BEAUTIFICATION is the word in Waikerie, as a funding injection of almost $1 million will go towards further landscaping in the CBD and river-front development.
Waikerie received $900,000 in Federal Government funding, via the District Council of Loxton Waikerie (DCLW) with $450,000 for the Waikerie River-front Revitalisation Project and $450,000 for the Waikerie CBD Revitalisation.
The grant will fund a walking trail at the Waikerie river front, and will continue town beautification on White Street.
DCLW CEO David Beaton said the announcement is “fantastic news” for Waikerie.
“The walking path at the river front will stretch from the Waikerie ferry to the second boat ramp,” he said.
“While we haven’t got design plans yet, we’re hoping to have a two metre-wide path, probably of hotmix, which will be easier for gophers and prams to traverse.
“The path will be lit up at night, and will continue on from the cliff top walk for visitors and locals alike to enjoy the town and the river.”
The grant funding is part of the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development program, with six communities across Barker sharing in $3.8 million.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin announced the funding at the Waikerie river front on Thursday, August 20, and said the successful projects ranged from those designed to lift spirits of the communities through to those that would attract more tourists, build more businesses and create more jobs.
“Diversification is more than a buzz word when you look through the projects receiving funding in our region; they’re about capitalising on the Murray and building tourism opportunities, building Indigenous agribusiness, and reinvigorating our main streets,” he said.
“It just shows the breadth of good ideas our communities have to secure prosperous features for themselves.”
Other successful projects in Barker include:
q Blanchetown Revitalisation Project (Mid Murray Council): $450,000
q Murray River Agritourism and Food Cluster (Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland Inc.): $250,000
q Morgan Murray River Tourism Development: $416,250
q Follow the Flowers: Aboriginal Co-Operative Business for the Murray Corridor (Outback Academy Australia Limited): $416,250