Growing Pemberton

Tourism and community services will be boosted by a $1.5 million project to co-locate several essential organisations in Pemberton.

Manjimup Shire Council this month received a $1.19 million LotteryWest grant towards the project to co-locate the Pemberton Visitor Centre, the Pemberton Library, the Pemberton CRC and all its project partners.

Groups like the Pemberton RSL, Pemberton Arts Group and Pemberton Chamber of Commerce and Industry will also be part of the co-location.

Manjimup shire president Paul Omodei said the $1.192 million grant would have a major impact on the Pemberton community.

“This is a victory for common sense,” he said.

“The opportunity to co-locate these services will mean being able to more efficiently deliver their services to the community.”

The new building will be located at the Pemberton RSL site, which Cr Omodei said was ideally placed in the CBD opposite the Post Office.

“The grant is only part of the project cost but we’re looking at ways to source the rest,” he said.

“We’ll hopefully be looking for local tradesmen to participate in the construction, which will hopefully create jobs in Pemberton.”

Cr Omodei said it was good to see money being spent in the shire’s towns outside Manjimup.

“This is great for Pemberton and great for the shire,” he said.

Pemberton Visitor Centre president and Pemberton Community Resource Centre chairman John Gaunt said it was a fantastic project.

“The Pemberton Visitor Centre, CRC and shire, as the owner of the library, have been planning co-location for about 10 years,” he said.

“The RSL site will be twice its current size under the redevelopment but the exterior will remain sympathetic to the heritage design.

“We’re really looking forward to getting a new home.”

Pemberton Arts Group chairwoman Anna Czerkasow welcomed the funding announcement from LotteryWest.

“This will have an absolute immense effect on the Pemberton community,” she said.

“We like the building we’re in now but we’re restricted by the space we’re in.”

Ms Czerkasow said she was grateful for the funding announcement, as it would have a massive impact on the arts and culture communities.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll get a functional building that will accommodate all the groups properly,” she said.