A DOZEN projects to boost economic recovery in bushfire-affected communities have received a major boost, sharing in almost $29 million in state and federal funding.
The funding ranges from $315,000 towards a Kangaroo Island-based collaborative industry rebuilding and resilience project, up to more than $8.9m to help Adelaide Hills and KI rural landholders recover.
Premier Steven Marshall said the funding was in addition to the $19.8m committed to KI's new desalination plant, and the $150,000 allocated to help restore the Lobethal Bushland Park.
"Following consultation with local councils, recovery committees, communities and other stakeholders in bushfire-affected areas across the state, we've selected a further dozen projects that will bring employment and other benefits to impacted regions," Mr Marshall said.
"These projects will support jobs creation, attract visitors and help key local industries in those areas hardest hit by last summer's devastating bushfires."
Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said the projects focused on bringing employment and economic benefits to communities hit hard by the 2019-20 bushfires, and then the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Regionally-driven economic projects create jobs, attract visitors and help our regional SA towns thrive into the future - a great step forward in bushfire recovery."
The funding is being delivered through the Local Economic Recovery program, part of the National Bushfire Recovery Fund, and is supported by a co-funding contribution from the state government.
The funding will go towards:
- A collaborative package of projects that will support rural landholders recover and build back better agriculture on KI and across Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker - more than $8.9m.
- Vineyard and horticulture rebuilding and resilience, including cherries and olives, across Adelaide Hills, Cudlee Creek and KI - more than $5.9m.
- Developing the former Onkaparinga Woollen Mills at Lobethal to create a hub supporting creative industries - $3m.
- Providing open-access telecommunication infrastructure, increasing internet coverage and capacity on KI - more than $2.6m.
- Rebuilding existing trails and enhancing facilities and infrastructure of the Fox Creek Bike Park at Cudlee Creek - $2.5m.
- Constructing an Early Childhood Education and Care Centre in Parndana to support families in the central and western part of KI, particularly those directly affected by the 2019-20 bushfires - $1.8m.
- Complementing an existing project providing accommodation for supervisors and management personnel working on recovery efforts on KI - nearly $954,000.
- Establishing a small-scale fibre mill enabling processing of raw fibre to quality yarn and finished garments on KI - $900,000.
- Establishing accommodation, suitable for tradespeople and seasonal workers at Parndana - $800,000.
- Supporting the SA Apiary industry through pollinator species revegetation information, honey variety and value awareness, and eco-tourism initiatives - $680,000.
- Growing wellness tourism in SA by supporting operators who provide nature-based and agri-tourism experiences or other wellness tourism experiences or products - $395,000.
- A collaborative industry rebuilding and resilience project on KI - $315,000 .
