World-class mountain bike adventure trails are coming to Dwellingup, with the investment of almost $3.5 million by the Morrison Government.

Member for Canning Andrew Hastie announced this week that the Shire of Murray was successful in its application for $3,465,000 from the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

The Dwellingup Adventure Trails project will deliver 80 ongoing jobs to the town of Dwellingup and is expected to attract an additional 75,000 visitors to the Peel Region annually. Specific outputs of the project include:

• The construction of 20km of mountain bike trails in Murray Valley
• Realignment and improvement of 6km of the Munda-Biddi Trail
• Construction of an additional 12km of trails linking into and out of Dwellingup
• A new bridge across Murray River at Baden Powell reserve to join north and south mountain bike circuit
• Increased parking at key trail sites around the trails network
• Upgrades to sections of the Captain Fawcett 4WD trail
• Sealing the 28km arterial road inside Lane Poole Reserve

“The Peel Region is a beautiful place to live, work and play,” Mr Hastie said. “That’s why I’ve fought for funding from Canberra that will develop local job opportunities in the tourism industry.

“This project will transform Dwellingup and surrounding areas into a world class trails destination.  We expect Dwellingup to attract trail riders from around Australia and the world. The flow on benefits to the Peel region will be immense, contributing to our entire local economy.

“This grant comes in addition to the over $1.2 million we invested in 2017 to build the Dwellingup Trails Centre. That’s over $4.7 million we have delivered over the last two years to foster local jobs in tourism through this project alone.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Morrison Government is committed to ensuring Australia’s regions remain strong, resilient and prosperous in the long term.

“We are supporting our regions through investing in important local infrastructure, as well as great community-building and planning initiatives under the Building Better Regions Fund and other Government priorities such as the Regional Growth Fund and our decentralisation agenda,” Mr McCormack said.

“In this round we are also investing more than $70 million in regional tourism infrastructure, to support those many regional communities that rely on tourism to bolster their economy.

“We have seen fantastic outcomes from the first two rounds, and this announcement continues our commitment to unlocking the economic potential of regional Australia and ensuring our regions continue to thrive.”

Communities in Canning are invited to apply for a share in $200 million under Round 3 of the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.

Andrew Hastie MP is urging groups and organisations in the Peel Region and beyond to take advantage of the fund, and get local infrastructure and community-building projects of all sizes off the ground. 

“This fund is dedicated to unlocking the economic potential in remote and regional Australia.

“Our region has already benefited from rounds one and two of the Building Better Regions Fund with $6.5 million invested into five projects in Pinjarra, Waroona, Dwellingup, and Preston Beach - driving economic growth in Canning and delivering lasting benefits to our communities.

“I encourage all eligible organisations with a great project idea to apply for the third round of funding,” said the Member for Canning.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the projects delivered under Round 3 will ensure regional and remote communities continue to thrive.

“We have had fantastic outcomes over the first two funding rounds of the Coalition Government’s Building Better Regions Fund and I expect Round 3 to deliver more of the same with up to $45 million earmarked to increase tourism,” Mr McCormack said.

“Tourism is a major industry in many of our regional areas, and this investment in tourism-related infrastructure projects will draw more visitors to remote and regional Australia and the economic benefits they bring with them.

“In this third round we are investing a further $200 million – a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to investing in projects that create jobs, build regional economies and ensure strong and resilient regional communities into the future.”

Applications close on 15 November 2018.

Further information on eligibility and how to apply is available at infrastructure.gov.au/bbrf.

• Regional Growth Fund is now open for initial applications

• Program will provide grants for major projects valued over $20 million

• Initial Applications close on 27 April 2018

The Coalition Government’s highly anticipated Regional Growth Fund is officially open for applications on projects that could shape the future of the region.

Member for Canning Andrew Hastie said the $272 million Regional Growth Fund would support major projects in regional Australia that delivered long-term economic benefits.

“The Regional Growth Fund will support additional investment for projects with the potential to develop the local economy, including from the private sector, other levels of government, and not-for-profit organisations.

We want to support regional communities and harness their natural economic strengths,” name said.

“Initial applications close on 27 April 2018 and I encourage eligible organisations in the Peel region to apply.”

Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government John McVeigh said the Coalition Government would invest a minimum of $10 million toward each successful infrastructure project, representing a maximum of 50 per cent of project costs.

