New Lotteries House officially opened in South Hedland

29/5/98

The Lotteries House program was probably the highlight of all the Lotteries Commission's funding programs, Racing and Gaming Minister Max Evans said today when officially opening the new Lotteries House in South Hedland.

"The Lotteries House concept is unique to Western Australia and has provided working accommodation for more than 150 organisations throughout the State," Mr Evans said.

"South Hedland is the 18th Lotteries House to be built, and the eighth in regional WA, stretching from Broome to Esperance."

Mr Evans said that the Lotteries Commission had provided $1.8 million and the South Hedland Enhancement Scheme $400,000 towards the cost of the building, while the Town of Port Hedland had provided a highly visible site in the centre of South Hedland and had made a significant contribution to car parking and future maintenance.

"It has been a genuine community project and many people have put a lot of effort into it since it was first suggested at a Community Ideas Workshop in February 1996," the Minister said.

The current permanent tenants of the House are the Women's Refuge, Port Hedland Tourist Bureau, Hedland Playgroup, Hedland Toy Library, Relationships Australia, Aboriginal Legal Service, Pilbara Family Daycare Scheme, Pilbara Home Care, Pilbara Community Legal Service, Acacia Support Service, and Home and Community Care.

Mr Evans said that the Lotteries Commission provided funds to more than 1500 organisations in Western Australia each year.

In the last 12 months there had been 35 grants totalling more than $500,000 to organisations in the Pilbara.

Among other things, the grants helped to fund furniture for the Hedland Women's Refuge, toys for an Aboriginal pre-school, a vehicle for the East Pilbara Youth Council, a free public concert in Roebourne and a drop-in centre in Port Hedland.

"I believe these visible benefits to the community are the main reason why people are happy to support the Lotteries Commission's activities," Mr Evans said.

Media Contact: Hugh Ryan 9366 0200