Steph Cooke | 24 Dec 2021 | Grants News Uncategorized
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has announced that the Junee Shire is set to receive $787,682 under the NSW Government’s fourth round of the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
This latest round of NSW Government funding has been spread across four projects, each of which is set to benefit communities across the Shire.
$59,772 to Illabo Public School to construct a Covered Outdoor Learning Area for students and the wider Illabo community
$228,020 to build a ramp into the 50 metre pool to facilitate increased accessibility at the Junee Junction Aquatic and Recreation Centre
$346,425 to provide a dedicated female change room at Loftus Oval, for the Junee Junior Rugby League club
$153,465 for sporting and social facility refurbishments in Old Junee, including a community garden and landscape features.
“Projects like these bring to life the NSW Government’s vision to help make regional NSW be the best place to live, work and visit,” Ms Cooke said.
“These four projects showcase facilities in Junee particularly those in small villages but also how the small villages who are passionate and committed to enhancing and developing their communities.
“The latest round of funding takes the total amount of funding through the Stronger Country Communities Fund for projects across the Junee Shire to $3,900,384 over 20 projects.”
Junee Shire Council General Manager, James Davis said the projects across Junee will be a great addition to the town’s development.
“It’s great to see these facilities over the Junee Shire receive funding. These projects will better improve the learning and sporting experiences in the area,” Mr Davis said.
Secretary of the Old Junee Hall, Anna Lashbrook said this funding was reassuring to the small village of Old Junee.
“We look forward to seeing our plans come alive, and building an asset not just for ourselves, but for the entire shire,” Mrs Lashbrook said.
Illabo Public School P&C secretary, Fiona Hodge said this funding is an exciting new addition to the Illabo community.
“I don’t think we are going to realise the major impact this will have on not only the school but the wider Illabo community until the COLA is actually built. We will be able to hold events and learning for all outdoors in comfort,” Mrs Hodge said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole announced that 435 projects across every single one of the state’s 93 regional Local Government Areas (LGAs) would receive funding under Stronger Country Communities Fund Round Four.
“The Stronger Country Communities fund delivers guaranteed investment in every single regional LGA in NSW, and has seen $500 million invested across more than 1900 local projects since 2017,” Mr Toole said.
“About half of this latest $100 million round will deliver 189 female sporting projects, including the construction or upgrade of female change rooms, additional amenity blocks and bathrooms, and playing surfaces like netball and tennis courts.
“It will also deliver hundreds of projects that make everyday life in the regions easier, for things like new playgrounds, clubhouse, art gallery renovations, streetscape, accessibility, lighting upgrades and community programs.”
The Stronger Country Communities Fund is part of the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund, which alongside the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund is delivering infrastructure and programs that generate opportunities, investment and jobs.
Steph Cooke | 22 Dec 2021 | Grants Local projects News
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP has announced $789,141 from the fourth round of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund for projects in the Temora Shire.
This latest round of NSW Government funding has been spread across seven projects, each of which is set to benefit the communities across the Temora Shire.
$70,000 to modify the existing storage room at the Temora Recreation Ground into change rooms for women’s rugby players
$50,000 to provide upgrades at the Ariah Park Recreation Ground involving modifications to the junior netball change rooms, widening of the netball court, provision of additional seating and shade and construction of an outdoor gym
$130,000 for the construction of a splash park and purchase of a disability hoist for the Temora Recreation Centre
$130,000 to widen and resurface the existing netball courts at Nixon Park Sporting Complex
$54,141 to install shade sails at Nixon Park and Lake Centenary, as well as installing solar lighting at Lake Centenary.
$267,800 to provide much needed inclusive sporting and recreational shooting facilities in the region that will help service the shooting sporting needs of the region at the Temora Sport Shooting Complex
$87,200 for the construction of a new entranceway and enclosed walkway at the Bundawarrah Centre to provide new entrance space for the Temora Rural Museum
Ms Cooke welcomed the funding announcement of these projects with Temora Council and community representatives at the Temora Recreation Centre.
“Projects like these are built upon the NSW Government’s vision to help make regional NSW be the best place to live, work and visit,” Ms Cooke said.
