UOW initiative to boost economic resilience and create jobs
The University of Wollongong’s (UOW) business incubator and accelerator iAccelerate has been awarded $999,570 from the Federal and NSW governments’ combined Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLER) to bring the iAccelerate program to 10 bushfire-affected regions, including four Local Aboriginal Land Council areas.
The project, led by UOW’s iAccelerate, will deliver education programs to support 90 of the most promising entrepreneurs and business owners in bushfire affected areas to create 300 new jobs.
Building on the success of the existing Bega Valley Innovation Hub, which iAccelerate launched in 2019 to drive regional innovation, the new project will target bushfire-affected regions by offering entrepreneurs access to economic resilience programs for industry and business development.
Bushfires can be devastating and climate change is only increasing the risk of future damage to both communities, landscapes and the impact on wildlife. Funding a range of initiatives the NSW-Australian governments’ Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLERF) Stage 2 has announced funding for a number of projects in the Northern Rivers.
‘Many of these diverse projects are ones which I have lobbied for or backed in since the 2019 bushfires had a devastating impact on residents and businesses in Tenterfield Shire, Kyogle, Lismore City and Tweed Shire local government areas,’ said Lismore MP Janelle Saffin.
The $4,500,000 to Kyogle Council for the construction of the Kyogle Health and Wellbeing Hub serves that will serve as a multi-purpose community centre near the Kyogle Memorial Swimming Pool. Importantly it will also function as an emergency evacuation centre in times of natural disasters.
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Mayor welcomes recovery fund announcement: Bega Valley
Community recovery and resilience has received another huge boost with yesterday’s announcement of over $38 million for projects and community building programs across the shire through Round 2 of the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund.
Bega Valley Shire Mayor, Cr Russell Fitzpatrick said he was delighted to see this round of funding providing so much to deliver important infrastructure improvements, industry and business development, and positive social, environmental and community outcomes.
“The vision and drive within our community is remarkable and we are extremely thankful for the financial investment in our shire from the federal and state governments,” Cr Fitzpatrick said.
A 24-storey tower nearing completion at Redfern’s The Block is among locations being considered as the state’s first quarantine facility for international students when they return to NSW.
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Two major building projects in the Ballina Shire could face months of delays after Aboriginal artefacts were found.
Upgrade works at Ross Park in Lennox Head and Shaws Bay in Ballina have been put on hold due to separate discoveries.
At the latest council meeting, on April 22, Councillor Sharon Cadwallader asked Matthew Wood, council’s director of Planning and Environmental Health Division, about the future of the projects.
She asked why $150,000 of expenditure at Ross Park was delayed to next financial year.
“Am I right to assume that this is Aboriginal cultural heritage hold ups?” she asked.