BBRF packs a punch for Parkes electorate
A highlight of my week was sharing the exciting news that the Parkes electorate stands to benefit from a whopping $18.8 million under the latest round of the Federal Coalition Government’s Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).
A real standout was Cobar Shire Council which will receive a mammoth $6.8 million in grants – the largest sum of money being awarded to a Parkes electorate recipient under this round.
The Far West is receiving $2.4 million in projects, including an impressive $1.6 million for Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation for the WINGS ‘Our Youth, Our Future’ redevelopment, to demolish an aged building and construct a new purpose-built facility.
Of the total BBRF funding, more than $1.4 million will be spent on projects in Lake Cargelligo and Condobolin, including $825,000 which will be used by Lachlan Shire Council to upgrade the amenities building at the Lake Cargelligo Swimming Pool.
In the Dubbo and Western Plains region, there’s an enormous $8 million allocated across the communities of Dubbo, Dunedoo, Gongolgon, Warren, Gilgandra, Nyngan and Narromine. The largest grant for this region is worth $3.5 million and has gone to Warren Museum and Gallery Association to restore an architecturally significant building on the main street and fit it out as a museum, art gallery and artist-in-residence space.
BBRF is all about strengthening the local economy and delivering lasting benefits to our local communities which we know are suffering the flow-on impacts of drought. I’m thrilled to see this money going where it is needed most.
I’d encourage readers to head to my website www.markcoulton.com.au to read the full funding details across the 17 projects. Well done to all recipients on securing this important cash injection for our region!
Helping older Australians stay connected
Four small grants totalling $17,500 have been awarded in the Parkes electorate to help older residents stay connected.
Essence Natural Therapies in Gunnedah, and Community College Northern Inland at Gunnedah, Moree and Narrabri will all receive financial assistance under the Be Connected program.
With these funds, these groups will provide devices (such as a laptop or tablet and data plans) to older Australians who would otherwise be at risk of disconnecting.
Seventeen per cent of residents in the Parkes electorate are over 65 and many people in this age group are not always confident using digital technology.
These devices will help improve the online skills of our senior residents who are increasingly turning to the internet to access online services.
We must look out for those around us, particularly during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, and especially if those people are at risk of being socially isolated. I know that this digital support will be welcomed by the North West community.
Aussie made campaign
We are all being reminded of the value of buying home-grown products, with a new ad campaign launching recently to promote ‘Australian Made’.
When you buy Australian made you’re not just helping local businesses – you’re also supporting our manufacturers and all the businesses in their supply chains.
Last month I announced more than $1.7 million in grant funding for businesses in the Parkes electorate to modernise their operations, thanks to the Federal Government’s Manufacturing Modernisation Fund. This included Ben Furney Flour Mills in Dubbo and Allshelter in Lake Cargelligo.
The impact of COVID-19 gives us the opportunity as a nation to reassess and commit to the values of Australian made goods, such as those produced right in our backyard.