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.
More support is soon to be available for new parents in the region with the appointment of a Nursing Unit Manager for Tresillian Cowra.
Commencing almost a fortnight ago, Nursing Unit Manager Rochelle Longhurst has been undergoing orientation and further training to support her in the new role.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke welcomed Rochelle to the position saying she will be a great addition to the communities she will service including Cowra, Young, Grenfell and Canowindra.
“Rochelle comes to the role with lots of experience being a former family and community health nurse and is very familiar with the area so I am excited to have her on-board.
“She has hit the ground running laying vital foundations to ensure the longevity of the service by working together with other health providers in the area to establish strong relationships,” Ms Cooke said.
Along with the NSW Government, The Tresillian and Gidget Foundation Australia who operate Regional Family Care Centres, have played a massive part in securing support for new parents the region through the new role.
The foundation is currently negotiating the purchase of a property at Cowra for the Family Care Centre which is proceeding well.
“Finalising the plans for the day centre is massive step forward in our campaign to secure a Tresillian Residential Unit as part of the Cowra Hospital redevelopment and I look forward to sharing more news about it in the New Year,” Ms Cooke added.
The new centre to be built in Cowra is one of six, including Goulburn, Grafton, Armidale, Griffith, and Muswellbrook. Established centres such as Dubbo, Queanbeyan and Taree have provided more than 14,000 services to families over the past two years.
Minister for Mental Health and Women Bronnie Taylor highlighted the importance of the integrated care approach and said it will ensure that counselling and parenting support are provided for local families.
“This is all about helping families in their hour of need and services like this can have a really positive impact on the wider community as well,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Being a parent, especially a new parent, is really tough, and I have every confidence that Rochelle will ensure families in the Cootamundra electorate are supported.”
Services will be delivered via home-visiting until the Family Care Centre is fully commissioned which we expect will be in January once furnishing and fit-out is completed.
The Cowra Tresillian Care Centre development is funded under the NSW Government as part of the 2021/2022 budget.
For more information on the service, please call: 1300 272 736
More funding from the NSW Government is on its way for the Lachlan Valley Railway Society with Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke announcing $19,690 for the group under the 2021 Community Building Partnership program.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the funding will assist with improvements to the Lachlan Valley Railway Heritage Centre.
“The Lachlan Valley Railway Heritage Centre in Cowra draws hundreds of tourists to the region each year so it is important that the centre is fit for purpose,” Ms Cooke said.
The improvements to the site include an extension to the existing entrance and display building.
Director and Deputy Chair of the Lachlan Valley Railway Society Cass Mendham said the funding comes as a huge achievement to the volunteer led group.
“The funding will help preserve all the work that we have done over the years making sure everything is in good condition for years to come.”
The announcement comes with added excitement with the centre set to reopen to the public this Thursday.
“We’ve been closed for months so we’re really eager to welcome the public back through our gates,” Ms Mendham added.
Since 2019, the Lachlan Valley Railway Society has received a number of grants under the NSW Governments State Heritage Grants Program to improve their operations including one in the 2019-21 round and two in the 2021-23 round.
“The team of proud and passionate volunteers at the centre have shown immense dedication to enhancing the space over the past few years,” Ms Cooke added.
The initial funding in the 2019-21 round allowed for the development of the Locomotive Depot Store Building: Conservation Management Plan.
Furthermore, through the two grants announced earlier this year under the 2021-23 round, one project will be establishing a Conservation Management Strategy with Master Plans which will provide provide a management framework to direct the long-term conservation of significant built fabric at Cowra Locomotive Depot.
The additional project will focus on implementing the priority conservation works outlined in the Locomotive Depot Store Building: Conservation Management Plan to ensure the site’s significant heritage values are conserved and enhanced for future generations.
