NSW Government Funding to Support Community Infrastructure in Coolamon

Coolamon Cricket Club Inc will benefit from $51,532 in funding under the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Grants program.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said this funding will help the Coolamon Cricket Club to continue providing a fit-for-purpose location for local clubs and the community to enjoy participating in sports and hosting events.

“The Coolamon Cricket Club Inc is receiving $51,532 to replace and upgrade their water system to improve the quality of the playing surface at the grounds,” Ms Cooke said.

“This funding will provide upgrades to these facilities to ensure that it is a safe environment for all competitors and community sporting groups.”

Mr Shane Rudd, President of Coolamon Junior Cricket Club said the benefit of this watering system is not just for the cricket teams, but all sporting teams and anyone that uses the grounds, including visiting schools.

“This watering system, which utilises recycled water means that we can ensure that the grounds are always maintained in peak condition and provide the highest degree of safety possible for anyone participating in any sport,” Mr Rudd said.

Minister for Hospitality and Racing Kevin Anderson said the latest round of ClubGrants funding has awarded more than $4.2m to 43 projects across sport and recreation, arts and culture, community infrastructure and disaster readiness.

“Each year $12.5 million is made available for projects to build, repair or upgrade facilities across arts and culture, sport and recreation, disaster readiness and community infrastructure,” Mr Anderson said.

“The latest round was one the largest yet in a response to weather events including drought, bushfires and flooding, as well as the ongoing recovery from the COVID pandemic.

“A focus of the Infrastructure Grants funding is to help local community groups repair, rebuild and upgrade their facilities in areas where it is most needed, which is why it is so important that we support organisations like this in the Cootamundra electorate.”

The Infrastructure Grants program is made possible by Clubgrants Category 3, a fund which re-invests profits from registered clubs’ gaming machines into community projects.  Since 2015, the NSW Government has funded more than 520 community projects worth more than $81 million under the Infrastructure Grants program

2022 Cootamundra Electorate Local Achievement Award Winners

Seniors who help the Cootamundra electorate thrive have been recognised for their efforts, with member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke announcing six recipients of the Local Achievement Award as part of the 2022 NSW Seniors Festival celebrations.  

Ms Cooke said this year’s recipients showcase the qualities of seniors who make our region a diverse, active and inspirational place to live.

“I congratulate and thank them for their generous contributions, remarkable skills and extensive knowledge which continues to benefit our community,” Ms Cooke said.

“The award winners were nominated by the community and highlight the many ways seniors support their families, communities and society more broadly.”

Recipients for the Cootamundra electorate Local Achievement Awards are:

  • Mrs Fay Richards of Temora for her work with St Paul’s Anglican Church Temora, Temora Swimming Club, Temora Rural Museum and Temora Probus Club.
  • Mr Kevin Richards of Temora his work with St Paul’s Anglican Church Temora, Temora Swimming Club, Temora Rural Museum and Temora Probus Club.
  • Mrs Beth Firman of Temora for her work with Temora Shire Council’s Australia Day celebrations, Temora and District Debutant Ball and Temora Town Hall Theatre.
  • Ms Rita Broad of Junee for her worth with Can Assist Junee and the Junee Regional Heritage and Transport Association.
  • Ms Mavis Bracken of Cootamundra for her work with Can Assist Cootamundra.
  • Mr Peter Stead of Coolamon for his work with Coolamon Landcare.

The Local Achievement Awards are among an array of celebrations that took place across the state as part of the 2022 NSW Seniors Festival.

Minister for Seniors, Mark Coure, said the awards program and festival are key initiatives in the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to supporting seniors.

“NSW has an ageing population and we continue to respond to the challenges and opportunities that come with this,” Mr Coure said.

“We are striving towards our vision of creating a state where residents experience the benefits of living longer, while being able to contribute, be included and actively participate in their communities.”

The NSW Seniors Festival ran from 25 March – 3 April 2022 and is the largest festival for seniors in the Southern Hemisphere

For more information about NSW Seniors Festival and the Local Achievement Awards, please visit: seniorsfestival.nsw.gov.au

Funding For Local Men’s Sheds

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke recently announced a total of $36,533 in funding to help upgrade two local men’s sheds.

