Pinjarra Brunswick Sustainability Strategy
The Pinjarra-Brunswick Sustainability Strategy incorporates a range of projects designed to breathe new life and opportunities into the inland towns between Pinjarra and Brunswick Junction.
The State Government has committed $2.64 million towards the strategy.
Some of the projects that have been created under the strategy so far include:
Escape for a Day
The Brunswick to Yarloop region along the inland South West Highway is the main conduit to some of the State’s best hidden tourist attractions.
The intention of the Escape for a Day campaign is to promote this region to potential visitors from the urban and coastal regions as an area perfect for day trips or overnight stays.
State Government has committed $285,000 over three years toward this initiative, which will be used for producing brochures, magazine inserts and television advertising to promote the tourist businesses and attractions of the region.
So far this funding has helped upgraded technology at the Harvey Visitor Centre, support advertising of Yarloop to Brunswick tourist businesses in Summer Breaks, Winter Breaks and Holiday Planner.
It has also seen the publication of 30,000 copies of a comprehensive tourist guide to the Yarloop/Brunswick region.
The project is being overseen with a working group comprised of reps from local tourism operators, Harvey Visitor Centre, Shire of Harvey and South West Development Commission.
Building a Better Harvey
The Harvey Main Street drain was built just after World War II to prevent flooding of the town site and improve drainage of surrounding farm land.
Most of those who worked on the diversion drain were the ancestors of current residents of Harvey, with many going on to be some of the prominent farmers of the local district.
As a drainage mechanism the “diversion” as it is locally known has been a successful engineering feat, saving the town from floods numerous times.
The State Government, through the South West Development Commission, has committed $25,000 toward community consultation and the drafting of concept drawing on how to improve the presentation of the drain.
The final product will complement townscaping efforts of the Harvey Shire Council.
A further $175,000 has already been set aside to assist in the implementation of the final plans as determined by the community of Harvey.
Intensive Agricultural Future – Agricultural Development Officer
The Pinjarra to Brunswick region has an abundance of good soils, water resources.
This has resulted in a diversity of production that includes wine, table grapes, marron, water melon, broccoli, citrus, olives, mandarins, dairy, tomatoes, onions, chilies, asparagus, pumpkins and rock melon.
The intention of the Intensive Agricultural Futures project is to employ an industry development officer who will link existing producers into a wider range of new markets.
The State Government has allocated $100,000 toward this project, with additional support of $20,000 from the Harvey Water Irrigation Cooperative.