Steph Cooke | 07 Dec 2021 | Grants News Uncategorized
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP has announced that the Cowra Shire will receive $832,359 under the NSW Government’s latest round of the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Upgrades to Matt Morrison Oval, Wyangala Dam; Gooloogong Log Cabin Hall; and the Col Stinson Netball Facility will be taking place thanks to the fourth round of the Fund.
This latest round of NSW Government funding has been spread across three projects, each of which is set to benefit the wider Cowra community
$628,409 to significantly upgrade the Col Stinson Netball Facility, including a new multi-user amenities block, improved parking facilities and sealing the grass netball courts.
$57,000 to improve access at the entranceway at Matt Morrison Oval, Wyangala Dam and to construct an all-weather shelter for community users of the oval.
$146,950 for Stage 2 of the major restoration works at the Gooloogong Log Cabin Hall, including the installation of reverse cycle heating and cooling throughout the entire function centre.
Ms Cooke announced the funding of these projects at Col Stinson Park on Monday.
“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.
“These projects highlight Cowra’s commitment to continue to enhance their facilities to better their communities. I want to congratulate everyone involved in the applications to bring these projects to life.
“The entire Cowra community is set to benefit from these projects, from an upgraded function centre to use all year round, to improved sporting facilities that will allow for an increase in participation in local sport. Well done to you all.
“The latest round of funding takes the total amount of funding through the Stronger Country Communities Fund for projects across the Cowrashire to $4,083,315.”
The recipients of the latest round of funding are excited to get their projects underway.
Amy O’Reilly, President of the Cowra Netball Club said the entire club is extremely grateful for this announcement.
“Cowra Netball Association have been working collaboratively with Cowra Shire Council to ensure not only the Cowra Netball Association family but the wider community have access to quality sporting facilities, which will hopefully encourage greater community participation in sport and physical activity,” Ms O’Reilly said.
Jillian McCormick, representing the Wyangala Country Club, said the Wyangala community is very grateful for the funding at the Matt Morrison Oval.
“This funding will improve the facilities in the village and enable events like the June long weekend fireworks spectacular to continue to be enjoyed by locals and visitors,” Mrs McCormick said.
President of the Gooloogong Log Cabin Hall, Kylie Reeves, is excited to see what opportunities the funding will bring for the hall.
“Having heating and cooling in the hall has been a big dream for us. It will make us a year-round venue for the people,” Mrs Reeves 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.
Communities across the Central West and Orana are being invited to shape the region’s future by giving feedback on the NSW Government’s draft plan to support housing, jobs and investment in the region over 20 years.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the Central West and Orana Regional Plan 2041 sets out strategies to guide development in the region’s 19 local government areas including Cowra and Weddin.
“Cowra is optimally located in the Central West and Orana with connections to Sydney, Wagga Wagga and Canberra so it’s important to get the community’s views on ways we can capitalise on its strengths as the population grows,” Ms Cooke said.
“The protection of agricultural land is a priority and the draft plan includes measures to enable the sector to thrive by ensuring inappropriate development doesn’t encroach on productive land.
“We want to maximise on opportunities around the Cowra Hospital redevelopment by including strategies to enable mixed-use, multipurpose health facilities that would support the sustainable growth of the local health sector.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the draft plan was being updated every five years to reflect the changing nature of the Central West.
“We released the first Central West and Orana Regional Plan in 2017 and we are updating it to reflect post-COVID migration and the growing renewables and resource sectors and their impact on natural assets like water,” Mr Stokes said.
“The region is set to soar with $12.6 billion in public and private investment in major infrastructure projects like renewables and the plan lays out strategies for how the region will accommodate for new families and different types of business.
“As the resource sector continues to grow, the plan includes measures for industry to use water more efficiently to reduce impact on other water users and the environment.”
The draft Central West and Orana Regional Plan 2041 is underpinned by 22 objectives which will be achieved through actions and strategies delivered by local and State governments.
More than 220 new police recruits from class 349 were sworn in as probationary constables last month at a ceremony in Goulburn.
These Probationary Constables are now out in the field reporting for duty after eight months of world-class training.