“The Regional Growth Fund will be a game-changer across Australia by unlocking government funding for projects that have the capacity to transform regional areas,” Dr McVeigh said.

“Successful projects will provide greater support for existing industries such as agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, allowing them to innovate and flourish."

“I look forward to working together with local organisations to deliver more jobs and more opportunities across regional Australia.”

For more information on the program, including the application process, visit www.grants.gov.au

On 12 February Andrew addressed parliament about the erosion issues facing the Murray Delta Islands community:

I rise today to share the concerns of the delta islands residents in my electorate of Canning. Located in the Shire of Murray, the Murry River delta islands area is a network of low-lying islands and estuaries where the Murray and Serpentine rivers meet the Peel Harbour estuary. In the 1970s and eighties, the estuaries were attacked by algal bloom as a result of nutrient run-off and stagnation.

To overcome this problem,a decision was made in the nineties to build a channel between the estuary and ocean at Dawesville. The channel would ensure that nutrient-rich estuary water could flush out to sea, and that the incoming salt water could restrict algae growth. While the Dawesville cut has solved the algae problem, the increased salinity in the estuary has resulted in serious erosion of the riverbanks, particularly in the delta islands area of South Yunderup.

After being contacted by a frustrated group of island residents who have been battling this for years, I recently visited the islands to examine the erosion myself. The erosion is significant—much like its effect on local housing prices. 

Led by Don MacLure, the delta island residents have offered their time and labour to the Shire of Murray to install infrastructure that would solve and slow the effects of erosion. Instead, the shire is focused on combating rising sea levels, which are unlikely to affect the islands until 2070—if, indeed, you accept the modelling.

Given the very real threat of erosion, I understand the residents' frustration with the Shire of Murray's priorities. I hope that, under new president David Bolt, the Shire of Murray will use its resources to address the erosion in South Yunderup.

The Murray  Delta Islands residents deserve practical solutions. I look forward to working together to deliver them.

Federal Member for Canning Andrew Hastie has urged organisations to apply for Round Two of the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF), with applications now open for funding to support further job creation and economic growth in regional and rural Australia.

Mr Hastie said the Peel region had already benefitted from Round One, with $3 million delivered towards the Shire of Murray’s Dwellingup Trails Hub and Quambie Park’s Waroona Housing Options Village.

“The Shires of Murray and Waroona put considerable effort into their submissions, and it’s great to see the Peel region will benefit as a result of their advocacy.

“Job creation is a priority, and this program will bring local jobs for local residents. It will deliver jobs in construction, tourism and health care, and boost local businesses,” said the Member for Canning. 

Andrew Hastie also said he was pleased to note that more rural towns in the Peel region are eligible in Round Two.

“This decision recognises the rural character of the Peel region. While we have urban areas, particularly in the City of Mandurah, we are largely a rural region. This fund is designed to build economic growth in rural parts of Australia,” said Mr Hastie.

“The Shire of Murray will now be able to include projects in towns such as Coolup, Nambeelup, Pinjarra, Fairbridge and North Dandalup. The City of Mandurah has also benefited with rural areas such as Parklands, Clifton and Herron now included in the eligible area.

“The City of Mandurah can apply for funding for projects in high-density urban areas that are ineligible, so long as they demonstrate that the project will benefit the Peel region,” he said. 

“I’ve already met with the Shires of Murray and Serpentine-Jarrahdale to discuss their priority projects, so now is the time to make these ideas a reality. With submissions closing on 19 December 2017 for both streams, I encourage all eligible organisations to get their application in,” said Mr Hastie.

Strong advocacy for the Peel region has been vindicated today, with the announcement that two major local projects have won funding through the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).

Member for Canning Andrew Hastie today announced that the expansion of Quambie Park Waroona and the Dwellingup National Trails Centre will become reality, with almost $3 million to be awarded to the two projects. 

“This is a great result and evidence that the strong grassroots advocacy of the Peel region is being heard in Canberra,” Mr Hastie said.

“I’ve been working for some time with Shire of Murray President Cr Maree Reid and CEO Dean Unsworth on the Dwellingup Trails Centre. I’ve also worked with Quambie Park CEO Nicole Gibbs, Chairperson Mike Walmsley and Board members on the Waroona Housing Options Village. We’re all very excited to see these projects get up.”

 “Both of these projects are worthy recipients of BBRF funding that will service and strengthen our local communities.”