6/8/04
State Government funding for Peel region projects have created more than 130 new jobs over the past three years, Peel Minister Bob Kucera announced this week in Mandurah.
Mr Kucera said the region would benefit further from the State Government’s decision to increase funding available through the Regional Investment Fund.
“The State Government has committed an extra $5million to the fund to boost it from $75million to $80million over the next four years,” he said.
“This is fantastic news for the Peel region because many significant community projects that make a real difference to people living in the region can be funded.”
The Minister said there was also $400,000 available from the Regional Development Scheme (RDS), part of the Regional Investment Fund (RIF) and administered through the Peel Development Commission.
Over the past three years, the scheme has funded a total of 99 projects in the Peel region which have a project value of more than $12million. These projects to date have resulted in 132 jobs, with many more to be realised as the projects come to completion.
Mr Kucera said the RDS and RIF were a small part of the State Government’s jobs commitment to the region.
He made the increased funding announcement during a visit to the Mandurah Senior College on Wednesday, where he met students who had participated in the UniTrack project, funded through the RDS.
UniTrack is a partnership between the college and Murdoch University to enable Year 12 students from the Peel region to study two Murdoch University units. The project aims to give students a taste of university subjects and gain credits for future university studies.
“This program is a great encouragement for students, who can see and feel what university life will be like before they get there,” Mr Kucera said.
“The students I spoke to told me how beneficial the program was and I am pleased we have been able to fund it to help draw more students into continuing their studies.
“This is one of the many projects in the Peel region over the past three years funded through the Regional Development Scheme, which highlights the importance of partnerships between the State Government and organisations to leverage support from other areas for a successful outcome.
“The scheme is managed locally so funds are distributed where they are able to achieve the best outcomes for the community across the economic, social and environmental sectors.”
Applications to the scheme close on September 24, with further information available by contacting Tanya Bouffler at the commission on 9535 0000.
Minister's office: 9213 7000
