Lotterywest grant set to help revitalise Esperance town centre

• $4.78m Lotterywest grant to support Esperance’s James Street Cultural Precinct project
• Initiative to help revitalise town centre and create a civic and cultural place the local community and visitors can enjoy
• Precinct will support yearround programming, events, cultural activities and informal community use.

A project set to revitalise Esperance’s town centre is set to benefit from a $4.78 million Lotterywest grant.

Goldfields-Esperance Minister David Michael visited Esperance to present the grant on behalf of the Cook Labor Government as part of the broader$31.55 million James Street Cultural Precinct project.

An initiative of the Shire of Esperance, the James Street Cultural Precinct is a major civic and cultural infrastructure project designed to establish a centralised hub for community, cultural and tourism activity in Esperance.

The project will deliver a colocated facility incorporating a new library, visitor centre, museum, flexible community and arts spaces, along with a civic square, event stage, playground and supporting infrastructure such as landscaped open space and upgraded streetscapes.

The precinct is intended to operate as a multi-functional destination, supporting yearround programming, events, cultural activities and informal community use.

The proposal represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to support the development of community facilities and is the result of years of community consultation and planning.

It directly responds to identified community needs for improved facilities, a central meeting place, and increased activation of the town centre, and is expected to drive increased visitation, participation and social connection over the long term.

The Lotterywest grant will help fund the delivery of key community-facing elements of the precinct, including the outdoor stage, storage and change facilities, furniture, landscaping works, playground, contribution to the Esperance Volunteer Resource Centre and cultural interpretation and implementation.

As stated by Goldfields-Esperance Minister David Michael:

“The James Street Cultural Precinct is an important project set to revitalise the heart of Esperance and develop an improved cultural and visitor destination that brings the community together.

“The project will create a place where people can connect and learn, celebrate local heritage and visitors can enjoy the beginning of their Esperance experience.

“The development builds on the heritage of the former railway and Goods Shed, whilst creating contemporary spaces to support the growing community and future generations.

“I commend the Shire of Esperance on their planning and advocacy for this significant project and on its commitment to creating a place that serves the community for years to come.

“I look forward to seeing the project take shape and seeing how this Lotterywest grant is used to turn the precinct into a place the community can enjoy and be proud of for generations to come.”