SOLAR PROJECT FOR LAURIETON MEN’S SHED

The Laurieton Men’s Shed will install a new solar power system, thanks to the support of a funding grant announced today by Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie.

The Men’s Shed has secured $10,000 in Federal funding towards the $14,420 project.

“The funding has been made available under the 8th round of the Australian Government’s Stronger Communities program which provides $150,000 in assistance towards local community projects in each electorate across Australia,” Dr Gillespie said.

“These funds will be used to install a new solar system to offset the increasing cost of electricity. Power is a major cost to the shed as they operate a lot of machinery including saws, planers, lathes, welders, high volume dust extraction with many HEPA filters and much more. The Shed is only open during weekdays so more solar will be a substantial benefit in lowering operating costs which have increased recently.”

“Reducing power bills will enable the shed to continue and even expand the many services provided to men and the wider community.”

Dr Gillespie said this round of funding was designed to support volunteer and community groups which weren’t able to fundraise or haven’t the means to provide matching funding.

“This program has always been very popular since its inception under the former Abbott Government. In this latest round, more than 80 organisations across the Lyne electorate applied for more than $1.5-million towards over $2-million in local community projects.

This program allows groups to apply for grants of between $2,500 and $20,000 without matching funding and up to 20 groups will be awarded funding per electorate. Local governing bodies and organisations that fall under them are only eligible to apply for up to 50 percent of the project costs and provide matching funding.

Dr Gillespie said he had written to the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development & Local Government, Catherine King, and the Shadow Minister, Bridget McKenzie, suggesting the program be continued and expanded.

“This is an important program for many local community organisations, particularly in regional and rural areas where we could have easily invested ten times the funding we were allocated locally towards community projects,” Dr Gillespie said.