18 March 2010
Money from the fiscal stimulus fund is to be used to help Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust develop a new visitor centre, including new retail and café facilities at the Trust’s Trinity site.
The Treasury Minister has given the green light to allocate £1.5 million to fund 50% of Durrell’s £3 million 2010 capital investment programme, on the condition that fiscal stimulus funding is matched pound for pound by Durrell’s own fund-raising.
Senator Philip Ozouf said ”This will enable Durrell to revitalise an iconic Jersey attraction, increase the quality of the visitor experience and help ensure Durrell’s financial sustainability.
“This joint investment will provide a much needed economic stimulus to the construction sector. It is important to support individuals and businesses until economic recovery is locked in. Whether the fiscal stimulus funds construction, skills training, businesses, or individuals – it keeps people in work and stimulates the economy, and we all benefit from that.”
Sub-sectors of the Jersey construction industry who will be involved in the project include architects, consulting engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers, building surveyors, main contractors, smaller general builders, trade sub-contractors, material suppliers, aggregate and quarrying suppliers, civil engineering contractors, utility companies and shipping companies.
Durrell will coordinate with Jersey Enterprise and the Jersey Construction Council to maximise the local content of the overall programme.
Durrell’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Masterton, said “This much needed investment will allow the Trust to develop a new visitor centre and upgrade site infrastructure. In doing so, it will provide significant local employment, make a major contribution to the work of the Trust and help ensure Durrell’s long term sustainability through increasing commercial revenues. We will shortly be launching a capital campaign to raise the matched funding.”
The project will be subject to oversight by the Treasury department in the same way as all projects being funded through fiscal stimulus, which include £5 million to support skills development, £3 million to support Jersey businesses including financial services, £6 million in essential civil infrastructure projects and £26 million for construction and maintenance of health, education and housing facilities
The Economic Development Department sponsored the Durrell bid for fiscal stimulus funding. Economic Development Minister, Senator Alan Maclean, said “Securing investment from the fiscal stimulus fund will boost the construction sector and deliver significant improvements for Durrell which is enjoyed by both residents and visitors to the Island.
“Durrell is a significant contributor to the Island’s economy as a leading tourist attraction, as an employer of more than 100 staff and through spending more than £1 million annually on goods and services with local businesses. Durrell’s unmatched global reputation and international conservation projects, together with their partnerships with wildlife organisations and universities worldwide, provide an important and unique contribution to Jersey.”
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