Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman (centre) and members of the Gunning Landcare group celebrate the announcement of a new bushland park. Photo: Supplied.
A new ecological bushland park will soon be part of the Gunning community environment.
Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman on Friday announced the $247,000 project, which will be delivered by the Gunning District Landcare group, thanks to the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Fund.
Speaking in Gunning, Mrs Tuckerman described it as “a grassroots project in the best sense of the word”.
“Landcare is a wonderful community-based organisation which is managing and protecting our local natural resources,” she said.
“I am excited to see how Landcare will transform the land into an ecological park.
“By conserving our environment, they are also building a cohesive community space.”
Chair of Gunning District Landcare, Dr John Storey, said the group was delighted to receive the funding to transform the 2.2-hectare area, close to the centre of the village, into a park.
“Not only will this help preserve the Box Gum Grassy Woodland, but by adding wheelchair-accessible paths and benches, we can make it available for all the community to use,” he said.
He said the NSW Government allocation would also allow for the installation of interpretative signs highlighting the native land and animal species, along with their importance to the local Indigenous community.
The Mayor of the Upper Lachlan Shire Council, Pam Kensit, also welcomed the news for Gunning, describing it as a wonderful opportunity for the small rural community, which is about an hour’s drive from Canberra.
She also welcomed the opportunities it would provide for the varied wildlife and fauna living in the area.
In the past five years, the Stronger Communities Fund has delivered more than 2000 such grassroots projects across regional NSW.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said: “We all know how important it is for communities to have great places to come together to build social connections and boost their wellbeing.
“It’s the little things that make a big difference to the way we all work, live and play and do business.”
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