“There is such a wide range of projects going ahead in Temora, from sporting facility upgrades to upgrades to the Bundawarrah Centre. It is great to see how dedicated the Temora Shire is to enhance and further develop their facilities to better their communities.
“The latest round of funding takes the total amount of funding through the Stronger Country Communities Fund for projects across the Temora Shire to $3,905,079,”
Acting Mayor for the Temora Shire Council, Rick Firman is thankful for the continued support over the four rounds of funding.
“This funding is so much more than we’ve ever expected. The projects funded through the Stronger Country Communities Fund have and will continue to enhance so many aspects of the shire, whether cultural, sports or other community projects,” Mr Firman said.
Tracey Defina, Executive Assistant of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. said this funding will have a huge impact for their current members.
“Our facility will bring visitors from surrounding areas to Temora, which is great for tourism. We would like to thank member and former board member Warren Brown for his hard work and advocacy to obtain this funding,” Ms Defina said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole announced that 435 projects across every single one of the state’s 93 regional Local Government Areas (LGAs) would receive funding under Stronger Country Communities Fund Round Four.
“The Stronger Country Communities fund delivers guaranteed investment in every single regional LGA in NSW, and has seen $500 million invested across more than 1900 local projects since 2017,” Mr Toole said.
“About half of this latest $100 million round will deliver 189 female sporting projects, including the construction or upgrade of female change rooms, additional amenity blocks and bathrooms, and playing surfaces like netball and tennis courts.
“It will also deliver hundreds of projects that make everyday life in the regions easier, for things like new playgrounds, clubhouse, art gallery renovations, streetscape, accessibility, lighting upgrades and community programs.”
The Stronger Country Communities Fund is part of the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund, which alongside the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund is delivering infrastructure and programs that generate opportunities, investment and jobs.
Steph Cooke | 22 Dec 2021 | Grants News Uncategorized
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke announced new funding supporting multicultural communities in Cowra.
Ms Cooke said $28,000 was awarded to the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre for a grassroots community project.
“Our local community is better-off through the work of the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre,” Ms Cooke said.
“This grant will help the helpers. It will support many volunteers in our community who are making a difference in this difficult time as we continue to recover from the Delta outbreak.
“I commend the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre for their incredible work during the Delta outbreak supporting vulnerable people in our community who have faced unprecedented hardship during the pandemic.”
The grant will help develop the Cowra Covid Resilience project which will provide information to the community about COVID-19 transmission, testing and vaccination.
Steph Cooke | 22 Dec 2021 | Grants News Uncategorized
Local not-for-profits will benefit from a funding boost to ease financial pressure and help them recover from impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the NSW Government’s Social Sector Support Fund is providing not-for-profit organisations with grants of between $10,000 and $200,000.
“The social services sector has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to support people doing it tough, and this funding will provide our frontline organisations with a hand-up,” Ms Cooke said.
“The funding will support not-for-profits who have seen a decline in their revenue and can be used to assist with brokering services and support for clients.”
Local organisations receiving funding include:
Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated – $150,000
The Farm in Galong – $100,000
The grants support organisations which did not receive JobSaver or JobSaver Not-For-Profit and are working across child and family services, domestic violence, homelessness, health, disability and animal welfare sectors. More information about the Social Sector Support Fund is available online
Steph Cooke | 22 Dec 2021 | Grants Local projects News Uncategorized
The Narrandera Shire Council has been awarded $75,000 as part of the final round of the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play program.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the program supports councils to build new or upgrade existing playspaces to improve inclusivity across NSW.
“This grant is a win for the community. It means that Narrandera will have better public facilities for everyone to enjoy, regardless of age, ability or cultural background,” Ms Cooke said.
The funds will be put towards upgrading the Narrandera Adventure Playground to make the space more inclusive.
The Everyone Can Play program was established in 2018 as part of the $290 million Open Spaces and Greener Sydney package. It supports the Government’s priority of increasing access to quality, walkable, green and open public space.
