Govt commit to Anzac Centre

The Albany Centenary of Anzac Alliance is one step closer to developing an Anzac Interpretive Centre on Mt Adelaide, following a Federal Government commitment of $1.3 million towards the project.

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of Anzac, Warren Snowdon, told the RSL State Congress in Perth on Saturday the Government would provide funding for the design and development of the centre. The announcement comes four months after the Government committed $250,000 towards a study into the establishment of the centre.

Mr Snowdon said the initial funding would ensure the design and foundation work for the project could begin immediately after the scoping study was completed.

“This is a project of national significance that needs to be built, fitted out and operational by the start of the centenary period in 2014, to properly commemorate the embarkation itself,” he said.

Though the interpretive centre will be physically located in Albany, it is designed to create a lasting legacy accessible world-wide through the internet.

The original concept includes 240-degree panoramic views of King George Sound, interactive electronic exhibits, permanent gallery exhibitions and electronic convoy interactive research.

The Albany Centenary of Anzac Alliance will soon award a tender for the scoping study, which is expected to be finalised by January next year.

Alliance chairman Peter Aspinall said the Federal Government’s $1.3m would tide over the Alliance until the 2012-13 8Federal Budget was released.

“We are very grateful to the Minister (Snowdon) and the Federal Government for their $1.3 million,” he said.

“The scope of works will 8determine the feasibility of the concept and based on that the 8Federal Government says yes or no.

“Unless the indicative cost is something outrageous, we would be very confident the Federal Government will support us.”

Mr Aspinall said the Alliance’s initial estimate was that the centre would cost about $6m.

However, a more accurate figure would be revealed during the scoping study.

O’Connor MP Tony Crook, who was behind Mr Snowdon’s and Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s visits to Albany this year, said he would continue to ensure the 8project remained a priority for the Federal Government.

elle.farcic@albanyadvertiser.com