The upgrade and beautification of the Wingham CBD area has had a major boost with the announcement of $1 million of grant funding from the NSW Nationals in the federal government.
Federal NSW Nationals Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie said the upgrade was a ‘must do project’ for Wingham and would give the whole town a lift.
“This is another important project the local community identified in our Vision 2030 Plan Survey and I’m delighted the NSW Nationals in the federal government have been able to contribute to the revitalisation,” Dr Gillespie said.
The grant funding will allow the significant upgrade works to be brought forward so that the work will provide stimulus to the local economy during construction as part of the recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MidCoast Council had identified up to $2.5 million to upgrade and beautify Isabella Street in the main CBD area over the next three to five years.
With the additional funding, not only can these works start construction in 2021, the scope can be extended to include the rest of the CBD area, particularly the footpaths in Bent Street.
The total project cost is now estimated at $3 million.
“This new funding will not only result in the work being done much sooner, it allows more areas to be included with a greater level of landscaping,” Dr Gillespie said.
Local mayor David West welcomed the funding announcement and said many amazing projects like this one today will be delivered over the next 12 months thanks to the NSW Nationals in the federal government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
“This project has been on our agenda for many years, it was part of our future program. With this assistance, we will be able to do more than we’d planned and sooner,” Cr West said.
“The project is part of major works program planned for Wingham over the next five years including the current work in Primrose Street and work planned for Farquhar and Wynter Street in the future.”
The $1 million allocated to the CBD upgrades is provided from the NSW Nationals in the federal government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and Financial Assistance Grant program.
This LCRI program supports councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
