MEDIA RELEASE | WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL
Minister Steph Cooke MP Special Funding Announcement
On Saturday 21 January 2023 Mayor Craig Bembrick, Councillors, Council Staff and excited community members gathered in Taylor Park for a special announcement by Steph Cooke MP, Member for Cootamundra, Minster for Emergency Services and Resilience, Minister for Flood Recovery. The Minister was here in Grenfell to announce over $1.3m in funding across Weddin Shire from the Stronger Country Communities Fund – Round 5 program.
In this latest round Council was successful with their application totalling $929,797 for the delivery of two projects in Weddin Shire. Being $629,979 for the redevelopment of Taylor Park in Grenfell including an inclusive playground and, $300,000 to strengthen villages by enhancing sports / showground facilities and providing freedom camping areas.
The upgrade of Taylor Park will mean Weddin Shire will now have a safe, secure and accessible public facility that socially includes the whole community. The funding will include designing, creating and building an inclusive playspace in the heart of the local community, catering to the physical and emotional needs of all members of the community. The funding will also include a comprehensive plan to redesign and upgrade Taylor Park to make the whole park accessible and inclusive which includes renewing existing pathway to form an accessible pathway network linking the new facilities, landscaping, new park furniture, a new large undercover BBQ area with wheelchair accessible seating and accessible children’s seating and accessible parking. This is a win for the entire precinct which is accessed by our community and visitors.
The second project is to strengthen Weddin Shire villages by providing additional infrastructure and facilities at the sports/showgrounds in Caragabal, Quandialla and Greenethorpe. This will include freedom camping areas for the touring caravan-motorhome markets, social groups (e.g. car, motorcycle, cycle clubs) and event attendees. The infrastructure and facilities will support community sporting, recreation, events and social activities and build visitation to the villages. Increasing visitation will help to retain much-needed local businesses and services.
We acknowledge the contribution of our team who worked on this application including Claire McCann and the Executive team.
This latest announcement means the total of secured funding to over $5.1 million for 23 projects across Weddin Shire in the five rounds of the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Craig Bembrick
MAYOR
23 January 2023