Trust to manage Katanning Royalties

Katanning’s use of its Royalties for Regions funding was put in the spotlight with a meeting of the WA Regional Development Trust in town on Thursday and Friday, February 13-14.

On the board are chairman Andrew Murray, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation 2010 rural woman of the year Sue Middleton, former Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA chief executive Tim Shanahan and Great Southern Development Commission chairman Peter Rundle.

The trust is an independent advisory body created through Royalties for Regions.

Members provide advice to the Minister for Regional Development Terry Redman on how Royalties for Regions funding is spent and its management.

With a tour guided by Shire of Katanning chief executive Dean Taylor, the board visited the Katanning Saleyards, Lake Ewlyamartup, the Town Hall and the Piesse Lake Dam development.

Members then held a meeting on Friday and discussed what was happening in the town and gain a sense of the future of Katanning.

A former senator, Mr Murray said it was great to move around the regions on a regular basis.

“You can’t do work in regional development from a desk,” he said.

“We want to see the multiplier effect, that’s the purpose of Royalties for Regions.”

Mr Murray highlighted the development of the saleyards and funding towards a Sheep Research and Development Centre in Katanning would ensure that it is establishing itself to support a growing Asian middle-class population that will consume more protein.

“By 2030 there is set to be around 3 billion middle-class people living in the Asia Pacific,” he said.

Mr Rundle said it was the first time the trust had made the visit to Katanning.

“I think they were quite impressed with some aspects but the Super Town work is only just beginning, really.

“They see the potential for the restoration of the Town Hall and the Flour Mill … they were quite impressed with that concept.”

It was recently announced Mr Murray was stepping down from the trust after four years in the position.

Mr Rundle praised the work of the outgoing chairman.

“Andrew has been a very well respected chairman, he added weight to the trust,” he said.

“It’s been great in the initial Royalties for Regions process that he has been there as the guiding light in some ways to oversee the governance.”

A replacement for his position will be announced in the next few weeks.

There are plans for the Trust to visit Katanning in 18 months to see the completed Super Towns projects.