General News
29 July, 2024
Wind Farm windfall for community groups
More than $110,000 in community grants will boost and strengthen Wimmera not-for-profit groups through the 2024 Murra Warra Wind Farm Sustainable Community Grants Fund program.
Wimmera Southern Mallee Development administered the grants, presented at a function at Horsham Golf Club last week.
Recipients were unanimous in their praise for the grants and the boost it would give to their members.
The Rainbow and District Landcare Group will use its grant to educate and train local land managers and landowners in all aspects of rabbit biology, population monitoring and control methods to help tackle the region’s rabbit problem.
“Rabbits impact agricultural production, damage crops, soils and native vegetation, as well as local biodiversity,” said group secretary Bernard Young.
“They’ve infested agricultural land, businesses, roadsides and recreational areas, and are encroaching into the urban fringe.
"Once the participants have completed the training, they’ll be encouraged to share knowledge, and mentor other land managers more widely across the district.”
Richard Wilken, Horsham Motor Sports Club president and Warracknabeal businessman, said a previous grant had helped the club add lawn to its facilities.
“Everything changed after that, and now we have people come from every state to our events,” he said.
“We’re ecstatic about receiving another grant. We have to present the best facilities, and Horsham Motor Sports Club needs assistance.”
Other recipients also said that no matter how small the grant, the difference to their organisation would be significant.
Wimmera Southern Mallee Development CEO Chris Sounness said it was important to have viable small community groups to which people were attracted.
“The area could have $20 billion in new industries in the next 10 years and that means an influx of people,” he said.
“Planning for the challenges involved in that is better than dealing with the problem of dwindling populations in our small communities.”
The 14 environmentally-sustainable projects to receive funding are in the municipalities of Horsham, Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack.
The recipients are: Horsham Motor Sports Club $20,000, toilets; Minyip Recreation Reserve $20,000, oval irrigation; Horsham City Bowling Club $12,305, solar panels; Centre for Participation $8650, trailer freezer; Natimuk Climbing Club $7000, climbing wall extension; Dimboola Croquet Club $5000, watering system; Dimboola Golf Club $5000, heating/cooling system; Wimmera River Improvement Committee $5000, greening the Wimmera River picnic areas; Taylors Lake Football and Netball Club $5000 for solar lighting and weather protection covers; Warracknabeal Golf Bowls Club $4966, landscaping and garden upgrade; Dimboola RSL Sub-Branch $2206 window blinds; Rainbow and District Landcare $2970, rabbit eradication; Warracknabeal Playground $2442, EnviroEdu Program; Laharum Public Hall $600, trestle tables.
- WITH CAITLIN MENADUE