Community grants boost

Photo: Fairfax Media

By Esther Lauaki

Two Moorabool community causes have received a $25,000 federal funding boost.

Blackwood Cricket Club and the Navigators Community Hall are among the projects awarded funding through the Stronger Community grants program.

The Navigators Community Hall will receive $4900 towards installing a battery to store electricity to run the existing solar panels.

Ballarat federal MP Catherine King said that the Stronger Community grants program gave community groups an opportunity to make a big impact on small projects that benefit many people.

“The installation of the battery at the Navigators Community Hall will enable the community to save on on-going cost of running the hall, allowing them to invest the savings into other community endeavours” Ms King said.

Another $20,000 has been allocated to the Blackwood Cricket Club to go towards the purchase of a minibus and trailer to help the club travel to games throughout the season.

“Given the distance that the club needs to travel for some of their games, the addition of the bus is sure to increase participation,” Ms King said. “The great thing about small communities is that the bus will be used all year round, benefiting the whole community.

“Blackwood Cricket Club members have already said that the bus will be used during the Blackwood wood chop.”