Solar farm funding brings sunny smiles

A TOTAL of $50,000 in funding was distributed to 10 different community groups in the inaugural Glenrowan Solar Farm 2023 community-driven benefit sharing program. From a community garden to a defibrillator, groups across Glenrowan and Wangaratta will receive the funding as part of Glenrowan Solar Farm’s first year of its launched 10-year commitment to the region with their benefit sharing program. Major beneficiaries of the program were Wangaratta Landcare and Sustainability (WLS), who tallied almost $14,000 of funding towards three separate community projects. WLS vice president Mary Reid said the community organisation was delighted to have received three separate grants that will assist in local environmental work in the New Year. Some $8000 will go towards the WLS Renewable Electrification team and their electrification project, spreading awareness around the community understanding of the benefits of home electrification and assistance in developing home plans to change to electric space, water heating and electric cooking. The WLS Bush Regeneration team received $5000 to undertake work along a section of Three Mile Creek to remove introduced trees and weeds, and regenerate the native creek side vegetation, while the Clean Up Wangaratta team received a $728 grant to buy much needed equipment to continue improving the quality of One Mile Creek for people and wildlife. “If anyone in the community is interested in being involved in any of these exciting projects please go to the WLS website and register your interest,” Ms Reid said. Pacific Partnerships’ managing director, Simon Nicholls, said the program received an overwhelming response in its first year, with more than $200,000 in funding requests from local community groups for community projects. “We were thrilled with the volume of diverse applications received and thank all the organisations who took the time to complete the application process,” he said. “It is wonderful to be able to support so much important work in the community, and while we couldn’t fund all the requests, we encourage groups who missed out to re-apply next year." The community benefit program asked for initiatives which demonstrated a direct local benefit, supported the natural environment and climate change, promoted health and wellbeing and improved energy literacy. Applications were assessed by the project’s Community Reference Group (CRG) and those that best met the selection criteria were selected for funding. Other successful projects in the program’s $50,000 in funding included: - Glenrowan Preschool Cultivating Futures: The Glenrowan Kinder Community Garden $7000 - Greta Valley Landcare Group Building biodiversity and engagement in the Greta Valley $4200 - Hamilton Park Co-Operative Limited Hamilton Park (Glenrowan) Playground $6000 - Wangaratta Repair Cafe Test & Tag electrical equipment capability $2300 - Warby Range Landcare Group Inc. Ngalan Wala Restoration – our water restoration project $5000 - Christopher Robin Pre-School Centre Enhancing outdoor and environmental education facilities $5000 - Wangaratta Men's Shed Extension to existing shed area $5000 - Moyhu Recreation Reserve Committee breathing life into the creation of community (new defibrillator) $2000

Solar farm funding brings sunny smiles

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