Projects to enhance the Wheatbelt

22/2/06
Wheatbelt Minister Kim Chance today announced that the State Government had allocated $368,000 to a range of innovative development projects throughout the Wheatbelt region.
Mr Chance said major funding had been allocated towards bio-diesel research, which included research into possible bio-diesel crops such as mustard seed and the construction of a pilot community bio-diesel processing plant.
"I have high expectations for bio-diesel, especially if a suitable agricultural crop can be grown in the Wheatbelt that can deliver financially competitive fuels," he said.
"This would be an important economic boost to the Wheatbelt, providing potential employment opportunities through the application of industry leading research and development."
The funding complements the State Government's Biofuels Taskforce, which has been established to further promote opportunities for bio-fuel use and production.
This year's allocations include:

• $150,000 to Muresk Institute Curtin University of Technology to fund research into bio-diesel crops for the Wheatbelt;

• $50,000 to BioWorks Australia to pilot a community bio-diesel processing plant;

• $30,000 to the Shire of Moora for a Wildflower Interpretive Education Centre;

• $30,000 to the Town of Narrogin to investigate the demand and need for a university;

• $30,000 to Derby Industries for feasibility into a beef and small stock abattoir based at Wooroloo;

• $24,400 to support the construction of a Helipad in Northam;

• $20,000 to the Australian International Gravitational Research Centre for the development of a promotional prospectus;

• $15,000 to the Institute for Regional Development to research current and future skilled labour requirements in the Wheatbelt;

• $10,000 to the Shire of Dalwallinu for a feasibility study into wattle seed production;

• $16,364 to the Roe Tourism Association for the Open Wheatbelt Pathways to Wave Rock project;

• $7,000 to Jurien Bay and Districts Community Bank Committee for a feasibility study into a Jurien Bay Community Bank;

• $5,000 to support the Eighth Asian Australian Apiculture Conference; and

• $5,000 to the Moora Fine Arts Society for support an arts project ensuring cultural, social and economic growth of the Moora district.