Steph Cooke | 22 Dec 2021 | Grants News Uncategorized
Local not-for-profits will benefit from a funding boost to ease financial pressure and help them recover from impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the NSW Government’s Social Sector Support Fund is providing not-for-profit organisations with grants of between $10,000 and $200,000.
“The social services sector has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to support people doing it tough, and this funding will provide our frontline organisations with a hand-up,” Ms Cooke said.
“The funding will support not-for-profits who have seen a decline in their revenue and can be used to assist with brokering services and support for clients.”
Local organisations receiving funding include:
Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated – $150,000
The Farm in Galong – $100,000
The grants support organisations which did not receive JobSaver or JobSaver Not-For-Profit and are working across child and family services, domestic violence, homelessness, health, disability and animal welfare sectors.
More information about the Social Sector Support Fund is available online.
A winery in Young is set for major improvements to its storage infrastructure, boosting its wine holding capacity to meet a growing demand for Australian export ready wine, thanks to the NSW Government’s Regional Job Creation Fund.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP said a $100,000 grant will help Grove Estate Wines improve its storage facilities to cater for exports to Canada and other international markets, creating up to five full time jobs for the region.
Ms Cooke said the upgrades will help the winery make insulation improvements to prevent temperature variations, keeping wines between 12 – 19 degrees in good humidity to allow the wines to develop in a controlled environment before exporting.
“The demand for quality Australian wines continues to grow around the world and Grove Estate produces award winning wines that exemplify the rich and well-balanced wines that are synonymous with the Hilltops region,” Ms Cooke said.
“Grove Estate Wines will renovate its existing cool stores to minimise light exposure and control environmental temperatures so more wines can be export ready, as it continues to look at more export markets in Asia and the Pacific.”
Viticulturist at Grove Estate Wines Brian Mullany said the funding will help increase the quantity of wines available for export and create new jobs in Young.
“We are looking forward to expanding our presence in international markets, and introducing more overseas consumers to the excellent wine from the Hilltops,” Mr Mullany said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the $130 million Regional Job Creation Fund aims to create more than 6,500 new direct jobs in regional NSW by providing incentives to expand and keep operations in regional areas.
“Regional NSW is the engine room of the state and helping companies like Grove Estate Wines expand its operations stimulates local and regional economies, boosts livelihoods and creates local employment opportunities,” Mr Toole said.
“Providing businesses with the opportunity to fast track their growth plans and expand their operations means they can increase their production, attract more investment and create new jobs today, which is great news for the local economy.
“Setting businesses up for success helps the local community grow and new jobs mean more people earning a wage and spending their pay packets in local stores, cafés, restaurants and on local goods and services.”
The Regional Job Creation Fund supports eligible businesses with grants to purchase new equipment, expand facilities, acquire technology, create new production lines or establish businesses in regional NSW.
Round one of the Regional Job Creation Fund has now closed. A second round will open in early 2022. For more information, go to: investregionalnsw.com/RJCFund.
Workers on big rail project in the Riverina Murray region – the $60 million Junee to Griffith track upgrade – have pitched in to help a little rail project, the Yanco Miniature Railway.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the John Holland crew, working on behalf of Transport for NSW under the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Rail program, donated time and materials to help upgrade the smaller-scale track.
“The Yanco Miniature Railway has been closed since February 2020 because of COVID-19, so workers on the Junee to Griffith project used the closure time to upgrade the model train exhibit,” Ms Cooke said.
In late November, the project team carried out a working bee at the miniature railway, donating timber sleepers and surplus track from the Junee to Griffith project.
These materials were used to upgrade the miniature railway’s existing 800-metre track and begin work on an extension.
“The project team welcomed the opportunity to support a local community group impacted by COVID-19, by recycling the existing rail lengths that had been replaced between Junee and Griffith and reducing waste from the upgrade,” Ms Cooke said.
Project Manager Gareth Beynon from John Holland visited the miniature railway and was amazed by its replica miniature-scale model train ride.
Yanco Miniature Railway Club President Terry Ward said workers put new gravel on the tracks, mowed grass, removed overgrown vegetation and began excavation work for a future tunnel.
“I cannot thank the crew enough. We’re hoping to reopen early next year and are excited to welcome back families to our upgraded miniature railway,” Mr Ward said.
