Community projects lobby for votes in government grant ballot

Community organisations across the Monaro, Bega, and Goulburn electorates are out touting for votes in the closing days and hours of the NSW Government’s ‘My Community Project‘ ballot process.

Voting closes this Thursday (August 15) with residents in each electorate asked to decide which of the nominated projects should be funded as part of the program.

Voting opened a month ago giving local residents the opportunity to green light up to five local projects.

“This is an innovative and exciting program that is putting decision making back in the hands of community members and giving them an opportunity to weigh in on their top picks for projects in the region,” Deputy Premier and Member for Monaro, John Barilaro says.

“This is a really great way for people to engage with decision making that impacts them directly. I am encouraging everyone to have their say on the projects that will benefit them.”

Funding of around $260,000 has been made available for each of the states 93 state electorates. A Government panel reviewed and assessed all the nominated projects for eligibility and viability before voting opened on July 15.

The results of the vote will be published on the My Community Project website in September. Successful projects must be completed within 12 months from the date the funding agreement is signed.

To vote you must be over 16 years, have a MyServiceNSW account, provide your Medicare number to verify your name and age, and your NSW residential address to identify your electorate. You can vote online or at a Service NSW Centre.

Kathryn Maxwell, chair of South Coast Health and Sustainability Alliance is spruiking for votes on three fronts within the Bega electorate.

“Give your first preference – 10 points to ‘Eurobodalla EV Community Transport Bus’ give your second preference – 5 points to ‘Shine a Light on Arts and Hearts at Art Central Moruya’, give your third preference – 3 points to ‘Providing Year-Round Thermal Comfort and Improved Kitchen and Lighting Facilities for St Johns Red Door Parish Hall, Moruya’

“By voting for these projects you, your friends and family will have access to a community bus run on solar power to get you to appointments and shops, a warm and solar-powered venue to attend arts classes, and a cool place to hang out in during heatwaves,” Ms Maxwell says.

Further south, the Cobargo Skate Club has applied for funds that would see the recreation space completed with a multi-purpose basketball/netball court.

“We are in competition with over 30 other projects across the two Shires of Eurobodalla and Bega,” says Tania Lingard, Cobargo Skate Club.

“This project is so important in our town with little in the way of organised sport and increasing numbers of young ones. We are just hoping that as many people as possible vote in this unusual way of receiving government assistance.”

At Tilba, the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a new local history initiative.

“We have a great wealth of written works, images and knowledge of our heritage within the area but neither locals or visitors have easy access to it,” says project coordinator, Cas Mayfield.

“We want to bring all that information to the people in the form of a pop-up museum with engaging displays, audiovisual presentations and representations of great collections like the photos of William Corkhill.”

For the full list of eligible projects in the Bega Electorate click HERE.

West of the coastal escarpment in Monaro, projects include:

• $34,000 Bungendore Scout and Community Hall to assist with the purchase and installation of heating and cooling.
• $199,000 Jindabyne Community Building, for two multi-purpose courts for the community, to have access to play various sports including basketball, netball, volleyball, European handball.
• $21,000 Adaminaby Swimming Pool to install solar panels to heat the large space and improve the health and wellbeing of all community members.
• $171,000 Snowy Monaro Recreational Facilities, to provide natural shade, ensuring 44 established trees can be planted at up to 20 different Council Recreational Facilities.
• $151,000 Lake Jindabyne Sailing Club, for safe, secure and easily accessible storage for safety and training craft for sailors, junior life savers and dragon boat paddlers.

For the full list of eligible projects in the Monaro Electorate click HERE.

North of the nation’s capital within the vast boundaries of Goulburn 36 projects are listed:

• $43,000 Gunning Skate Park, to install appropriately designed lights to provide extended skate/riding time for users.
• $113,000 Goulburn Community Bus, the project will fund a new 24-seat vehicle to expand and improve Goulburn’s community bus service.
• $99,000 Yass Time Line Stones, fifty sculpted headstones, foundation stones and milestones connected by an engraved timeline recording local events from Aboriginal times to today.
• $21,000 Illumination for Goulburn Athletics Field, provide spotlights from grandstand onto athletics field and grandstand area for extended training and safety of general public.

For the full list of eligible projects in the Goulburn Electorate click HERE.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says, “My Community Project is a great example of real grassroots democracy in action, it asked people to think about things their community needs, develop those ideas with a sponsor and tell us how funding could turn that concept into reality.”

For more information and to vote go to the My Community Project website, voting closes this Thursday, August 15.