Published on Friday, 7 May 2021 at 3:07:22 PM

The Shire of Nannup has been a recipient of the Federal funding through the Regional Recovery Partnerships. The Australian Government has committed $100 million over two years to fund Regional Recovery Partnerships. The Partnerships will coordinate investments with all levels of government to support recovery and growth in 10 regions across Australia, delivering jobs and economic diversification.

Three projects within the South West have been selected to share $10 million that has been allocated towards the development of sustainable projects to transform regional communities. Federal Member for Forrest, Nola Marino, was in Nannup on Friday 7 May to announce the program recipients and said this is the moment in time Nannup has been waiting for and creates unprecedented opportunities for your town.

“The South West has experienced the brunt of COVID-19’s impact on the local economy, and on employment levels. The projects selected within the region offer significant emerging opportunities to diversify the region’s economy which can lead to long term national growth and resilience.”

The Nannup Trail Town project will see an injection of $2.86m go towards infrastructure to support tourism growth in and around the Shire. The Shire of Nannup has been working tirelessly in collaboration with stakeholders to promote the potential for the project which will now become a reality.

Nannup Shire President Tony Dean said the project highlights the beautiful nature that surrounds Nannup. By connecting people with nature they are educated about the environment and can experience the diversity of the natural surrounds of what Nannup has on offer.

“The opportunity for the community and visitors to experience Nannup in a trail town setting will open up the gateway for economic growth and connect visitors and the community with nature in a way that hasn’t been accessible before,” he said.

The Nannup Trail Town project has been led by the Shire of Nannup over the past few years in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity and Attractions, Forest Products Commission and the Community. In 2019 the Shire of Nannup started planning for this project that was leveraged from Lotterywest funds to develop the Nannup Tank 7 Mountain Bike Park and a whole cycling strategy for the Shire.

The recent Drought Funding has injected over $700,000 into the Tank 7 Mountain Bike Park to construct over 35km of mixed use mountain bike trails. The park will have regional significance and offer world class trail experience while being only 2km from town. This project is also supported by the SWDC Regional Economic Development Grants as well as Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Funding.

The $2.86 million Regional Recovery Partnership funding will contribute towards the completion of the Tank 7 Mountain Bike Park, support the development of signage, branding and mapping of gravel and road cycling routes around the Shire. It will also support the development of a Freestyle Jump Park, and complete the Southern Traffic Bridge crossing to realign the Munda Biddi and Stock Route Bridle Trail off Vasse Highway, making the journey safer for our community.

It is expected that the Trail Town Project, once complete, will attract 30,800 new visitors per year to Nannup. The Nannup Shire President is confident Nannup can share a similar story to Blue Derby in Tasmania, where the development of trail infrastructure transformed the economy in a small town, to then become a world class trail attraction.

“We know through our research that this project has characteristics to that of other successful trail towns in the country,” he said. Through the unique setting, proximity to the Busselton Airport and support from State and Federal funding Nannup can cater for this fast growing recreation pursuits and offer trail experiences for not only cyclists and mountain bike enthusiast but also canoeing, horse riding, walking and running trails.

This project was only made possible through the support received from the South West Development Commission through their shared investment in the development of the Nannup Trail Town Business. 

ENDS

For media enquiries contact
David Taylor
Chief Executive Officer
Shire of Nannup
nannup@nannup.wa.gov.au
(08) 9756 1018

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