The Shire of Murray has committed more than $500,000 of the 2016/17 budget towards planning projects, community enhancing strategies and heritage preservation in the region.
In order to progress with the revitalisation of the Pinjarra town centre, the Shire has allocated $76,000 towards the development of the Town Centre Revitalisation Strategy and a Business Case.
Shire of Murray chief Dean Unsworth said the strategy would guide the nature, form and extent of developments within Pinjarra’s town centre, as well as identifying infrastructure requirements.
“The strategy is needed to support future funding applications and advocacy for infrastructure provision and will provide a framework to guide investment within the town,” he said.
“The business case will support the strategy and will clearly articulate the economic need and benefit of the town centre revitalisation and the proposed town eastern bypass.”
Another $200,000 will go towards preparing a new Local Planning Strategy and Town Planning Scheme aimed at guiding overall planning and development in the region.
To move forward with North Pinjarra’s Revitalisation Strategy, the Shire has allocated $100,000 towards the project.
The Shire also allocated $27,388 towards community infrastructure planning, that will be used to define the scope and cost estimates of planned infrastructure within the Community Infrastructure Plan.
With the objective to cover the costs associated with marketing, tender selection and contract and legal requirements associated with the restoration and reuse project for the Exchange Hotel, the Shire has allocated $48,801.
The Shire has also added $30,000 to similar contributions by the City of Mandurah, the Peel Development Commission and the Department of Sport and Recreation towards planning for further recreational and sporting facilities within the region.
The funds would be used for the preparation of a feasibility st udy and assessment for a new regional sporting precinct in Ravenswood.
Finally, the Shire allocated $25,000 towards their Regional Recreation Boating Strategy, which seeks to upgrade two recreational boating facilities in the Peel-Harvey estuary to cater for growing demand.
The Department of Transport recently contributed towards the project with $195,000.
The project is to commence soon.