The State Government today announced more than $3.5million in grants for local governments and regional bodies for aviation, boating and cycling facilities.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said three State Government schemes were designed to assist country communities in building infrastructure for air service, recreational boating and cycling.
Boating enthusiasts in 14 regional centres along the coast of Western Australia, from the South-West corner through to the Kimberley, would benefit from more than $748,000 in funding to improve facilities.
Ms MacTiernan said a State-wide, 10 per cent growth in registered recreational vessels over the past two years was putting strain on existing boating facilities.
“The Recreational Boating Facilities Scheme (RBFS) allows the State Government to meet this increasing demand for new and improved boating infrastructure by reinvesting boat owners’ registration fees,” she said.
“Since 2001, the scheme has distributed almost $6million across 143 projects, to local governments and other agencies which provide boating facilities.”
The Minister announced that she was considering a further mini-round of RBFS funding in the next six months to use surplus funds from the unspent allocation, with a review of the scheme, including the limits of the project size and percentage funded, to be assessed.
A total of 19 regional airport projects would share in more than $2million, courtesy of the latest round of Regional Airports Development Scheme (RADS) grants.
Ms MacTiernan said the funding would improve access to community services, emergency evacuations and essential supplies.
“Better airports also create new economic opportunities in tourism and aviation-related business,” she said.
“The funding is part of the State Government’s commitment to building stronger regional communities by ensuring they receive their share of the infrastructure dollar.”
Since 2001, more than $14.2million of RADS funding has been committed to regional aviation infrastructure projects.
State Government funding totalling $750,000 will help improve cycling facilities in regional WA, with this year’s Country Pathways Grant Scheme (CPGS) bringing much-needed cyclist and pedestrian shared path facilities to regional areas.
"Shared paths help residents increase their fitness, either through walking or cycling and provide more sustainable transport options within a community,” the Minister said.
"This year, a total of 80 project applications were received for the CPGS, which demonstrates a strong demand for these paths and the success of the program,”
The Minister said.
Since 2001, the Government has allocated a total of more than $25million to regional areas through these three grant schemes.
To view the successful projects under the three funding schemes, visit http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au or click the links below:
CPGS:
http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/cycling_countrypath08and09.pdf
RADS:
http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/aviation/1347.asp#rads
RBFS:
http://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/mar_nca_rbfs_grants13.pdf
Minister's office - 9213 6400 
