14/8/00
The community facilities grants program this year has reached out to the junction of the Canning Stock Route and the Tanami Desert Road to assist travellers in this remote spot near Billiluna in the Halls Creek Shire.
Announcing this year’s grants, Local Government Minister Paul Omodei said the Mindibungu Aboriginal Corporation had been granted the $6,600 it sought to install tourist information signs at the junction of the two roads.
“The junction can be surprisingly busy, and there is a growing need for adequate signs, particularly for overseas travellers who have little awareness of the distances involved in outback travel,” Mr Omodei said.
“The $4 million, four-year program was designed to improve facilities such as public toilets, change rooms for mothers, rest areas, playgrounds and tourist information for local communities and the travelling public.
“The application from the Mindibungu Aboriginal Corporation is perhaps the last word in the State-wide application of the program.
“In its four years of operation, the program has generated more than $10 million worth of local government and community projects which have already made a significant difference to the travelling public.
“Throughout the program, there has been a strong emphasis on the needs of people with disabilities, including assistance to some road houses to install disabled access toilets.”
Mr Omodei said this year’s $1 million had been allocated to 60 projects chosen from 222 applications from across the State.
They had been assessed by a committee which consisted of representatives of the Department of Local Government, the Disability Services Commission, the WA Tourism Commission and the WA Municipal Association.
The Minister had accepted the committee’s recommendations.
Of this year’s grants, 44 had gone to local governments, 13 to community organisations and three to help provide disabled access toilets at Minilya Bridge Roadhouse, Corrigin Roadhouse, and the Balladonia Hotel Motel driveway site.
Grants had ranged from the maximum of $25,000 to $2,000.
Successful applicants (local governments unless otherwise indicated) were:
Balladonia Hotel Motel, Boddington, Boyup Brook, Broomehill, Bruce Rock, Cadoux Sports Council, Capel, Chapman Valley, Collie, Coorow, Corrigin Roadhouse, Cuballing, Dandaragan, Derby, Donnybrook;
Esperance Onwards 2000, Eaton Community Development Association, Geraldton, Harvey, Kalbarri Townscape Committee, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Katanning, Kellerberrin, Kendenup Community Grounds Committee, Kent, Kirup Progress Association, Koorda;
Lake King Progress Association, Laverton, Leschenault Progress Association, Mindibungu Aboriginal Corporation, Minilya Bridge Roadhouse, Moora, Mullewa, Muntadgin Progress Association, Murchison;
Nannup, Narrogin Town, Northam Town, Northam Shire, Northampton, Ravensthorpe, Roebourne, Swan, Shark Bay, Tambellup, Tammin, Three Springs, Trayning;
Victoria Plains, Wagin, Wandering, Wellstead Progress Association, West Arthur, Westonia, Wickepin, Yerecoin Progress Association, Yilgarn, York and Youngs Siding Progress Association.
Media contact: Hugh Ryan 9213 6700
