Shelley Payne: A thank you to Katanning and Narrogin from former MLC and member for the agricultural region
It's been a busy job, but one I've thoroughly enjoyed.
I'm grateful to have met so many wonderful and hardworking people across our electorate during this time, listening to your concerns and advocating for the needs of the many communities across the region.
I am thankful to the many volunteers I've met that keep our communities safe and keep all our community groups running.
Without you all, our communities wouldn't be what they are.
As one of the very few women to have had the pleasure of representing this region, it has been an absolute privilege to advocate for women, seniors, our First Nations people and those doing it tough.
Our grant funding has supported local sporting clubs across the regions including new night lights at the Upper Great Southern Hockey Association in Narrogin and we've recently seen the re-opening of the Quartermaine Oval in Katanning.
Our State-run Lotterywest has been a great help with funding towards regional events like the agricultural shows at Narrogin, Katanning and Cranbrook.
It has also supported the Williams Expo, the Christmas in Narrogin event, the Wagin Christmas Street Carnival, and the Bloom Festival.
We've helped a number of community groups with projects such as the Katanning Historical Society, Wagin Historical Village, Narrogin Arts, Narrogin Theatre Club, Narrogin Arts Group and we've supported Divine You in Narrogin with funding towards the setting up of food relief to the Narrogin Community.
It's been great to see the benefits of our Regional Economic Development grants awarded to local businesses like the Katanning Vet Clinic expansion, Williams-based Price's Fabrication and Steel to support its steel manufacturing expansion and automation project, and Duraquip in Gnowangerup for sheet metal fabrication diversification.
The RED grants have also funded accommodation projects including accommodation renovations at the Gnowangerup Hotel, new units at the Shire of Cranbrook's caravan park in Frankland River, and short-stay accommodation at the Darkan Hotel.
I'm pleased that planning is getting under way for the new Emergency Services Precinct in Narrogin.
It's been wonderful representing the multicultural community of Katanning.
We've funded the 10-year Early Years Partnership Program covering Katanning, Gnowangerup, Broomehill-Tambellup and Kojonup.
Along with this important project we have helped with funding towards the Katanning Childhood Hub — a fantastic initiative of the Shire of Katanning.
Being on the road a lot, I am so thankful we've been able to invest over a billion dollars into regional road safety upgrades, with more than 10,000 kilometres completed already.
This investment has been crucial to making our regional roads safer.
Our Government has achieved a lot this past term, making the biggest investment into regional WA than any other government in history.
I wish everyone and their families all the best and look forward to seeing you next time I pass through your town.
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