Three projects to build a stronger Southern Downs community have been successful under the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program.
This morning, Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud announced funding for a $4.5 million redevelopment of the Warwick Saleyards, along with a $44,440 grant towards the Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group’s training program for Cultural Burning for Healthy Country, and $28,500 to support the Grand Parade at Stanthorpe’s 2022 Apple & Grape Harvest Festival.
Mr Littleproud said the Warwick Saleyards upgrade will support the recovery of primary producers in the region.
“The economic and social benefits of saleyards directly impact at the saleyards site as well as the local businesses and greater community,” Mr Littleproud said.
“All stakeholders within the saleyards supply chain, including buyers, sellers, livestock selling agents, transport operators, employees and most importantly the livestock will benefit from this development.”
Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi welcomed the funding announcement by Mr Littleproud.
“The Warwick Saleyards has been a major pillar in the identity of the Southern Downs for nearly 60 years and plays an important part in connecting our rural and agricultural community,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“It was critically important to us to obtain funding to progress the redevelopment project and ensure a sustainable and competitive market position for our saleyards.
“Today’s major funding announcement by the Australian Government gives the facility’s future clarity and certainty and shores up jobs and economic growth for our region.”
Mayor Pennisi also acknowledged and commended the hard work and commitment of the Warwick Saleyards Advisory Committee and Council staff, which has culminated in this milestone announcement.
The Warwick Saleyards wasn’t the only recipient of National Bushfire Recovery Funding in Southern Downs.
The Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group will use their $44,440 grant to train local land managers about cultural burning of Country using First Nations fire practitioners to mitigate severe fire risk and enhance ecological health and productivity.
“This project will produce land managers who via their own networks, will continue the cultural changes towards reinstating burning as a management tool,” Mr Littleproud said.
Funding of $28,500 will also flow to Stanthorpe’s Apple & Grape Harvest Festival to bolster the Grand Parade and provide social benefits and support local economic recovery and cash flow within the Granite Belt.
The three projects are among 524 projects funded under the program.
Mr Littleproud said the overall program funding was boosted by $110 million to $390 million to further support communities around Australia to recover from the 2019-20 bushfires.
“As part of the new $2.2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund, the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program is backing projects which the affected communities have said will best support their ongoing recovery,” Mr Littleproud said.
“It was important that we funded projects based on need and merit and which offered a lasting and tangible impact, tailored to local needs and conditions. The quality of the projects funded shows that our ‘locally led’ approach works.
“We understand that recovery from bushfires takes time, and we will continue to support impacted communities through their recovery from the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020.”
The second batch of the Federal Government’s Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism (CHART funding) has also been announced with four Maranoa organisations (in Bedourie, Glenmorgan, Dalby and Warwick) receiving funding to support their museum, gallery or historical society.
$1978 in funding will be used to upgrade the public address system in exhibition spaces at the Warwick Art Gallery to enhance the Gallery’s visitor experience at functions and events.
Mr Littleproud said the funding flowing from the CHART program is timely as community-run arts and cultural organisations look to return to normal operations following some two years of disruptions caused by the pandemic.
“Both our local economy and community have been affected by the ongoing effects of restrictions and isolation. However, thanks to the Australian Government, we are able to support the development of appealing cultural tourism experiences that will reignite the economy and participation in the Arts.
“I encourage arts, cultural and heritage organisations in Maranoa to apply for a CHART program grant today,” he said.
The CHART program is being administered by the Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA) on behalf of the Government. Applications are open until 29 April 2022, or until funding is allocated, whichever comes first.
Also currently open is the Supporting Cinemas’ Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods (SCREEN) Fund.
The latest grants will allow independent cinema operators to keep providing a popular, and low-cost way for people to go out and enjoy a movie as part of their local community.
Administered by Screen Australia, the Government announced a second round of the SCREEN Fund in December 2021 to support independent cinema operators with grants of up to $85,000 if they have experienced significant declines in revenue due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
