The construction of permanent horse stables at Dubbo Showground and enhancing of an education zone at the Wellington Caves Visitor Experience Centre are two of five projects which will go ahead in the region after the official handover of $1 million.
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Dubbo Regional Council has received the funding from the second round of the federal government's Drought Communities Program (DCP) - Extension. The council will co-fund the projects costing $2,064,700, by contributing $1,064,700.
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The $1 million grant is providing $440,000 for "drought-resilient urban landscapes" in Dubbo; $250,000 for the Wellington Caves Visitor Experience Centre - Megafauna Education Zone, and $250,000 for new permanent horse stables and animal wash-down bays at Dubbo Showground.
A further $50,000 will be used for the improvement and expansion of Wellington Library's living lounge room, while the council will get $10,000 for an "adverse event plan".
The council's contribution to the projects is being bolstered by state government funding for the Wellington Caves Visitor Experience Centre and the Wellington Library.
Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the federal government had committed to "delivering an additional $1 million each to every council in my electorate... so that we can get cracking on important local projects to stimulate community spending and support jobs".
Colleague and Member for Calare Andrew Gee welcomed the funding of Wellington projects.
"The Wellington Caves Visitor Experience is a unique and much-loved tourist attraction for Central West residents and beyond, and this funding will help draw more local visitors to the region as we recover from both the bushfires and COVID-19," he said.
Dubbo regional mayor Ben Shields said the projects would be completed by the end of 2020 and "complement our first three projects nicely".
"Under round one, we used funding to secure Stuart Town's water supply, build a new Dubbo CBD toilet facility and expanded the shade sails over animal pens at the Dubbo Regional Livestock Market," he said.