Across our four Police Districts in the Cootamundra Electorate, three of these welcomed new officers to their teams. The Chifley and Murrumbidgee Districts each welcomed four new recruits and Hume received three.
These new probationary constables join record numbers of police to help keep the community safe.
In the Chifley Police District, Probationary Constable Jack Doheny has joined the team at Cowra Police Station.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke was pleased at how forthcoming the community of Cowra has been in welcoming Constable Doheny to the region.
“I warmly welcome Jack to Cowra as he joins a fine team of officers who work so hard for Cowra and the towns and villages that surround,” Ms Cooke said.
“It is great to see an increasing amount of officers having the opportunity to hone their skills in a regional community.”
“I encourage locals to get acquainted with the new officers as knowing these soon to be familiar faces reinforces the trust and reliance our small communities have in our police officers.”
Class 349 includes 153 men and 73 women with some recruits entering the NSW Police Academy straight from school or university, while others left established professional careers and trades.
The NSW Government has committed to invest $583 million to introduce 1500 extra police over four years to enhance community safety across NSW and is investing $60 million over four years to upgrade the Police Academy at Goulburn.
More silos, stock feeders and farming equipment will be locally manufactured in Cowra to meet the growing domestic and international demand for agricultural products, thanks to the NSW Government’s Regional Job Creation Fund.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP said a $220,000 grant will help Active Global Group Pty Ltd scale up its production of Brookfield and Agribin brands of farming and agricultural equipment, creating up to 11 jobs for the region.
Ms Cooke said the expansion will drastically increase the floor space of the facility and enable the purchase of a steel rolling mill and metal fabrication equipment, allowing local production and eliminating reliance on other states or offshore suppliers.
“These upgrades will help Active Global Group Pty Ltd to locally manufacture field chaser bins, silos and stock feeders that are in high demand by farming operations right across Australia,” Ms Cooke said.
“The upgrades will also open up a huge amount of floor space, which enables more production, allowing more farming equipment to be manufactured for more customers to keep our agricultural industries operational and thriving.”
Director of Active Global Group Pty Ltd, Craig Wallace said this investment will have a great flow-on effect for the wider Cowra Community.
“These new jobs will bring new families, new skills and more diversity to our local community, boosting the town from every angle,” Mr Wallace said.
“The investment to expand our business will bring a spectrum of new jobs from tradesmen and yard persons to salesmen and engineers.”
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.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy and supporting companies like Active Global Group expand its operations stimulates the local and regional economy, boosts livelihoods and increases local employment opportunities,” Mr Toole said.
“This grant will allow a well-known and reputable regional manufacturer to fast track their growth plans, expand their operations and create a solid base for job creation now and into the future.
“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
The Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre will receive a $20,000 funding boost to help them modernise their operations and improve the services they deliver. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the NSW Government’s Social Sector Transformation Fund was supporting small to medium sized organisations with grants.
“Social services organisations such as the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre play a pivotal role delivering support to some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” Ms Cooke said.
“They’ve had to adapt how they deliver services during the pandemic and this $20,000 in funding will help them invest in improved business processes, technology upgrades and new ways of reaching out to the community.”
The Social Sector Transformation Fund supports organisations working in the social and health services sector, including homelessness, housing, disability, youth, health and child and family services.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the fund would create a stronger social services sector.
“Our community services organisations are the backbone of our nation and when they are strong, we are all strong,” Mr Henskens said.
“This funding will enable grassroots community organisations to invest in practical changes that will help them remain viable long into the future.”
More information about the Social Sector Transformation Fund is available online.
Steph Cooke | 23 Aug 2021 | Local projects News Uncategorized
Cowra local, Stassi Austin is among twelve of the state’s brightest young leaders who has been appointed to the 2021-22 NSW Youth Advisory Council.
Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke said it is fantastic to see young people putting themselves forward to serve as a voice for their peers.
