- Fitzroy River Catchment Aboriginal Economic Development Support Program now open to 13 Native Title Prescribed Bodies Corporate
- Grants of up to $50,000 to facilitate sustainable economic development and diversification opportunities
Regional Development Minister Don Punch today announced a $450,000 grants program to support economic development and grow job opportunities for Aboriginal people in the Fitzroy River catchment.
The Fitzroy River Catchment Aboriginal Economic Development Support Program, delivered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, is available to 13 Native Title Prescribed Bodies Corporate in the catchment area.
The Cook Government will allocate grants of up to $50,000, which can be used to progress key strategic initiatives across economic and business development planning, workforce development planning, commercial partnership development, and business coaching and mentoring.
The Fitzroy River catchment spans from the edge of the Kimberley Plateau in the north, to the Great Sandy Desert in the south, draining into King Sound in the west, making it the largest catchment in the Kimberley.
The grants program will ensure that the economic aspirations of Traditional Owners of the catchment are captured and considered in the broader economic development plans for this region.
The initiative complements the creation of the Bunuba and Warlibirri National Parks in the catchment, and the ongoing work by the State Government to develop a Fitzroy River Management Plan.
In October 2023, the State Government also released the “Water allocation planning in the Fitzroy Policy” position paper, which will form the basis for the future Fitzroy Water Allocation Plan.
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
“The Cook Government is committed to protecting the Fitzroy River while supporting opportunities for sustainable economic development.
“This program aims to facilitate diversification, harness emerging economic development aspirations, build capacity, and develop Aboriginal business and workforce opportunities in the Fitzroy River catchment.”
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna:
“I thank the Cook Government for this $450,000 commitment to supporting economic development and growing job opportunities for Aboriginal people in the Fitzroy Valley.
“I remain committed to working with Traditional Owner groups in the catchment and ensuring their economic aspirations are well represented in the broader plans for the catchment.”
