STROUD ROAD COMMUNITY HALL UPGRADE

Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie has congratulated Stroud Road Community Hall and Progress Association on securing $13,360 in Federal funding towards new improvements for the hall.

The project received the funding under the 8th round of the Australian Government’s Stronger Communities program which provides $150,000 in assistance towards local community infrastructure projects to each electorate across Australia.

Dr Gillespie said the project would involve upgrades to the internal plumbing to include hand-washing facilities in the kitchen, as well as the construction of a utility cupboard with a concealed cleaner’s station, and improved capture and management of external storm-water drainage to mitigate reoccurring sub-floor moisture issues.

“It was great to catch up with the progress association and wider Stroud Road community to discuss their plans for the upgrades. The hall is an invaluable community asset, wholly independently community owned and operated. I’m very pleased to have been able to secure $13,360 to assist in the upgrades,” Dr Gillespie said.

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.