Grant enables service provider’s grand plan

Disability services provider Enable South West can cater for five years of growth with the money from a Lotterywest grant, according to its chairman.

Roger Veen said the $311,000 grant, which was presented to the provider by Bunbury MLA John Castrilli on Friday, would allow it to upgrade its information technology systems, increase disability parking and furnish its expanded site.

The total cost of the works will be about $750,000 and self-funding had also contributed, Mr Veen said.

He said the expansion would help Enable to improve its delivery of service to clients and said the money would allow it to establish itself for ongoing expansion.

“We will not occupy the whole building straight away,” he said.

“This is not only catering for today but catering for the next five years.”

Mr Castrilli believed Enable did important work in the community and hoped the funding would help it to continue.

“There are significant extensions already under way to add on a new room which can be used for meetings and by other community groups,” he said.

“This was originally part of the premises but the organisation’s demand for services meant it was outgrown.”

Much of the money will be used for the planned IT upgrades while there is also provision for an 80sq m upstairs area in its expanded Beach Road site. The work is expected to be finished by the end of July. Enable South West has operated since 1991.