“The Youth Advisory Council provides young people the opportunity to let their voice be heard,” Ms Cooke said.
“I know Stassi will make our community proud and I congratulate all newly appointed council members who will lead and advocate for their generation throughout their one-year term.”
The NSW Youth Advisory Council is made up of young people aged 12-24, who will meet throughout the year and offer advice to the NSW Government on issues of importance to young people.
Following an extensive recruitment process that saw 585 young people apply, the new Youth Advisory Council held its first meeting online over the weekend.
“I feel honoured to have an opportunity to represent the interests of young people in NSW as a member of the YAC. I look forward to working with my fellow YAC members to bring positive change to the big issues that are impacting young people in NSW,” Stassi said.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the Youth Advisory Council provides young people with the opportunity to influence decisions that will create positive outcomes for their peers.
“There are many young people from all walks of life seeking to energise, lead and advocate for their generation and the best way to represent and serve our youth is to let their voice be heard,” Mr Henskens said.
Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women Bronnie Taylor said the Council will be a direct line to government on behalf of their peers and their communities.
“It is fantastic to see so many young people stepping forward so we can work together to implement their ideas and address their issues,” Mrs Taylor said.
The Youth Advisory Council will be supported by the Advocate for Children and Young People Zoë Robinson.
“I look forward to working with new members and supporting them in their good work during their term on the council,” Ms Robinson said.
More information about the Youth Advisory Council is available online.
Steph Cooke | 03 Jun 2021 | Community Grants News Uncategorized
The NSW Government will be helping to bring to life Cowra’s Open Space Legacy Project with just under $2 million awarded from the Public Spaces Legacy Program.
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke today announced a $1,999,680 grant for Cowra Shire Council from the program, which will enhance public spaces across the shire through the following projects:
• Lachlan River Recreation Linkage
• Cowra CBD and Peace Precinct Art Project
• Village Signage Project
• Aboriginal Art Installation and Landscape Project.
Steph Cooke MP said the NSW Government was supporting the council to create a legacy of quality, green and accessible public space to be treasured for generations to come.
“The Cowra community has a rich history that deserves to be celebrated even further in these wonderful public spaces,” Ms Cooke said.
“Investing in these areas which can be enjoyed by everyone is the perfect way to create a legacy for future generations.”
“I want to congratulate Cowra Shire Council for all their hard work on this project which will help stimulate the local economy.”
“To secure full funding for the project, council needs to continue accelerating assessment and determination of local DAs, which will have the additional benefit of bolstering the local construction pipeline through to 2023.”
Mayor of Cowra Shire Council Bill West said the project would help celebrate local history and culture, as well as completing our existing beautiful open spaces.
“This is a tremendous boost for Cowra Shire and very welcome funding which will enable the Council to continue with some of the important community space projects we have on the books,” Cr West said.
“Our history and heritage is incredibly important, particularly our Indigenous heritage and culture. Council has been working for a long time to give proper recognition to the local Aboriginal community in the peace precinct, for example.”
“Council warmly welcomes this funding and we acknowledge the hard work of our local member Steph Cooke.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the funding being delivered to councils was reliant on them meeting agreed targets to speed up local development applications.
“This program is the first of its kind in NSW and demonstrates state and local government working together to create a legacy of beautiful public spaces that communities, for decades, can be proud of,” Mr Stokes said.
“In exchange for legacy funding, councils participating in the program need to speed up their assessment times. They have until June 30 to keep hitting their targets but, so far, the program has seen a 20 per cent improvement.
“It’s been great to see the unclogging of the planning system as part of this program – 42 of 53 planning proposals that had been stuck in the planning system for more than four years have been resolved and 161 of 168 regionally significant development applications have been cleared.”
Cowra Shire Council will be provided with funding for project planning and design and will have until 30 June 2021 to demonstrate they have met DA assessment performance improvements to lock in their full allocation of funding, ahead of construction starting on projects from August this year.