Gundagai Men’s shed will be receiving $26,515 to install a new and improved ventilation system and also to install a reverse cycle ducted air conditioning system.

“These improvements to the Gundagai Men’s Shed will ensure members can utilise the space in comfortable conditions all year around,” Ms Cooke said.

President of the Gundagai Men’s Shed Tony Tunstell said the shed’s members and the wider community greatly appreciate the funding being provided for better ventilation.

“When the call went out for shovel ready projects this project had been identified for a long time and COVID-19 pushed it to the top,” Mr Tunstell said.

“It will have a significant impact on our health and safety outcomes by removing potentially harmful dust particles in our work environment. The new reverse cycle system will also help us maintain a comfortable temperature during our hottest and coldest months of the year.”

Coolamon Men’s Shed is also set to benefit with $10,018 being provided to install a 6.65-kilowatt solar power system.

“Costs will be greatly reduced by the new system making operations more sustainable for present and future members,” Ms Cooke added.

Coolamon Men’s Shed Secretary Peter Condon said the installation of solar panels will help keep the shed’s electricity costs down and let the group shift their focus back onto their work.

“We are a small club with around 12 active members who just like working with their hands and enjoy tackling all sorts of jobs,” Mr Condon said.

“Men’s sheds are community-based organisations that do a fantastic job by providing men with a welcoming place to work on projects and make friends,” Ms Cooke added.

“They support men to keep active and productive, learn new skills, and share knowledge and experience which contributes positively to the community.”

Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said $1.62 million was being allocated statewide for improvements to men’s sheds, as part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 stimulus program.

“Men’s sheds are places where men can hang out with mates, learn to build things, pass on skills, and give back to their local community,” Mr Anderson said.

“A study by Beyond Blue found men’s shed members can even fare better on physical functioning, general health, vitality and mental health.”

Australian Men’s Shed Association NSW President John Sharples said the upgrade projects would empower men and create renewed interest.

“We have 377 sheds in NSW with about 20,000 members and this stimulus funding will make a big difference,” Mr Sharples said.

“By improving infrastructure and making workplaces better and safer, we will be able to create a supportive environment that provides opportunities for members to contribute their men’s shed and the wider community.”

Funding For Flood Management In The Cootamundra Electorate

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has welcomed a total of $291,540 in funding for the local government areas of Bland, Narrandera and Coolamon for local floodplain management through the NSW Government’s Floodplain Management Program grants.

Ms Cooke said the grants, awarded under the 2021-22 Floodplain Management Program, will help Councils better understand and manage local flood risk and exposure in the region.

“I congratulate the Councils of Bland, Narrandera and Coolamon for securing this money to support their community through these projects,” Ms Cooke added.

“The funding of these studies comes at a crucial time following the prolonged wet season that many of our rural areas have experienced.”

Projects include:

  • $43,000 to the Bland Shire Council for a Voluntary House Raising and Voluntary House Purchase feasibility study in Ungarie.
  • $137,600 to the Narrandera Shire Council for the Barellan levee design.
  • $110,940 to the Coolamon Shire Council for a flood and floodplain risk management study.

Each year Councils can apply for grants through the NSW Government’s Floodplain Management Program to fund important projects for local councils to assess and understand flood risk and help reduce flood impacts on their local communities.

“This is a continuation of the NSW Government’s investment to support councils, which have the primary role of managing flood risk in their communities,” Ms Cooke said.

The grants help with flood risk management studies, as well as the implementation of works to reduce risks such as flood levees, flood gates, warning systems, house raising or purchase in high risk areas.

The 49 projects funded under the 2021-22 Floodplain Management grants program, which total $9.54 million, are in addition to the 208 ongoing projects valued at $49.64 million being implemented from previous years’ funding rounds.

The new grant projects will enable local councils, county councils and other government bodies with floodplain risk management responsibilities to undertake priority projects.

Each application was assessed by a DPIE technical specialist and then by the independent State Floodplain Mitigation Assessment Committee (SFMAC) for feasibility and overall worthiness using assessment criteria.

See further information online: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/floodplains/floodplain-management-grants

Funding for Community Projects Welcomed in Coolamon Shire

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.

For more information, go to: www.nsw.gov.au/SCCF.