GRANTS STRENGTHENING RIVERINA AND CENTRAL WEST COMMUNITIES

Six Wagga Wagga and district community organisations are rejoicing after being told their applications for grants through the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Programme (SCP) have been approved.

Member for Riverina Michael McCormack telephoned the organisations to deliver the good news, with the grant funds totalling $77,576 expected to paid once grant agreements are signed.

Among the grants are $18,029 to the Turvey Park junior and senior netball and football clubs to help fund a new netball court, $16,000 to Tarcutta CWA to paint the outside of its building, $18,473 to the Junee Roundhouse Museum for blockout blinds, air-conditioning and  a park setting, $3,886 to the Humula Citizens’ Sports Club to refurbish its laundry and kitchen, $7,898 to the Rock Preschool to enclose a veranda to create an enclosed outdoor learning, all weather, classroom and $13,290 to the Ariah Park Show Society for a kitchen fitout.

Turvey Park junior and senior netball and football clubs committee member Andrea Barkla said the members were extremely grateful for the SCP grant.

“It will greatly assist towards the cost of our new netball court,” Mrs Barkla said.

Ariah Park Show Society treasurer Tricia Stubbs welcomed the grant announcement.

“It means we can have a new kitchen to replace the one which was in the old lunch pavilion for more than 80 years,” Ms Stubbs said.

“The kitchen is also used for community events, so the grant is definitely a huge benefit for the community.”

Mr McCormack said $149,500 had been approved for 11 projects in the Riverina and Central West through Round 7 of SCP, a program for not-for-profit organisations which funds small capital projects which deliver important social benefits in each of the 151 Federal electorates across the country.

Mr McCormack nominated the 11 projects after he and a community consultative committee considered 45 expressions of interest seeking funding of $620,000 towards projects worth $994,000.

“The Stronger Communities Programme has delivered more than $1 million to not-for-profit organisations in the Riverina and Central West through the first seven rounds of the program,” Mr McCormack said.

He said the programme had been extended in the 2022-23 Federal Budget handed down this week.

“I am delighted an eighth round of the Stronger Communities Programme will be funded again because it is such a valuable source of funding for these community organisations which just need a helping hand to achieve big things,” McCormack said.

“The programme is very popular; I am often asked: when will the next round open?

“In some cases, these community-building projects simply would not have been possible without the support of a Stronger Communities Programme grant.”

APPROVED ROUND SEVEN STRONGER COMMUNITIES PROGRAMME GRANTS IN THE RIVERINA ELECTORATE

  •  Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre – disability-safe basketball and netball court ($20,000)

  • Forbes Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre Indigenous Corporation – improvements to outdoor space ($11,654)

  • Turvey Park Australian Football and Netball Club – Netball court ($18,029)

  • Country Womens Association Inc Tarcutta Branch – Upgrade exterior of building ($16,500)

  • West Wyalong Lions Club on behalf of Waratah Village Association – Modifications to the Village’s van to make it suitable and accessible to transport all residents ($17,270)

  • Ariah Park Show Society – Kitchen fitout for community space at the Ariah Park Showground Lunch pavilion ($13,290)

  • Regional Heritage Transport Association (Roundhouse Museum) – Blockout blinds, air conditioning, sheltered park setting and concrete slab ($18,473)

  • Trundle Sports Council – Improvements to Berryman Park ($20,000)

  • The Rock Preschool Inc – Enclose veranda to create an enclosed outdoor, all-weather classroom ($7898)

  • Humula Citizens’ Sports Club – Refurbish laundry and kitchen ($3,886)

  • Parkes Neighbourhood Central – Courtyard refurbishment ($3,000)

Shane Manning