Media Release
Keep Australia Beautiful and TransGrid announce grants to communities in Central-western NSW
24 March 2006
Keep Australia Beautiful (NSW) and TransGrid today announced the successful applicants in the Community Beautification and Environmental Improvement Grants Scheme for communities in the Central-west of New South Wales. The grants, of up to $5000 each, will assist with projects such as the restoration of native vegetation areas, visual improvements to communities through landscaped projects, and the beautification of community assets.
Keep Australia Beautiful (NSW) Chief Executive, Mr Matthew Taylor, was on hand to personally present cheques to the successful applicants, saying, "We are proud of the relationship Keep Australia Beautiful has with TransGrid to promote environmental management and enhancement through projects such as this."
TransGrid Manager Central Region, Mr Ian Davidson, was delighted with the success of the grants scheme saying that the applications received from organisations throughout the region were of the highest calibre.
"The panel was very impressed with the quality of the projects that were considered and the community groups that have been selected to receive grants will now be able to enhance the appearance of their local environment, whilst providing valuable assets for use by the whole community," Mr Davidson added.
TransGrid, the NSW high voltage system manager, has dedicated $100,000 over two years to the grants scheme as part of its overall commitment to the environment.
This is the third time that Keep Australia Beautiful and TransGrid have joined forces to fund projects such as these. In 2002, over 20 schools along the Mid-North Coast of NSW received similar support while in 2004 schools in the South West of the State received a similar level of support.
To be eligible for the community grants schemes, applications needed to:
- Encourage the involvement of rural and regional communities in beautification and environmental improvement schemes.
- Develop innovative approaches, in partnership with other like-mined organisations to deal with issues related to beautification and environmental improvement.
- Work in partnership with existing community networks such as Tidy Towns committees.
- Seek and link with existing projects and programs that have similar objectives.
The following communities in the Central-west region of the state were awarded grants:
| Group/Organisation | Project Summary | Council Area | Amount Granted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowen Public School | Creation of outdoor learning environment | Orange | 3000 |
| Cooks Gap & District Progress Association | Community Hall Improvement Project (landscaping and planting scheme) | Mid-Western Regional (Mudgee) | 2500 |
| Cooyal Park Trust | Watering system for Cooyal Park | Mid-Western Regional (Mudgee) | 1500 |
| Daroo Orange Urban Landcare Group | Propagating local native grasses and understory plants for restoring and rehabilitating the Wentworth Reserve grassy box woodland | Orange | 3375 |
| Dubbo College Senior Campus | Landscaping to reduce effects of salinity in school grounds | Dubbo | 5000 |
| Dubbo North Public School | Native sensory regeneration project | Dubbo | 3200 |
| Goolma Amenities Committee | Landscaping around new amenities block (to be built) | Mid Western Regional (Mudgee) | 3000 |
| James Sheahan Catholic High School | Restoration of local school grounds and re-establishment of native species | Orange | 5000 |
| Lyndhurst Soldiers Memorial Hall & Village Committee | Beautification of village hall grounds | Blayney | 500 |
For further information please contact Matthew Taylor on 9633 3380 or 0409 463 227.
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