Tunnels under Hill 60, a cultural walking trail and beautifying Port Kembla’s main street are among 14 projects to share in $2.2 million of government funding.
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Five months after the Port Kembla Community Investment Fund (PKCIF) was announced, the successful projects were revealed on Friday. Wollongong City Council received the lion’s share of the funding, securing about $1.15 million for eight projects.
Four of the projects centre around Hill 60 – tunnel access and repairs, a car park upgrade, fitness equipment and interpretive signage.
“Hill 60 has been for a long time overlooked as one of the most important features of our local tourism opportunities,” Wollongong lord mayor Gordon Bradbery said.
“It’s very important to recognise its Aboriginal heritage - Hill 60 plays a big part in our local Aboriginal story.”
That recognition will come via work on the Ngaraba-aan Cultural Trail linking Heritage Park, Hill 60 and the Coomaditchie Lagoon.
The Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council received the biggest slice of the PKCIF ($388,393) for the walking trail project.
Cr Bradbery said the council’s readiness in terms of plans and designs was the reason for its large number of successful projects.
Other projects include hall and surf club upgrades, the refurbishment of facades along Wentworth Street and a new community place space.
“We have a wonderful community here in Port Kembla that has had to carry the burden of much of the region’s industrial growth for a very long time,” parliamentary secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward said.
“I felt aggrieved that when the lease of Port Kembla occurred, that there wasn't anything specific that came back to Port Kembla. What this fund does is set that right.”
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