THE Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa, YHA Hostels and the Murray Hotel in West Perth were among the local winners in the latest round of federal tourism grants designed to support regional development.
The Tourism Industry Regional Development Fund selected 11 Western Australian projects to receive a direct federal grant.
A total of $2.3 million has been set aside for projects in WA.
Nationally, 65 tourism projects will receive direct funding totalling $13.1 million.
The Murray Hotel has received $250,000 to help fund the expansion of its premises through the addition of 79 new rooms, and a new restaurant and bar.
Property group Hawaiian’s Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa in Broome has been granted $200,000 to upgrade its conference facilities.
Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa general manager, Ron Seldon said the grant would go a long way towards attracting major national and international conferences.
“We are extremely pleased we have been successful in securing the grant,” he said.
“We have been planning to expand our conference capability and the grant allows us to start work on new facilities immediately. The new centre is currently being designed and we are hopeful of opening the centre before the end of the season.
“We see conferences as an integral part of our business.”
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm, just north of Broome, received $250,000 to fund the construction of dining areas, a swimming pool and a new boat departure bay.
Local government has also benefited from the grant scheme, with the Shire of Denmark to receive $115,000 to build a walk-and-ride trail path at Wilson Head, and the Shire of Yalgoo $250,000 to develop permanent caravan park accommodation.
An innovative project at the heritage-listed Fremantle Prison has received funding of $250,000 to support the construction of a YHA hostel within the former prison to house 200 new dormitory and private beds for backpackers.
Forte Cape View Apartments in Busselton has received funding of $250,000 from the scheme, which will go towards the construction of a new conference facility at the recently refurbished complex.
Applications for the 2013 round of Tourism Quality Projects (TQP), a separate federal program that offers matched grants of up to $100,000, closes on May 3.
The TQP grants will total $40 million over the course of four years.
