The Coalition Government’s Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) Round 4 has delivered an enormous $18.8 million in grant funding for the electorate of Parkes, local Federal Member Mark Coulton has announced today.

Mr Coulton said he is thrilled Cobar Shire Council will receive a whopping $6.8 million in grants, which is the largest sum of money being awarded to a Parkes electorate recipient under this round.

This $207 million round of the BBRF is dedicated to helping communities hardest hit by the drought.

“Today’s announcement is about unlocking the outstanding economic potential we have right here in the Parkes electorate,” Mr Coulton said.

“But what excites me most is the fact that Cobar is the beneficiary of the largest grant in my electorate under this round worth a mammoth $6.7 million.

“Cobar Shire Council will use this grant to create a multipurpose community building and upgrade facilities at Ward Oval, and construct an Early Learning Centre in the same vicinity.

“On top of that, Cobar Shire Council will use a further grant of $67,324 to develop an Economic Resilience Strategy.

“BBRF is all about strengthening the local economy, and delivering lasting benefits to our local communities which we know are suffering the flow-on impacts of drought.

“We have secured more than $18.8 million for local projects in the Parkes electorate, which will make an enormous difference to these communities.

“Cobar Shire Council deserves a huge congratulations on receiving these terrific grants – it’s an outstanding success for our region and I’m very excited to see the projects come to fruition.”

Mr Coulton said communities in his electorate have had great success in previous rounds of BBRF.

“Our region has already benefited from $9.5 million for the Australian Opal Centre at Lightning Ridge, $2.6 million for the Curlewis Pipeline, $371,000 for the YMCA at Broken Hill, and many others – all funded under the BBRF,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said this funding injection to support 163 new infrastructure and community projects across drought-affected regional Australia came at a critical time for communities.

“Regional Australians have endured the devastating effects of a prolonged drought which has affected communities across the country for many years,” Mr McCormack said.

“In addition, regional Australia has withstood one of the most devastating bushfire seasons, floods and now a global pandemic – to say they’ve been hit hard in recent times, is an understatement.

“Their resilience will lead Australia’s recovery through grass-roots projects – creating jobs, boosting local economies and growing confidence in regional communities as a great place to live, work and invest.

“BBRF projects strengthen our local economies and drive much-needed local procurement, with thousands of jobs expected to be supported throughout regional Australia – delivering career pathways and enabling people to stay in the very communities they grew up in.”

For a full list of successful projects, please visit www.business.gov.au/bbrf

Parkes electorate recipients – BBRF Round 4

Recipient	Location	Grant Amount	Project Details
Toy Libraries Australia Inc	Gunnedah	$19,935	Messy Play Days at Toy Libraries   The project will deliver seven Messy Play Days in regional New South Wales and Victoria.
Dubbo Regional Council	Dubbo	$42,500	Regional Event Research Strategy   The project will deliver the Dubbo Regional Events Research Paper to provide a strategy for future events in the region.
Orana Haven Aboriginal Corporation	Gongolgon	$148,500	Upgrade transitional accommodation & gym area, construct vegetable garden.   The project will upgrade an existing transition house, construct a fitness and cultural hub and cultivate a community garden at the Orana Haven Aboriginal Corporation Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre.
Warrumbungle Shire Council	Dunedoo	$1,284,954	Robertson Oval Sport and Recreation Building   The project will replace the existing outdated sports building with a modern facility which includes toilets and change room facilities.
Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation	Wilcannia	$1,656,150	WINGS ‘Our Youth, Our Future’ Redevelopment   The project will demolish the aged corrugated iron building and construct a new purpose-built facility.
Dubbo Dirt Bike Club Inc	Dubbo	$242,385	Upgrades at Dubbo Dirt Bike Club to host the NSW Motocross Championships   The project will upgrade the motocross facility by installing a new amenities block and spectator viewing as well as upgrading the race track and start gates.
Warren Museum and Gallery Association Inc	Warren	$3,541,665	Warren District Heritage Museum and Art Gallery   The project will restore an architecturally significant and historic building on the main street of Warren and fit it out as a museum, art gallery and artist-in-residence space.
Cobar Shire Council	Cobar	$6,732,075	Ward Oval Community Hub including Building and Early Learning Precinct   The project will create a multipurpose community building and upgrade facilities at Ward Oval and construct an Early Learning Centre in the vicinity of Ward Oval Precinct.
Cobar Shire Council	Cobar	$67,324	Cobar Economic Resiliency Strategy      The project will develop a Cobar Economic Resilience Strategy.
Condobolin Pre School Kindergarten Inc	Condobolin	$200,000	From Little Things Big Things Grow   The project will expand facilities at the Condobolin Preschool to provide 31 additional placements for children.
Lachlan Shire Council	Condobolin	$450,000	Condobolin Tourism Precinct – stage 3   The project will deliver stage 3 of the Condobolin Tourism Precinct.
Central Darling Shire Council	Ivanhoe	$450,000	Ivanhoe Multi Service Outlet (MSO) Development   The project will develop a new building to relocate the Multi-Service Outlet (MSO) from the existing non-compliant rented facility.
Lachlan Shire Council	Lake Cargelligo	$825,000	Lake Cargelligo Swimming Pool Amenities Upgrade   The project will replace the existing dilapidated 1970s amenities building with a modern, low-maintenance facility.
Gilgandra Shire Council	Gilgandra	$1,479,772	Gilgandra Shire Library and Community Hub: ‘the GIL’   The project will expand the current Gilgandra Library and create a new Community Hub to allow new services to be created, which will complement existing services.
Bogan Shire Council	Nyngan	$350,218	Extension of Bogan Shire Medical Centre   The project will extend the Bogan Shire Medical Centre as part of stage two of a larger project. The extension will include additional consulting rooms, nurses’ room, pathology room, waiting area, toilet and paved walkways.
Narromine Shire Council	Narromine	$1,000,000	Narromine Over 55’s Retirement Village and Residential Estate   The project will construct a retirement village comprising 45 one- and two-bedroom units for local residents aged over 55 years, and the development of 31 residential allotments, together with necessary roadworks, stormwater, sewer, water and electricity infrastructure.
St Vincent De Paul Society NSW	Broken Hill	$336,465	The refurbishment and extension of the Bishop Fox Meal facility   The project will expand the Bishop Fox Meal facility into a multi-purpose community space in Broken Hill.