The Australian Opal Centre is rallying its supporters for an application for funding to construct the Australian Opal Centre building at Three Mile, Lightning Ridge. The Australian Government’s Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) is a $1 billion national program to support regional infrastructure projects that will improve economic and social outcomes by building on unique regional capacity and potential. Applications for the first round of funding close on Friday May 13 so the heat is on AOC staff and committee to complete their application.
At 7pm today (Thursday) the Australian Opal Centre will hold a public meeting at Lightning Ridge District Bowling Club to provide a community update on the project, including the first public preview of what the building will look like. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for supporters to ask questions and find out how they can support the funding proposal.
Proponents for the Australian Opal Centre believe that the project ticks all boxes for the Regional Development Australia Fund and has good prospects for success.
“We have an exciting, nationally significant project that is rooted in its community and based on sound planning for future sustainability,” said Australian Opal Centre manager Jenni Brammall this week.
“Our state and federal MPs - Kevin Humphries, Member for Barwon and Minister for Western NSW and Mark Coulton, Member for Parkes are great supporters of the Australian Opal Centre and are actively working towards bringing it to fruition.”
The project is also a perfect fit with the vision of Simon Crean, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and minister responsible for the RDAF program.
“Minister Crean recognises that sustained, collaborative effort is needed to support regional productivity and to strengthen and empower Australia’s regional communities into the future; and that together with government resources, the critical elements for this to be achieved are the determination, creativity and innovation of regions themselves,” Jenni said.
The RDAF opportunity comes just as the AOC is finishing work on another construction project - its Black Opal Heritage Shed and fossil preparation facility at the Three Mile.
During 2009 Walgett Shire Council was successful in obtaining $27,000 from the Australian Government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP) for construction of a fossil preparation facility for the Australian Opal Centre. In the same year the AOC was granted $39,960 by the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership to construct a mining heritage shed and heritage walking trail.
To achieve best value for money the two projects have been co-located in a single larger structure at the edge of the centre’s site on the Three Mile.
“We would have loved to hold this week’s public meeting in our new shed but the focus in Lightning Ridge this weekend will be on another great achievement in Lightning Ridge - the opening of the incredible new community-funded Sports and Aquatic Centre,” said Jenni, “so we’ll meet on Thursday evening instead and have an open day at the shed on a sunny winter day some time soon.
“But we’d really urge everyone to join us at 7pm tonight (Thursday) at the bowling club, to see what the Australian Opal Centre is going to look like, hear about what we’ve achieved in the past year and what our plans are for the coming year and join us for some supper.”
For information please contact Jenni Brammall at the Australian Opal Centre on 02 6829 1667 or contact@australianopalcentre.com
Email a friend