- Nine Great Southern projects to share in $1.13 million Regional Economic Development (RED) Grant funding
- Cook Government investments support regional job creation in agribusiness, tourism, childcare, civil construction, training and hospitality sectors
Nine Great Southern projects will share in $1.13 million funding to help build regional business resilience and economic diversity under Round 7 of the Cook Government’s Regional Economic Development Grants program.
The RED Grants program is investing $55.85 million over nine years toward locally-driven projects to stimulate economic growth in the regions.
The announcement was made by Regional Development Minister Don Punch today at the Mount Barker Veterinary Hospital, which was one of the successful Great Southern recipients.
They will use their $225,000 grant to construct a purpose-built equine medical and surgical facility. This expansion will provide a new equine surgery and advanced medical care services which are currently not available in the Great Southern region.
The new facility will complement existing operations and include a surgical theatre, recovery box, treatment areas, lameness evaluation, pharmacy, instrument preparation area, horse stalls, and an office. The project will create an additional four full-time jobs and trainee position for the community.
Among other Round 7 recipients is Rockcliffe Winery Pty Ltd, which has been awarded $225,000 for Project Innovate – to produce premium, low and zero-alcohol Western Australian wine.
The funding will be used to purchase and install innovative Spinning Cone Column technology, which enhances the aroma, flavour and sensory profile of wine, while selectively removing ethanol to dealcoholise the beverage.
The project will enhance and diversify the region’s wine industry by adding value throughout the supply chain, tapping into new retail markets and creating four new full-time jobs.
Two RED Grants have also been awarded $40,000 to Albany-based childcare providers to increase the town’s childcare capacity.
Allosaurus Pty Ltd will use their grant to construct the Bayonet Head Early Learning Centre, which will benefit more than 100 families by creating an additional 70 childcare places and up to 30 new jobs in Albany upon completion in March 2025.
The Village Childcare Services will use their grant to expand their existing After School Care and Vacation Care (OSHC) operations in Albany. The project will open up a further 30-35 long day care places for children aged 6 weeks to 4 years and create another 11 jobs and three traineeship positions.
This investment builds on the $140,000 RED Grant Village Childcare received in Round 6, which has seen their operations grow to support up to 180 children on a regular basis.
Two Indigenous businesses have also been awarded funding to boost local Aboriginal training and employment opportunities in the region.
Tambal Solutions Pty Ltd will use their $93,900 grant to deliver in-house grader operator training to a minimum of 16 trainees over a 12-month period. The training course will enhance local skills and capability and create career opportunities for Indigenous employees in the civil construction and mining sectors.
A $76,900 grant to Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation will be used to accelerate the training, employment and deployment of a Noongar Heritage Services workforce in the Great Southern region.
Successful projects in Round 7 will diversify the agribusiness and tourism offering in the Great Southern, and support regional job creation in the childcare, civil construction, training and hospitality sectors.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
“The Regional Economic Development Grants offer a unique opportunity to diversify our regional economies and create new jobs and sustainable employment opportunities.
“Since the inception of this program, the WA Labor Government has invested more than $3.8 million dollars in 40 locally-driven projects in the Great Southern, helping to build a better region for the local community.
“Congratulations to all the successful REDs recipients this year; the diverse range of Great Southern projects reflect the robust, thriving, and innovative work happening across the region.
“With a record $10 million on offer for Round 7 ‘Mega REDs’, we are fostering regional development that is making meaningful change, creating real jobs and diversifying regional economies.”
Successful Round 7 RED Grant recipients – Great Southern
Grant Applicant | Project | Grant Amount |
Triple B Vet Pty Ltd trading as Mt Barker Veterinary Hospital Mt Barker Equine Medical Centre | Construction and fit-out of a purpose-built equine medical and surgical facility in the Shire of Plantagenet. | $225,000 |
Rockcliffe Winery Pty Ltd | Project Innovate – harnessing technology to create Western Australia’s first premium, low-alcohol wine. | $225,000 |
Stephens Ag Pty Ltd trading as Total Ag Centre | Total Ag Centre Machinery Dealership Expansion to enhance services in the Great Southern region. | $150,000 |
GNP 360 Cooperative Ltd | Gnowangerup Hotel Renovation: Accommodation upgrades to expand accommodation options for contractors and visitors in Gnowangerup. | $150,000 |
Mrs Jones Cafe Pty Ltd | Mrs Jones Venue Expansion to modernise and expand the kitchen and dining areas and foster new economic opportunities by redevelopment of the Old Butter Factory in Denmark. | $130,000 |
Tambal Solutions Pty Ltd | Tambal Training & Labour Hire to provide in-house grader operator training to upskill Indigenous clients and create career pathways in the civil and mining sectors | $93,900 |
Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation | Heritage Services Training Program will accelerate training and employment of a Heritage Services workforce and provides a pathway to Certificate III – On Country Management. | $76,900 |
Allosaurus Pty Ltd | Establishment of a new Bayonet Head Early Learning Centre in Albany, offering daily care for over 70 children and significantly increasing Albany’s childcare capacity. | $40,000 |
The Village Childcare Services Pty Ltd | Expanding Long Day Care in Albany, opening a further 30-35 long day care places for children aged 6 weeks to 4 years. | $40,000 |
