The Narromine Wetlands will undergo a $2.5 million expansion which will showcase the region’s landscape, attract higher tourist numbers and create local jobs.
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The Narromine Shire Council were presented $2.5 million in NSW Government funding under round two of the Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund last Wednesday.
Narromine Shire Mayor Craig Davies said the project had been in planning for some time to help with the town storm water drainage, but will have a number of environmental and recreational benefits for the community.
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Cr Davies said that 180,000 metres of soil will be excavated from the site to build three significant ponds, which will be able to store up to 270 mega litres of water, that has historically flooded the paddock west of the wetlands. In addition there will be a walking and cycling track installed and almost 600 Indigenous and native species of trees that will be planted.
“It now lends itself to other community groups such as the Garden Club being able to plant species they wouldn’t normally have in their own gardens, we also have people like the Lands Council who will be able to preserve cultural heritage sites within this precinct, and also to develop a bush tucker area,” Cr Davies said.
“Other people like the Park run group will be able to utilise the tracks around the ponds for their running events, instead of running around an oval you’ll actually have something actually pristine and beautiful to be able to run around and enjoy.
“So its a project that will give rise to activities to so many groups in the town.”
Cr Davies said the area will not only benefit the community but will help boost tourism numbers and injecting some $2 million into the local economy.
“This is a project that clearly the Shire have Rotary to thank. They have been behind the development and maintenance of the original wetlands for the last 25 years, which has been an inedible contribution to our shire.”
“It is a great win and something that our council have been working on for many years, but this council have really taken the bull by the horns and really gone after it.”
“Thanks so much to the senior staff for who have been so heavily involved in this and its a real credit to them to get a grant of that nature and that magnitude.”