City plans Federal seafront cash bid

Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson has suggested the City of Albany combine the sea wall, artificial reef and town hall redevelopment projects in an effort to secure Federal funding.

The State Government announced $3.6 million of funding for the Middleton Beach sea wall last week, which will allow for the hotel development to go ahead.

Mr Wilson believes bundling the projects would qualify an application as a transformational project.

“At a Federal level, we’ve got a Regional Growth Fund to support transformational projects costed at $10 million and above,” he said

“My suggestion to the City was, given they have the town hall redevelopment, sea wall project and the artificial reef on the agenda, that those initiatives be bundled together as one application.

“Completing those initiatives in the City certainly fits the criteria for a transformational project.”

Mr Wilson said he will throw his support behind an application.

“There’s definitely potential to increase visitation to the City and see an economic benefit through growth in the local tourism industry,” he said.

“I’ll be happy to pledge my support for the City if it chooses to go down that route and seek Federal funds.”

City development services executive director Paul Camins said the City was aiming to attract funding for an extended version of the sea wall that will protect the whole foreshore.

“The City will now work with Landcorp to explore alternate funding streams for a precinct-wide solution,” he said, noting the City had been knocked back for Building Better Regions funding.

Lands Minister Rita Saffioti confirmed the State Government would assist the City to lobby for Federal funding for the sea wall.

“We’ve got the $3.6 million on the table; we’re going to approach the Federal Government and say, ‘can you move on this very quickly?’” she said.

“We could have waited to try and get the Federal Government funding but we’re not going to sit around and wait for the Federal Government to commit funds, we’re keen to move forward as soon as possible.”