The McGowan Government’s Regional Economic Development (RED) grants are set to provide a boost to manufacturing, tourism and Aboriginal business development across the Kimberley.
Eight Kimberley projects will share in $903,664 through Round Two of the RED grants, as part of the McGowan Government’s $28.8 million funding commitment over five years to stimulate regional economies.
Broome’s McKeno Corporation Pty Ltd has been awarded $145,000 for a tyre recycling project, which uses a mechanical process to shred the rubber from used tyres into granules to develop resilient masonry products.
The Shire of Halls Creek will receive $175,000 to provide training, assessment and qualifications to Indigenous business, which will allow community members to boost their skills and engage in works on planned major road upgrades.
Kullarri Regional Communities Indigenous Corporation will receive $90,000 to train a workforce to provide roadside maintenance on the upgraded Broome-Cape Leveque Road.
Yeeda Pastoral Company will receive $95,000 towards a public access truck wash and weighbridge adjacent to its Colourstone abattoir, improving efficiency and productivity for the northern cattle industry.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“Our Government is committed to diversifying the Kimberley economy and creating job opportunities for Aboriginal people in the region.
“We’re investing in projects that will help to drive the local construction industry: using recycled products to locally produce new building materials, and supporting skills development for Aboriginal businesses and workers.
“Yeeda Pastoral Company’s truck wash and weighbridge project is a real boost for the northern cattle industry, saving time and money for pastoralists with a local washdown facility.”
As stated by Kimberley MLA Josie Farrer:
“The RED grants program is delivering local job opportunities right across the Kimberley.
“It is great to see projects in this round of RED grants that support Aboriginal business opportunities and Aboriginal jobs on State Government road projects.”
Successful RED grants projects for the Kimberley region:
| Applicant | Project | Funding |
| Shire of Halls Creek | Indigenous Civil Training Group – The Shire of Halls Creek will assist in developing and supporting indigenous businesses by providing training, assessment and tickets/qualifications required for Main Roads WA work. | $175,000 |
| Kullarri Regional Communities Indigenous Corporation (KRCIC) | KRCIC Roadworks Maintenance & Traffic Management – Kullarri Regional Communities Indigenous Corporation will provide a skills development program to establish a new a roadside maintenance team to undertake works on the upgraded Broome-Cape Leveque Road. | $90,000 |
| Woolah Aboriginal Corporation | Doon Doon Caravan Park and Campground Entry, Signage and Amenity – Construction and upgrade of caravan park and campground amenities at this newly established Camping with Custodians project, including new campground entrance signage, BBQ shelters and shade structures. | $45,000 |
| Goolarri Media Enterprises | Kimberley Girl 2020 – The Kimberley Girl Project forms part of the overarching Young Indigenous Women’s Pathways Program which provides mentoring for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women between the ages of 16 and 25. The highly successful program includes structured workshops, events, nationally accredited training and aftercare support. | $81,000 |
| McKeno Corporation Pty Ltd | McKeno Tyrepave – An innovative project using a mechanical process to shred recycled tyres into granules and in conjunction with McKeno Blocks and Pavers developing those granules into new masonry products to support the building industry. | $145,000 |
| Magabala Books Aboriginal Corporation | Indigenous Publishing Cadetship – Magabala Books will implement a two-year cadetship to provide on the job training, professional development and sustainable employment for an Indigenous publishing cadet. | $78,664 |
| Lombadina Aboriginal Corporation | Lombadina Tourism Amenities Upgrade – The Lombadina Aboriginal Corporation will undertake tourism infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the anticipated increase in visitors to the Dampier Peninsula due to the sealing of the Cape Leveque Road. The upgrades include the purchase and installation of three four-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit each with ensuites, plus a laundry with washing machines and dryers. | $194,000 |
| Yeeda Pastoral Company Pty Ltd | Colourstone public access truck wash and weighbridge – The Yeeda Pastoral Company will build a public access truck wash and weighbridge immediately adjacent to its strategically located Colourstone Abattoir, improving efficiency and productivity for the northern cattle Industry. | $95,000 |
