HumeLink announces $1.8 million in grants for local community groups

Transgrid's Community Investment and Benefits Program builds on the social and economic contribution of the nation-critical HumeLink project, which will also create up to 1,600 construction jobs and drive $6.3 billion of direct and indirect regional investment.

“These organisations are the lifeblood of the local community, and we are proud to be supporting their important work with this much-needed funding boost,” Transgrid General Manager for Community and Social Licence Michael Johnson said.

“We were fortunate to work closely with engaged local communities to ensure that the program provides funding targeted to the initiatives that will make a positive and lasting difference to the lives of local residents.

“That is how we maximise the social and economic benefits of the HumeLink project for local communities along the alignment.”

Projects to be delivered by the HumeLink community organisations include:

• RFS Southern Tablelands – for emergency response equipment
• Taralga Showground – for a pavilion upgrade to support community events
• Taralga Pony Club – to rebuild stables, improving safety for events
• Taralga Sports Club – for an outdoor deck to enhance community space
• Upper Lachlan Wood Guild – for woodworking equipment and a storage upgrade
• Yass Swimming Club – for solar shade structures to extend swimming season
• Bookham RFS – for station upgrades to improve water access and firefighting capability
• Bookham Community Association– to improve local paths and access to facilities
• Yass Area Network of Landcare– for habitat restoration and nursery upgrades
• Bookham Memorial Hall– for new audio-visual equipment to improve hall functionality
• Bowning Hall Association – to install a shade sail over the playground
• Binalong Swimming Club – for solar heating to extend swimming season
• Rotary Club of Yass – to construct a lookout and raised viewing platform
• Binalong Community Club – to build an accessible unisex toilet facility
• RFS South West Slopes – for electronic fire danger rating signs and fire cameras
• Gundagai Museum – for amenity upgrades to provide equitable public access
• Tumut Showground Trust – to upgrade power infrastructure.

RFS South West Slopes Operational Officer Jock Corcoran said the fire cameras will provide vital intelligence for local volunteer brigades, while the fire rating signs will help keep the local community informed.

“The first 30 minutes of a fire are critical, and these cameras give us really early information before we have a fire truck on the scene, enabling us to adjust our response to stop the fire before it starts to spread,” he said.

“The electronic fire danger signs update automatically every 24 hours, avoiding reliance on manual signs that have to be changed by our volunteers.”

Yass Swimming Club’s Deborah Donaldson said the new shade structures will improve sun safety for the 30,000 people who visit Yass Memorial Swimming Pool every year.

“The pool currently has only 10% shade coverage following the recent removal of diseased trees, which is well below the national standard of 30%,” she said.

“By integrating solar panels into the structures, we will also be able to generate clean electricity to power the pool filters and pumps, saving around $10,000 a year that can now be reinvested elsewhere.”

Taralga Show Secretary Mikayla Keith said the funding will upgrade and modernise the 111-year-old showground pavilion.

“The pavilion is really important not only for our agricultural show, but as a hub for community meetings, and an event space for weddings and other functions,” she said.

“This funding will bring facilities up to date with current safety, accessibility and sustainability standards, giving our volunteers a morale boost and enabling the pavilion to support even more local and regional activities.”

HumeLink East Project Director Carel Nagel said construction joint venture partners Acciona and GenusPlus were very impressed with the high quality of funding applications.

“From fighting bushfires to showcasing the region’s agricultural heritage, many of these initiatives are led by incredibly dedicated volunteers,” he said. 

“We are proud to support their efforts, which will continue to make a real difference to communities for many years to come.”

Further HumeLink CIBP funding recipients will be announced early in the new year.

For more information about the HumeLink Community Investment and Benefits Program, go to: https://www.transgrid.com.au/projects-innovation/humelink/humelink-community-investment-and-benefits-program/

Media enquiries: James Atkinson 0475 965 030 / james.atkinson@transgrid.com.au