Energy farm backs community projects
Seven community groups from across the Wimmera and southern Mallee will use money provided by a regional wind farm to complete pressing projects.
Representatives from the successful organisations accepted cheques from a Murra Warra Wind Farm 1 Sustainable Community Grants Fund at a presentation at Horsham Golf Club.
Wimmera Development Association is managing the ongoing fund through a community grants steering group, which allocated the full complement of $61,000 available to clubs to put towards projects. Clubs must complete all projects by June 30 next year.
Applicants put forward projects valued at a total $240,000 and the steering group needed to make selections based on the impact each had from social and environmental sustainability perspectives for the benefit of communities in Horsham Rural City, Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack municipalities.
The grants program is part of the wind farm’s community investment program.
RES Australia’s Susan Findlay-tickner, representing Murra Warra Wind Farm, said the money came from a community program, established on completion of stage one of the farm.
“It was a well subscribed grant process, which was great to see,” she said.
“It meant that we have very good projects going forward – some of which have already been implemented. It looks like we’re going to have good outcomes.”
Ms Findlay-tickner said when the second stage of the wind farm came online, $99,000 in grants would be available for community projects annually.
Successful applicants were Centre for Participation Horsham, to install solar panels for energy savings and organisational sustainability; Horsham Motor Sports Club Blue Ribbon Raceway for a parkland project; Enterprise Rupanyup for Rupanyup Retail Centre solar power project; 1st Warracknabeal Cubs and Scouts for a Revitalise Outdoors program; Warracknabeal Girl Guides for environment enhancement, Wimmera Off Street Drag Racing for a Beat The Heat Youth Motorsport Mentoring Program at Warracknabeal; and Guides Victoria, Dimboola for painting building exteriors at Arura Campsite at Dimboola.