The 174 kilometre Junee to Griffith upgrade project is expected to be completed early next year, providing a better freight link to port as well as domestic markets.
Capacity on the rail line will be increased to support heavier trains, and train speeds may increase for some train configurations between Junee and Griffith; improving network efficiency, ensuring shorter delivery times and reducing transport costs.
Fixing Country Rail is a $400 million NSW Government program providing targeted infrastructure funding from Restart NSW for regional freight projects.
For more information on the Fixing Country Rail program
The NSW Government is continuing to improve the quality of classrooms and cut school power bills with an additional four schools in the Cootamundra electorate added to the LED Lighting Upgrade Program.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s Lighting Upgrade Program is improving schools and supporting jobs in regional and rural areas.
“This program has been able to target small to medium sized contractors to install the lights which is great for local jobs and our local economy,” Ms Cooke said.
“This program continues to deliver the improved facilities and is now in 40 schools in our electorate.”
The four schools that have been included in Tranche 4 of the LED Lighting Upgrade Program include:
Caragabal Public School
Eurongilly Public School
Maimuru Public School
Marrar Public School
Across the state, an additional 180 schools added to the LED Lighting Upgrade Program.
The $157.8 million program was launched in October 2020 as a stimulus response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is replacing old inefficient lights in NSW public schools with smart LED lights.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said research has shown that improved lighting has a positive impact on students’ education.
“The NSW Government is not only investing record amounts in new and upgraded schools but is also improving existing classrooms, libraries, halls and administration areas for students right across NSW.
“The government is continuing to roll out record amounts of funding for our regions, and schools are a major part of that investment.”
The installation works are being tendered using the Local Trades Scheme, allowing businesses and tradespeople the opportunity to bid for the work in their local community.
The NSW Government is investing $7.9 billion over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver 215 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This is the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.
These additional 180 schools brings the program to a total of 1,000 schools upgraded, supporting more than 1,200 jobs across the State.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP has announced $745,071 in funding for projects across the Coolamon Shire under the fourth round of the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.
This latest round of NSW Government funding has been spread across four projects, each of which is set to benefit communities across the shire.
$193,883 to upgrade the multipurpose netball and tennis courts at the Ganmain Sports Ground
$193,883 for stage 3 of upgrades to the Kindra Park Precinct, including refurbishing football change rooms, constructing a new time keeper, player and spectator seating and the purchase of a new electronic scoreboard for the netball courts.
$182,157 for lighting and player change room upgrades at Langtry Oval
$175,148 for essential upgrades at Ardlethan Recreation Ground, including female change rooms and disabled access toilets.
“Projects like these are built upon the NSW Government’s vision to help make regional NSW be the best place to live, work and visit,” Ms Cooke said.
“It’s great to see such a range of facilities being upgraded to increase participation in the growing sporting scene in the Coolamon Shire. The entire community is putting a lot of effort into ensuring their sporting facilities are top-notch.
“The latest round of funding takes the total amount of funding through the Stronger Country Communities Fund for projects across the Coolamon Shireto $3,765,273.”
“Coolamon Shire Council on behalf of the sporting organisations in the Coolamon Shire greatly appreciate this funding that will benefit female participation and volunteer support,” Acting Coolamon Mayor, John Seymour said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole announced that 435 projects across every single one of the state’s 93 regional Local Government Areas (LGAs) would receive funding under Stronger Country Communities Fund Round Four.
“The Stronger Country Communities fund delivers guaranteed investment in every single regional LGA in NSW, and has seen $500 million invested across more than 1900 local projects since 2017,” Mr Toole said.
“About half of this latest $100 million round will deliver 189 female sporting projects, including the construction or upgrade of female change rooms, additional amenity blocks and bathrooms, and playing surfaces like netball and tennis courts.
“It will also deliver hundreds of projects that make everyday life in the regions easier, for things like new playgrounds, clubhouse, art gallery renovations, streetscape, accessibility, lighting upgrades and community programs.”
The Stronger Country Communities Fund is part of the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund, which alongside the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund is delivering infrastructure and programs that generate opportunities, investment and jobs.
