The McGowan Government is investing in digital tourism, boosting business productivity and sustainable farming in the Peel region through more than $600,000 in Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants.
Seven projects across the Peel region will share in $618,960 through Round 2 of the RED Grants program.
The McGowan Government has committed $28.8 million over five years towards the RED Grants program for projects that will drive jobs and economic development in regional communities.
The iconic Pinjarra Bakery will receive $100,000 to upgrade its distribution centre and equipment to improve efficiency and production capacity to take advantage of increasing wholesale market opportunities and to support its recent fourth store opening.
The Shire of Murray will use its $150,000 to complete a state-of-the-art technology fit-out of the Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre, making it a State and potentially nationally acclaimed iconic trails and tourism centre and the gateway to adventuring in the Peel region.
Visit Mandurah has been allocated $139,100 to create a digital tourism hub and develop a walking tour and visit Mandurah ambassador program.
New interactive touchscreen visitor centre kiosks will be installed across the Mandurah tourism precinct for visitors to discover the city, while the walking trail and ambassador program will tell the stories of the people, places and produce across the region.
C-Wise will allocate their $100,000 to building and trialling specialised enclosures to receive, decontaminate, blend and process organic waste from the Peel region to produce higher performance compost products in less time, using less space.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“The Regional Economic Development Grants program is all about supporting local, job-creating projects across our regional cities and towns.
“Projects to attract more visitors to the Peel region will provide wider economic and community benefits to support other local businesses such as cafés, restaurants, accommodation providers and tour operators.
“We look forward to seeing Pinjarra Bakery pies in stores around the State, helping to create local jobs on the ground in Pinjarra.”
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“We are excited about the diversity of projects we are supporting in the Peel.
“These projects play to the Peel’s natural strengths in tourism and agriculture: from supporting Dwellingup’s development into a renowned trails hub to exploring innovative waste management to boost productivity on farms across the State.
“Expansion of businesses, agriculture diversification and investigating new opportunities for producers are vital to growing the Peel region.”
As stated by Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke:
“We have so many wonderful local businesses in the Peel region and this new round of $600,000 will help promote them to a broader audience.
“I’m particularly pleased the Pinjarra Bakery is receiving additional funding. It’s a rite of passage to drop by and grab a pie on your way into Pinjarra and this money will help them expand further and mean more people can try our delicious locally made goods.”
As stated by Mandurah MLA David Templeman:
“This is fantastic news for the Peel region and it is wonderful to see Visit Mandurah receive funds to create a digital tourism hub in the Mandurah tourism precinct.
“This will help boost tourism to our region and boost the local economy.”
Successful RED Grants projects for the Peel region:
| Applicant | Project | Funding |
| Shire of Murray | To complete a state-of-the-art technology fit-out of the Dwellingup Trails and Visitor Centre, making it a State and potentially nationally acclaimed iconic trails and tourism centre promoting Dwellingup and the greater Shire of Murray and Peel region. | $150,000 |
| Visit Mandurah | To create a digital tourism hub in the Mandurah tourism precinct, and develop a walking tour and visit Mandurah ambassador program to tell the stories of the people, places and produce across the region. | $139,100 |
| Pinjarra Bakery | To upgrade its distribution centre and equipment to improve efficiency and production capacity to take advantage of increasing wholesale market opportunities and to support its recently opened fourth store. | $100,000 |
| C-Wise | To build and trial specialised enclosures to receive, decontaminate, blend and process organic waste from the Peel region. | $100,000 |
| Southern Dirt Inc | Through the Peel Growers Hub, to provide networking activities and deliver three pilot projects looking at opportunities within the premium beef supply chain, the future food conference and a protected cropping pilot – to support farmers to maintain and build profitable farm businesses in the Peel region. | $65,000 |
| Cape Bouvard Brewing Company | To upgrade the existing facility’s brewing equipment to increase production capacity by at least 400 per cent and to introduce aluminium bottles to reduce the environmental footprint of the company as well as giving the company a distinct market edge. The facility will also be available as a common user facility for other beverage producers to bottle into aluminium bottles. | $49,860 |
| Grubs Up Australia | To take part in a 16-week international research and development study tour in 2020 in collaboration with Nuffield Farming Scholars. The international research and development tour will increase Grubs Up’s capacity to commercialise insect farming within the Peel region, gain insights into best practice, build international relationships for future business partnerships, and create local employment and sustainable farming opportunities. | $15,000 |
