Gateway funding

LAST week's announcement of $1.3 million in Federal Government funding for the Southern Gateway project at Bulli Tops will finally allow work to commence.

The funding will assist Wollongong City Council to cover the costs of materials and labour for the construction of the $6 million visitor information centre, restauarant and Aboriginal Interpertative Centre on the site of the old Horizons Cafe site.

Illawarra based Senator, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, announced Australian Government Regional Partnerships program funding towards the Southern Gateway project at Bulli Tops on Friday.

"This project will establish a landmark state-of-the-art visitors centre, which will include a restaurant and Aboriginal Interpretative Centre, set against the panoramic views of Bulli Tops," Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.

"The Southern Gateway Centre will showcase the significance of Indigenous history and culture to Wollongong and the South Coast. The Gateway will also provide significant employment opportunities and increase tourism and business activity in the region, while building the international profile of the Illawarra."

The Federal Government funding follows a landmark tourist agreement between Council and the NSW Government in August last year. Under the agreement, the National Parks and Wildlife Service gave Council a 0.75ha parcel of land at the Bulli Pass Gateway site. In exchange, over 90ha of council-controlled bushland in Balgownie, Tarrawanna and Thirroul was added to the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area.

Senator Fierravanti-Wells congratulated the local community for working together to access Regional Partnerships program funding.

"I would particularly like to thank the Illawarra Area Consultative Committee for helping to bring this project to fruition," she said.

"I would also like to acknowledge the financial support provided by Tourism New South Wales, Midlink Pty ltd and the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation," she said.

Council's Chief Executive Officer, Rod Oxley, said the funding completes what was a missing link' and will enable Council and the development partners to now make the project a reality.

"This is a major shot in the arm for Wollongong and the Illawarra and will enable us to deliver a state of the art facility to further boost our region's burgeoning tourist industry," he said.

"We welcome this strong show of support from the federal government, and thank Senator Fierravanti-Wells for her representations to enable this funding to come about."

Development of the complex is a joint project between Council, Mid-Link (Australia) Pty Ltd, which operated the former Horizons Caf? at the site, the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation, and Tourism NSW.

Development approval was granted on in July 2006, and Council is now finalising negotiations with a builder following the completion of the formal tender process.