Chapman Valley Shire applies for State funding to redevelop Nabawa Recreation Centre for disaster recovery

The Shire of Chapman Valley will apply for State Government cyclone Seroja funding to assist in redeveloping the aging Nabawa Recreation Centre, improving shelter and care for displaced people in times of disaster. Following cyclone Seroja, which tore through the Mid West region in April 2021, calls to upgrade the recreation centre have never been louder. The centre, which is home to the Chapman Valley Football Club, was used as a disaster shelter during Seroja and is nearing the end of its useful life. It will be transformed into a multipurpose centre to improve local infrastructure and improve the Shire’s capacity to respond in times of disaster. Meanwhile, the community sporting facility continues to see user numbers grow and new facilities, including female change rooms, would enhance community connectedness, identity and boost development opportunities in the area. Shire CEO Jamie Criddle said subject to funding approval, the development would involve upgrading the facility to have female and male change rooms. “It’s two-fold, it’s to make sure we are able to assist in any future disasters in a recovery space and upgrade sporting facilities to support the growing female participation,” he said. The Shire of Chapman Valley will apply for two funding programs — the Cyclone Seroja Community Benefit Fund and the Cyclone Seroja Local Government Resilience Fund — providing up to $500,000 to assist in redeveloping the centre. Up to $200,000 would also be used on resources that focus on community development, events and projects that assist with the removal of cyclone waste. The State Government announced the $9.2 million funding program in March, providing up to $500,000 to 16 local governments and another $1.2m for the five worst-affected shires. In the August council meeting, Chapman Valley Shire proposed to apply for a loan from the Western Australian Treasury Commission to cover the remaining costs of the Nabawa Recreation Centre redevelopment, which are expected to cost between $1.4 and $1.8m. The motion was carried and the funding applications will be submitted this month.