The Rann government has announced a round of grants worth more than $6 million to improve infrastructure in South Australia’s regional and metropolitan councils.
 

The investment, under the Open Space and People for Places initiative will include regional investments of $410,000 for Mount Gambier, $380,253 for the Lower Eyre Peninsula and $300,000 for the District Council of the Copper Coast to regenerate public spaces.

A further $4.42 million in grants are on their way to local councils in metropolitan Adelaide including 800,000 for the City of Onkaparinga and $700,000 for the City of West Torrens/Charles Sturt.

Minister for Urban Development and Planning Paul Holloway said that the regional councils would share grants worth more than $2 million to improve and beautify public spaces throughout the state.

The grants to regional councils in the latest round of funding for Open Space and Places for People initiatives takes the total number of payments to local government this year to more than $6 million, Holloway said on announcing the investment.

“The millions of dollars in grants will create work for trades people and labourers throughout South Australian at a time when regional communities are also facing challenging economic times,” Holloway said.

The minister said that the latest round of grants included more than $1.1 million for projects associated with the River Torrens Linear Park, building on the $1.15 million previously provided through the P&D fund.

“This investment in public infrastructure, while beautifying townships, also ensures South Australian families in regional areas don’t miss out on the high quality facilities such as bikeways, picnic areas and play equipment enjoyed by suburban communities in metropolitan Adelaide.”

More than $9.3 million in Open Space and Places for People grants have been directed to regional South Australia and a further $3.48 million to outer metropolitan Adelaide councils since 2002.