to invest in infrastructure to meet the increasing demands of the region’s diverse mix of mining, agriculture and aquaculture industries, which are vital to building strong communities for people to live and work.
“Growing regional tourism by offering new experiences is key to making the Mid-West a must visit destination for visitors and to drive the region’s long term economic growth.”
| Applicant | Project | Funding |
| Vision 2020 Property Investment Partnership | The Gerald Apartment Hotel Conference Facility – to support the construction of 300-person conference facility in the Geraldton CBD to host regional conferences and support tourism in the region. | $250,000 |
| Shire of Cue | Heydon Place Industrial Development – for the construction of a new six-unit building in the Shire of Cue industrial area to support industry development and expansion in the region. | $135,000 |
| 4 Ways Pty Ltd | Innovative, integrated renewable water and power supply pilot – for an innovative project testing a dam evaporation and renewable energy system for horticultural production, which has the potential to significantly reduce valuable rainwater losses and support the businesses’ production area expansion within two years. Learnings and key findings on water and power savings will be shared with the wider horticultural industry. | $111,000 |
| Southerlys Harbour View Bar and Restaurant | Southerlys – will install a microbrewery and live lobster tank to build on food and beverage tourism experiences in the Dongara/Port Denison area. | $110,000 |
| Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative Ltd | Geraldton Fishing Boat Harbour Tourism Development – for the development of a fisher memorial and pioneers art installation, a shuttle bus to transfer tourists between sites of interest, improvement and upgrade of GFCs live lobster tour presentation room and a new photo nook at the facility. | $102,000 |
| Energy Farmers Australia Pty Ltd | Develop a market ready small-scale gasifier and establish a bioenergy hub in Mid-West WA – to support innovation in the bioenergy sector to develop and test a prototype gasifier to process organic waste and produce syngas, with a demonstration model produced in 2020. | $65,121 |
| City of Greater Geraldton | Night laser show at Wind on Water Festival – to provide a new tourism experience and attract additional visitors to the Geraldton area by adding a new night-time water and sensory laser light show to the festival. | $40,000 |
