Regional growth lifts the profile
MEDIA RELEASE - Regional growth lifts the profile
July 2016
The Shire of Manjimup was host to the Hon. Premier Colin Barnett MLA and the Hon. Terry Redman MLA in Manjimup today.The visit brought more good news of Royalties for Regions funding and gave Shire President Wade DeCampo, along with the Warren Blackwood Alliance of Councils and the Southern Forests Food Council, the opportunity to showcase the region's tourism and agriculture potential.
Minister Redman announced Royalties for Regions funding of $249,365 which will be put towards the construction of a five bed Respite Wing at the new Wellness and Respite Community Centre. This successful grant funding application complements the federal funding of $750,000 along with Lotterywest funding of $1,044,000, already announced for the Wellness and Respite Community Centre in 2015.
Shire President Wade DeCampo explained how the construction of the centre is broken up into components, with the five bed respite wing aiming to reduce the pressures on acute care beds within the facility, whilst still providing out of home respite resources in the region for people with dementia. "It's about providing support for our community members, not only for those with a disability, but for those who have caring responsibilities for people with disabilities," said Cr DeCampo. "Reducing stress, improving wellbeing and enabling people to age in place are just a few of the benefits that will come of this facility, in particular, the respite wing."
The Premier and Minister were then given a presentation by Shire President Wade DeCampo detailing the growth in the region as a result of the Manjimup Town Centre Revitalisation project and other economic drivers, and pitched an idea for an iconic tourist destination in Manjimup to draw more people to visit and stay in the region for longer. "We want people to take the inland route to the Southern Forests, and whilst we have several unique features that bring people here, we don't have a stand-out attraction that other regions have," explained Cr DeCampo. "We have an advantage when it comes to natural attractions, but not when it comes to a 'hook' attraction; for example the capes have the cave experience and the great southern has the tree top walk. An icon is about giving people a Southern Forests experience as opposed to just 'seeing' it."
Executive Officer for the Warren Blackwood Strategic Alliance of Councils, Katie Drummond, presented on the proposal for a Local Tourism Organisation, emphasising tourism as a key priority for the region. The Premier and Minister Redman were then given a tour of the new High Pressure Processing facility at Advance Packing and Marketing Services and had the chance to discuss the growth of agriculture with the Southern Forests Food Council and local producers.
"We have so much going in our region and this was the opportunity for us to give the Premier and the Minister a local perspective. It's a really good sign that they came seeking additional knowledge to take back to the City. We want them to back our proposals - these initiatives are the building blocks for tourism and there hasn't been anything done in our region for quite some time in the way of a draw card. Now is the time for us to really put the region, and WA, on the map," concluded Cr DeCampo.
-ENDS-
Authorised by Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer
Contact Gina Nieuwendyk, Coordinator Communication and Executive Support
Contact: 9771 7777
Contact for comment: Wade DeCampo, Shire President.
Contact: 0427 094 081
