It will include delivery of a long-awaited 110-place childcare facility at Deniliquin, and a $10 million injection for an industrial hemp processing facility at Barham.
Announced Wednesday afternoon, round two of the Sustainable Communities Program will see almost $5.6 million invested in Edward River Council and almost $15 million in Murray River Council.
Also funded is just over $1.5 million in upgrades at the Deniliquin Saleyards, including the cattle section, $1.5 million for the Moulamein Township Infrastructure Renewal and Riverfront Upgrade Project and almost $3 million for a new childcare facility at Barham.
The $4 million allocation for the Perrin Park Childcare Centre in Deniliquin is on top of $2 million already committed to the project by Origin Energy, and seed funding from Someva Energy to support the development application process.
Developed to address a long-running and ongoing childcare shortage in the community, it is a joint River Region Early Education and Edward River Council project.
Significant support has come from NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton, government representatives, funding partners and the wider community.
RREE general manager Felicity Michael said the project will significantly increase access to childcare for local families and help meet the growing demand for places, particularly for children aged 0-3 years.
“This project is about more than childcare,” she said.
“It is about giving children the best possible start in life, supporting families to participate in the workforce, helping local businesses grow, and investing in the long-term future of our region.
“Access to childcare remains one of the most significant barriers to workforce participation in regional communities.
“The new centre will provide opportunities for more parents and carers to return to work, education and training, while supporting local businesses to attract and retain employees.”
Planned upgrades to the Deniliquin Saleyards Precinct will enhance infrastructure supporting the agriculture and transport sectors, improving efficiency and strengthening a key economic asset for the region.
Edward River Mayor Ashley Hall said both are significant milestones for the community.
“These initiatives reflect what we’ve consistently heard from our community - support for working families, strong local industries and investment in practical infrastructure that will benefit the region long into the future.
“This funding will help ensure our region continues to grow, attract people and provide opportunities locally.”
ERC CEO Jack Bond said the outcome reflects strategic planning and strong partnerships.
“These projects were identified as clear priorities because of the role they play in enabling economic growth, supporting workforce participation and strengthening community services,” Mr Bond said.
“We look forward to progressing these projects and delivering long-term benefits for our community.”
The Murray River region’s largest investment of $10 million has been allocated to Murray Industrial Hemp Pty Ltd.
It will use the funding to establish a hemp processing and manufacturing facility at the Barham Industrial Hemp Precinct, to produce low-carbon hempcrete blocks for sustainable housing.
It is expected to support regional jobs, strengthen local supply chains and deliver more energy-efficient homes.
The Sustainable Communities Program is designed to support job creation, workforce participation and long‑term resilience as the region adjusts to the impacts of the Federal Government’s water recovery program. The funding will be administered by the NSW Government.
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