Council announces $14M upgrade to Dalby facilities
Council will match a $7m donation from the federal government.
Dalby
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FOLLOWING the announcement of a $7 million injection into the MyAll 107 facilities, the Western Downs Regional Council has confirmed they will match that cash plug with another $7 million to enhance the cultural hub.
Spokesman for Finance, Corporate Services and Business Strategy Councillor Ian Rasmussen said the cultural precinct was an important part of the fabric of Dalby, and the upgrades would only enhance the region and encourage tourism in the wake of borders reopening.
“It will give us the opportunity to hold bigger and better events and draw more people into the region,” he said.
“Liveability right across our region and especially in Dalby is a key thing that council is working on.
“We’re always looking at liveability and the best that we can do there.”
Cr Rasmussen said a concept plan had been developed for the precinct, and would include upgrades to the existing facilities including the cinema, library, art gallery, and radio station.
A vibrant green space will also be built within the precinct to supplement the pre-existing features.
The funding is a part of $21.3 million of Federal Government funding to enhance facilities all over the Maranoa.
Maranoa MP David Littleproud said the ”revitalisation” will create hundreds of local construction jobs which will contribute to drought recovery.
“With the Building Better Regions Fund, $200 million today with infrastructure to go into not just preserving jobs and supporting drought-affected farmers, but actually creating new jobs,” Mr Littleproud said.
“That’s been the important part of this drought recovery, is understanding that it’s not just preserving, it’s about extending these regional communities into the future.”
Given the current struggles faced by local business owners during this COVID era, Cr Rasmussen said now was a more important time than ever to support locals and create new jobs for our local workers.
“The creation of jobs will be a huge bill,” Cr Rasmussen said.
“That will be a $14 million spend and that will create many, many jobs across our region especially at this time as council has already delivered packages to stimulate and improve the economy so this will be a huge boost to this as we go forward.”
Now funding has been secured, focus will go towards finalising designs for the precinct.
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