Big boost for Brunswick cottages plan

Preparations are well under way for the second stage of the Brunswick River Cottages development with the announcement of a $100,000 grant on Thursday.

Part of the Local Projects, Local Jobs initiative, the funding has already been directed to detailed design work from MCG Architects and work such as surveying and electrical, civil and mechanical engineering consultancies has begun for the low-income rental units.

The first part of stage two is now completely funded with the recent announcement of $1.5 million earlier this month in a series of aged care accommodation grants from the Royalties for Regions program.

Brunswick River Cottages chairman Ken Hart said this funding would go a long way to starting stage two, though money was still needed for the eight units in part A, and a further four units for part B.

“We meet that $500,000 shortfall for part A and then we go back into the wash to sort some funding for part B,” he said.

“It wasn’t quite what we wanted but I appreciate that we got a fair chunk of that pool.”

Mr Hart said with two funding announcements, the project had momentum to attract the rest of the money needed.

Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke said with cuts to Royalties for Regions, she had to fight to get the money, with more than 80 projects vying for the pool of $22 million.

“It’s a vital project so now I’m trying to organise if there’s other funding available for the four lend lease units that they want to build,” Mrs Clarke said.

Harvey deputy shire president Paul Beech thanked Mrs Clarke for securing the additional funds for a project that was essential to the growth of Brunswick.