The District Council of Yankalilla has secured grant funding of $2.25 million to help fund public amenities at the Rapid Bay dive site visitor and accommodation at the Jetty Caravan Park in Normanville 

The council applied for the funding through the Commonwealth Government’s Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF), which was established to help create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger regional communities in Australia. 

Mayor Simon Rothwell says the two projects will benefit the community as well as visitors.

“The first grant is for $2,045,450 to help fund the construction of visitor accommodation in the Council owned Jetty Caravan Park in Normanville. 

“The project to construct attractive new cabins is a part of our broader Foreshore Masterplan and has the benefit of generating income to offset Council’s reliance on rate revenue to service loans and fund projects across the whole district.

“The second grant of $210,000 is for the construction of much-needed new public amenities at the world-class diving site adjacent to the twin-jetties at Rapid Bay. 

“The total project cost is $420,000 and Council applied for the funding in partnership with Adbri Limited. 

“The new amenities block will be architecturally designed to strongly reflect the coastal location and will comprise of family-friendly changerooms, toilets, showers, changing benches, storage, and fish cleaning facilities. 

“We would like to thank ABRI Limited, who are matching the Commonwealth Government’s funding with a further $210,000, contributing half of the funds towards this important community project,” he says.

Chief Executive Nigel Morris says winning the grant funding answers the local and diving community’s call for a purpose-built diving facility. 

“The project will reinforce Rapid Bay’s reputation as a high-quality dive site and provide appropriate facilities and new infrastructure to unlock new economic activity for a niche tourism activity.” 

The project will be undertaken on land owned by Adelaide Brighton Cement, an Adbri company. 

In 2009, Adbri voluntarily entered into Licence Agreements with the South Australia Minister for Transport and the District Council of Yankalilla to provide access across the Adbri coastal land. 

Access is provided to the public for recreational activities such as fishing from the jetty and diving. 

Mr Morris says the council will provide in-kind support for the project.

Mayor Simon Rothwell congratulated council staff involved in securing the grant funding, saying the projects would add to the enjoyment of residents and visitors and create more economic opportunities in our region.

“I am also pleased to hear the Myponga Memorial Hall has also secured $20,000 of BBRF funding for the much-needed underpinning of the hall.” 

Proposed Rapid Bay development