Funding available for owners and operators of Western Australian cultural and heritage places impacted by cyclone

October 26, 2021

Owners or operators of heritage and Aboriginal cultural heritage places impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja which struck Western Australia's Mid-West region in April 2021 can now apply for reimbursement grants of up to $20,000.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja caused widespread devastation across Western Australia's Mid-West region earlier this year, significantly damaging places of cultural and heritage significance in affected areas. Applications are now open for a $2 million heritage grants program to help with the clean-up and restoration of heritage assets damaged by the cyclone.

The Cultural and Heritage Asset Clean-Up and Repair Grant Program is part of a $104.5 million Federal-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements package to assist with clean-up, repairs and resilience works at heritage buildings and Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Bridget McKenzie said this funding will greatly assist in restoring the cultural and historical legacy of many places of significance that were damaged in the region.

Minister McKenzie advised "cleaning up and restoring heritage places will help conserve cultural, local and state history, as well as support tourism to the region, helping to bring these communities back to full operating capacity.

"The Australian Government will continue to work alongside the Western Australian Government and affected communities to assist in their ongoing recovery and, where possible, to also further strengthen those communities to be able to better withstand future natural disasters."

Western Australian Minister for Heritage, David Templeman said the grants can be used to assist with the cost of cleaning up cyclone debris and reconstruction of damaged heritage structures, and works to increase the resilience of a heritage place against future natural hazards.

Minister Templeman added "It's been six months since Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja struck the Mid-West and the process to rebuild and repair the devastation is ongoing as works are assessed and co-ordinated.

"The Cultural and Heritage Asset Clean-Up and Repair Grant Program is a genuine opportunity for eligible property owners and operators to defray some of their costs and help subsidise restoration works and conserve the historical significance of the heritage places.

"Rebuilding will take time and I encourage eligible owners and operators of heritage and cultural places to use these grants to help related businesses and tourism in the region reopen."

Eligibility and application details for the Cultural and Heritage Asset Clean-up and Repair Grant Program are available online at www.emergency.wa.gov.au/recovery.

Works must be completed by June 2023 and claims can be lodged until July 2023.

Image courtesy Earth Observatory NASA

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