The Illawarra region was awarded $6,700,000 in funding on 8 October 2021 by the federal government for two projects – one for social housing and the other tennis infrastructure.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Barnaby Joyce, announced the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) successful projects.
RDA Illawarra welcomed the significant funding for the two Illawarra based projects. Debra Murphy, CEO of RDA Illawarra said “this is a great win for the region, with $6.7 million in federal government funding for the two projects, and a total combined investment of nearly $16 million. RDA Illawarra is pleased to have supported both applicants through the grant application development process.”
Southern Youth and Family Services has been awarded $5.668 million towards an $11.335 million project to construct 21 new social housing units for disadvantaged youth. This project is based on a holistic social housing and integrated case management model and will deliver solid employment outcomes for young disadvantaged people who are in significant need in the Illawarra. . Debra Murphy said “the project will provide much-needed social housing for disadvantaged youth in a holistic and integrated manner for the Illawarra region.”
Tennis NSW has been awarded $1 million towards a $4.63 million project to expand, upgrade and install infrastructure to create a nationally significant tennis venue at Beaton Park. This project, which has significant funding commitment from Wollongong City Council as owners of the land at Beaton Park, will see the construction of eight new international competition tennis courts, six additional community tennis courts and associated precinct developments to deliver the Wollongong Regional Tennis Hub. Debra Murphy said “the project will deliver an additional eleven tennis events each year, or an additional 27,650 overnight visitor stays in the Illawarra region, which is a welcome tourism boost for the region as we re-open our economy.”
The federal government has invested $300m in funding projects across the nation in Round 5, and the Deputy Prime Minister said “Investing in tourism will protect existing jobs and create new ones, while positioning regional towns and economies to capitalise on Australia’s post-COVID recovery as borders reopen and people start travelling again.”
Funding the infrastructure and services that regional and remote communities need for the future will help them rebound strongly from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government has now invested $1.38 billion across five rounds of the BBRF, funding nearly 1,300 projects to support regional jobs and economies.
Details of successful projects under Round 5 are available at the links below:
Infrastructure Projects Stream