South West Businesses Receive $5 Million Injection

  • The Western Australian Government has awarded $5 million to 65 community groups and small businesses in the South West
  • The funds from the second and final round of the Community Small Grants Fund (CSGF) are part of the $80 million Native Forestry Transition Plan

The WA Government, through the Community Small Grants Fund, has awarded $5 million to 65 community groups and small businesses in former South West timber communities.

Grants of up to $100,000 were available for applicants with the total fund increased to $5 million, up from the previously announced $2 million figure.

This is the second and final round of the CSGF which was aimed at stimulating and diversifying the economy in WA’s native forest region.

Successful recipient projects include building new facilities at Nannup Men’s Shed, to allow more community workshops to be offered with a focus on mateship and mental health, as well as the construction of a new ‘Bikepackers’ hostel and nature play area at the Toy Library, also in Nannup.

Other successful projects around the region include an expansion to the Pemberton aged-care facilities, an upgrade to the Pemberton Sports Club and continuing the preservation of historic buildings in Donnelly River.

In addition, an extension has been granted to the Business Transition Program (BTP) and Workforce Transition Program (WTP) until the end of 2025.

This allows financial support to continue to be accessed by impacted businesses and workers for a further 12 months.

For more information on the BTP and WTP see: WA.gov.au | Native Forest Transition (www.wa.gov.au)

Since September 2021, the WA Government has committed $80 million to support the transition of workers, businesses, and communities linked to the native forest industry.

The WA Government has also invested a record $350 million establishing new softwood plantations across the South West, which will create and support WA forestry jobs.

The decision to end native forest logging saves an additional 400,000 hectares of karri, jarrah and wandoo forests, resulting in the protection of almost two million hectares of native forest for future generations.

As stated by Forestry Minister Jackie Jarvis:

“The WA Government remains committed to supporting community groups and small businesses in the South West who have been impacted by the end to commercial native forest logging.

“These 65 recipients will all benefit from the Community Small Grants Fund and be able to evolve their businesses as well as contribute to the ongoing prosperity of the region.

“I am pleased to extend both the Business Transition and Workforce Transition Programs for another 12 months to ensure as many impacted people have access to these vital resources.”

As stated by Warren-Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie:

“This funding has helped bring new energy to the South West by supporting small businesses and community groups across the region to do fantastic things for their local community.

“I am particularly excited about the new nature play area at the Toy Library in Nannup, which will be welcomed by families, and the new ‘Bikepackers’ hostel, which will provide a new attraction for tourists.

“These projects make our regional towns better places to live, visit and importantly they diversify the local economy.”

Community Small Grants Fund recipients

Recipient

Location

Approved Funding

The Wild Elopement Co

Nannup

$96,230.00

Eight Acres Permaculture & WILD Ones Forest School

Pemberton

$48,535.00

Bridgetown Manjimup Chiropractic

Manjimup

$77,043.20

Nannup Men’s Shed Inc.

Nannup

$100,000.00

YeYe Natural Farm

Nannup

$98,808.02

Nannup WA Geopark

Nannup

$9,570.00

Arb Skills WA

Bridgetown

$68,198.38

Blackwood Fired Bread

Jalbarragup

$77,349.60

Dunreath Cottages Inc.

Manjimup

$100,000.00

Serenity Gully

East Perth

$100,000.00

Black Cockatoo Distillery

Bridgetown

$97,100.00

Sunset Palms

Balbarrup

$78,402.00

OMG Mushrooms

Nannup

$93,918.00

Shire of Nannup

Nannup

$99,733.00

On Track Mountain Biking

Abbey

$58,049.81

Freshwater Anglers of Western Australia Inc T/A WA Branch of the Australian Trout Foundation

Bassendean

$57,280.00

Pemberton 1919 Heritage School Preservation Inc.

Pemberton

$68,000.00

The Pemberton Tramway Company Pty Ltd

Pemberton

$97,000.00

TigerValley Gallery

Nannup

$100,000.00

Southern Forests Food Council Inc.

Manjimup

$85,000.00

Bridgetown Greenbushes Tourism Association

Bridgetown

$100,000.00

Pemberton Aged Accommodation Inc.

Pemberton

$100,000.00

Manjimup Imperials Recreation Club

Manjimup

$95,707.00

Blues at Bridgetown Inc.

Bridgetown

$88,511.50

Northcliffe Family Centre Inc.

Northcliffe

$47,737.00

Manjimup Trail Bike Hub Inc.

Manjimup

$67,141.00

Southern Forests Food Technology Pty Ltd

Manjimup

$100,000.00

Farmlink Rural

Manjimup

$100,000.00

Bridgetown Historical Society Inc.

Bridgetown

$49,927.00

DeiTos Vineyard Wines

Middlesex

$89,595.00

MW Superannuation

Nannup

$100,000.00

Talvi Estate

Yanmah

$100,000.00

Friends of Donnelly Village Inc.

Donnelly River

$40,000.00

Ashbil Community Garden Bridgetown Inc.

Bridgetown

$20,764.28

Blackwood Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.

Bridgetown

$94,420.00

Bridgetown Football Club

Bridgetown

$99,274.10

Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes

Bridgetown

$100,000.00

Jaspers Pemberton

Pemberton

$79,843.94

Cherry Lane Fields

Manjimup

$100,000.00

Manjimup Historical Society

Manjimup

$100,000.00

Pemberton Mill Hall Restoration Committee

Pemberton

$50,911.00

W.A. Bush Fire Museum and Heritage Group Inc.

Bridgetown

$90,949.00

Southern Forest Arts

Northcliffe

$95,000.00

Geegeelup Village Inc.

Bridgetown

$100,000.00

Pemberton Bowls Club Inc.

Pemberton

$100,000.00

Manjimup Community Resource Centre Inc.

Manjimup

$100,000.00

Pemberton Discovery Tours Pty Ltd

Callcup

$98,687.88

Shire of Manjimup

Manjimup

$87,300.00

Manjimup Arts Hub Inc.

Manjimup

$20,600.00

Pemberton Community Resource Centre

Pemberton

$50,500.00

Pemberton Sports Club Inc.

Pemberton

$95,115.00

Quinninup Community Association

Quinninup

$94,800.00

St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School

Bridgetown

$100,000.00

Nanna’s Pantry

Nannup

$46,500.00

Pemberley of Pemberton

Eastbrook

$99,630.00

Boyup Brook Community Mental Health Action Team Inc.

Boyup Brook

$31,162.00

Lions Club of Nannup Inc.

Nannup

$100,000.00

Bridgetown Hub

Bridgetown

$18,960.00

Fallobst

Bridgetown

$40,300.00

Pemberton Golf Club Inc.

Pemberton

$21,250.00

Northcliffe Golf Club Inc.

Northcliffe

$25,349.50

Mountford Vineyard

Channybearup

$98,406.80

Manjimup Netball Association Inc.

Manjimup

$30,481.90

Blue Ridge Marron

Yanmah

$80,126.10

Pemberton Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc.

Pemberton

$55,000.00

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