Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke today joined Cowra Shire Mayor Bill West and General Manager Paul Devery at the site of Cowra’s Nature-Based Adventure Playground to announce more than $1 million in funding to help Cowra Shire bring to life some long-planned projects.
The playground is one of several projects in the shire to benefit from Round One of the NSW Government’s $200 million Stronger Communities Fund.
“This adventure playground will be a great place to play, be active and have some fun, which is so important for kids,” she said.
“And if you prefer your exercise a little less frantic, the pathway linking the Cowra Peace Precinct to the Lachlan River will be a delightful way to get some fresh air and enjoy these two beautiful parts of the town,” she added.
Other projects receiving grant money are the Woodstock War Memorial Hall refurbishment and the restoration of the Gooloogong Log Cabin Hall.
“These two buildings have a significant amount of history and yet they are still serving their communities as effectively today as they did back in the 1920s or 1930s,” Ms Cooke said.
“The Woodstock War Memorial Hall is coming up to a century old and the Goloogong Log Cabin Hall is only 10 years behind it, so I reckon they are both highly deserving of some money, time and a little bit of love,” she added.
The funding amounts are:
- Nature-Based Adventure Playground – $357,848
- Cowra Peace Precinct to the Lachlan River Precinct pathways – $232,500
- Woodstock War Memorial Hall – $153,055
- Gooloogong Log Cabin Hall – $334,500
Councillor West said the funding will allow Cowra Shire Council to put into action plans which have been stuck on the drawing board.
“All of these projects have been on Council’s and communities’ ‘to do’ list for some time but we simply have not had the funds to complete them,” he said.
“Until now, that is.
“They will have direct and positive social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits for our communities and we are very excited to finally be able to make these projects a reality,” he added.
“It’s a fantastic result for our Shire and Council is grateful to the State Government for providing these monies through its Stronger Country Communities for these important local projects,” he said.
The Stronger Country Communities fund is one of the six funds that make up the NSW Government’s $1.3 billion Regional Growth Fund, which is designed to improve economic growth and productivity through investment in regional communities.
Applications for Round Two opened on Monday, March 12 and close at 5pm on Friday, May 4, 2018.
After an unprecedented demand for funding in Round One of the Fund, an additional $100 million for local sports infrastructure has been committed for Round Two. This means a total of $200 million will be available in Round Two for local sports and amenity projects.
Further details on Round 2 of the Stronger Country Communities Fund can be found at www.nsw.gov.au/strongercountrycommunities
MEDIA: Graham Springett | Madeleine Clarke 6924 2533
