Heathcote Electorate Community Building Partnership Grants

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-100581

Hansard session: Fifty-Sixth Parliament, First Session (56-1)

Heathcote Electorate Community Building Partnership Grants

Mr LEE EVANS (Heathcote) (18:44:59):

I am pleased to advise the House that 17 community groups in my electorate will receive a share of $300,000 in funding through the 2017 Community Building Partnership program. Community Building Partnership grants present a great opportunity for local communities to apply for funding for the building, refurbishment or enhancement of facilities of local not-for-profit organisations such as charities, sporting, social and environment groups. This funding aims to create more vibrant and inclusive communities and to deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes. I recently had the privilege of visiting some of the successful applicants in my community to see their project plans. The Bundeena Men's Shed is an important organisation in my area. It prioritises the health and wellbeing of all men in the community. It also aims to prevent social isolation by establishing a safe, friendly and welcoming place for men to meet and to engage in projects.

The Bundeena Men's Shed received $14,442 for several woodworking and metalworking machines to add to and to replace existing machines that are unsafe or unfit for purpose. During my visit the men discussed with me the importance of such grants. Without these funds it would be difficult for a group such as the Bundeena Men's Shed to function. I take great pride in belonging to a government that has a strong focus on delivering to such vital organisations in my community. I also had the opportunity to visit Inaburra Preschool, which caters for children aged three to five years. The preschool prides itself on providing an enjoyable and challenging learning environment, and caters to the children's individual needs in an inclusive and caring environment. The Inaburra Preschool received funding of $20,000 to repair and to upgrade the playground with additional pathways to provide increased accessibility for children with reduced physical mobility. It will also increase overall playground safety.

I also visited heritage-listed Hillcrest at Stanwell Park, which was the home of Lawrence Hargrave. It is one of the oldest surviving houses in Stanwell Park. Hillcrest received partial funding of $25,773, which will be put towards multiple repairs, including termite damage in joists on the ground floor and rectification of basement rooms to enable their use as games and activity rooms. I encouraged the United Protestant Association to continue applying for community group grants as it would be wonderful to see the house fully restored and functioning.

I look forward to visiting the remaining successful applicants, including St John Bosco Youth Centre, which received $13,320 for an electronic scoreboard, and combined game timer and trolley for transport; Christian Education Centre, Sutherland, which received $10,000 for shade cover for the preschool playground area; Bangor Public School Parents and Citizens Association, which received $28,000 for a multipurpose outdoor learning hub; Heathcote Scout Camp, which received $14,000 to employ a local tradesman to repair termite damage to the walls, floor and doors of the warden's hut at Camp Coutts; 1st Engadine Scout Group, which received $15,000 to employ a local tradesman to repair doors, windows and floors, and to paint so that the scout hall can be used for scouting and community purposes; Heathcote-Engadine Australian Football Club, which received $11,550 for a concrete slab to upgrade the current dangerous and crumbling paving surrounding the change rooms and to extend the area to fit a recently installed awning; and Club Waratah Incorporated, which received $30,000 to erect safety netting between the Australian Football League oval at 40 Rawson Avenue, Sutherland, and the adjacent cycling track.

Other successful applicants included Shirelive Church, Sutherland, which received $25,000 for assisting in building an industrial kitchen; Sutherland Bowling & Recreation Club, which received $10,000 for upgrading a 60-year-old switchboard; Marton Public School, which received $7,397 for a sensory Indigenous garden; Heathcote East Public School, which received $30,000 for upgrading and refurbishing school library to create a twenty-first century learning area; Outdoor Fitness Equipment, Helensburgh, which received $20,000; Sutherland District Basketball Association, which received $18,518 for purchasing and installing a new sound system—which I tried out last Friday night—to replace 30-year-old equipment; and the Helensburgh church hall, which received $7,000 for restoring the existing vinyl floor that has not been replaced in more than 50 years. I acknowledge the community members who took the time to apply for the grants and I encourage them to continue to do so into the future.

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (18:49:58):

I thank the member for Heathcote for acknowledging the Community Building Partnership Grants program and its successes in his electorate. Schools, parents and citizens groups, men's sheds, sporting groups, church groups, and local community groups are all winners under this program. Those groups have needed additional funding for many years, and the member for Heathcote has delivered. He is a great local member, and as a result of his efforts 17 local groups now have $300,000 to spend. They include the Bundeena Men's Shed, which has received more than $14,000 for much-needed machinery. I thank all the community groups that applied for and received funding, and I commend the outstanding work of the member for Heathcote.