AROUND £25 million is set to be committed to major Perthshire projects including schools, roads and broadband coverage.
Agreeing to the raft of proposals will be the last act of 2012 for Perth and Kinross Council when it meets next week.
Among the ambitious multi-million- pound schemes are redeveloping Perth Theatre, upgrading the traffic-choked A9/ A85 road junction, and building a new primary and a new secondary school.
All are projects which are desperately needed in Perth as it bids to build on newly-gained city status and cope with rapid population expansion in the area.
It is hoped the building work will also support the local economy by providing construction jobs and, eventually, drawing more visitors to Perth and Kinross.
The council will be asked to:
* Commit up to £4.424 million of additional funding to the redevelopment of Perth Theatre. The sum is higher than the £3m originally pledged.
The £13m project will restore the B-listed Edwardian auditorium and create new theatre space.
It is central to placing the theatre and its sister venue, Perth Concert Hall, at the heart of the Fair City’s arts scene as “creative hubs” to “develop talent, grow audiences and increase public enjoyment”.
* Commit £7.667m to a new secondary school in Perth. The exact site has not been determined, but it will serve the north Perth area.
The additional two thirds of the overall cost is being met by a successful funding bid by the council to the Scottish Futures Trust.
* Commit £12.5m to a new primary school at Oudenarde. An anticipated £11.5m of developer contributions are expected to off-set this over a 20-to-30 year period.
The school is needed to cope with the extra children anticipated to be housed at the new village development near Bridge of Earn.
* Invest £1.2m to increase superfast broadband coverage to all settlements of more than 1,000 people in Perth and Kinross.
The move will reduce instances of slow download speeds and eliminate broadband “non spots” across the area as part of the Scottish Government’s Rural Broadband Step Change 2015 national programme.
Perth itself is in line for ultra-fast broadband after a successful bit to the Government, but major coverage problems remain outside the city, which businesses claim stymie growth and harm tourism.
It is also proposed that the council gives its support to A9/A85 road junction improvements in principle, until the level of external funding is known.
Councillor Ian Miller, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, said: “£25m is a very significant amount of investment at any time, and especially when public sector organisations are dealing with today’s extremely challenging financial climate.
“It is because of Perth and Kinross Council’s robust financial management that we are able to consider this investment and I am proud to see these proposals coming before council.
“The projects are expected to bring significant benefits to our local economy, through increased employment opportunities, particularly in the construction sector, and increased visitor numbers for cultural attractions in the area.”