Eleven diverse projects will share in just over $1 million funding under the latest round of the Port Kembla Community Investment Fund (PKICF).
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Wollongong MP Paul Scully and Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast, Gareth Ward chose the successful projects, which range from a local school to a museum and cricket club.
But the Greens have questioned the decision to give two grants of $144,000 to NSW Government departments for an Industrial Land Activation Project and contamination reports.
‘’The question the community should be asking is, what genuine community projects have missed out in order to give almost a quarter of the total fund granted in this round to Government departments,’’ Greens spokesperson for the Illawarra, Justin Field said.
‘’The community doesn’t expect big departments and agencies with multi-million dollar budgets to dip into community funds, it sets an appalling precedent.
The community doesn’t expect big departments and agencies with multi-million dollar budgets to dip into community funds, it sets an appalling precedent.
- Justin Field
‘’Those projects should be funded within the Government’s recurrent budget and the Community Investment Fund money redirected to local community projects.’’
The PKCIF receives an annual allocation of $1 million for community projects worth $10,000 to $500,000.
Projects funded in this round include lighting for local ovals, a wetlands rehabilitation project and the Wonderwalls mural project.
Mr Scully said the extra funding allocated in this round covered the projects run by the Department of Planning and Environmental Protection Agency.
He added the list of successful projects was as diverse as the Port Kembla community.
‘’I am particularly pleased to see funding for the Port Kembla Cricket Association to upgrade King George V Park, and the development of a tourism and precinct activation plan,’’ he said.
‘’I am also pleased that the funding will be available for Port Kembla Breakwater Battery Museum and for the Dalfram Dispute Memorial Project, which recognise the important history of Port Kembla.’’
The successful projects include:
- Port Kembla Wetlands Rehabilitation Project – Stage 1
- Refurbishment of St Patrick’s Parish Hall Project
- Port Kembla Surplus Industrial Land Activation Project
- Report on heavy metal contaminants from industrial activity in Port Kembla
- Dalfram Dispute Memorial Project (Maritime Union of Australia)
- Wonderwalls Port Kembla Project
- Restoration and preservation of the Breakwater Battery Military Museum Project
- King George V Park Sporting Infrastructure Upgrades
- King George V Park Oval #2 Lighting Project
- Tourism Development Plan for Port Kembla Project
- Anglican Church Port Kembla Parish Hall Upgrade – Stage 2 Project