Media Statements - Indigenous communities share in round two of the Pilbara Fund

27/10/05

Pilbara Minister Jon Ford says eight projects targeted mainly at indigenous communities will share more than $1.3million in round two grants from the Pilbara Fund.

The biggest single grant of more than $604,817 will help extend the Yaandina Community Care Centre in the town of Roebourne.

The total budget of the project is more than $4million.

“This is a vital service in Roebourne which mainly helps elderly indigenous people, child care clients, their families and their friends,” Mr Ford said.

“The extension of Yaandina will see the centre cater for 17 aged care residents, with community and child care facilities all based at the one location.”

The Martu people of the western desert region will receive a grant of $81,323 to develop an archive system to record their culture and heritage.

Mining and Pastoral MLC Shelley Archer is touring the Pilbara announcing the details of round two grants.

“One of the great strengths of the Pilbara Fund is that the money is being spent on priorities identified by the community,” Ms Archer said.

“In total, $6.2million has been allocated to 43 projects across the four shires in the region.”

Ms Archer said most of the money was going to projects put forward by local government and community groups.

The successful indigenous projects are:

Town of Port Hedland

$33,604 to Western Australian Country Health Service to help buy a bus for use by the Yalanya Residential Care Service;
$300,000 to Wirraka Maya Health Service to help build a house to attract and retain doctors to the area; and
$36,000 to the Pilbara Indigenous Women’s Aboriginal Corporation to buy a bus to transport people from outlying communities to Port Hedland.

Shire of Roebourne

$604,817 to Yaandina Family Centre to assist with the extension and upgrading of its community care centre in Roebourne; and
$79,426 to the Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation to buy equipment for a community television station in Roebourne.

Shire of East Pilbara

$67,407 to the Shire of East Pilbara to employ an arts officer who will establish an Aboriginal Arts Enterprise Project;
$100,000 to the remote Kunawarritji Aboriginal community for the refurbishment of the community store; and
$81,323 to Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation to develop an archive system to record the culture and heritage of the Martu People.

Mr Ford said the Gallop Government was ensuring that indigenous communities receive their fair share.

Minister's office - 9425 4200