Change sparked at newly electrified community hub

THE Long Gully Neighbourhood Centre is benefiting from a new solar capture and storage module thanks to a contribution of $17,500 from Round 9 of the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Programme Grant (SCP), which funds small capital works projects that deliver social benefits to the community.

The setup now has the capacity to run the Centre’s garden and kitchen facilities, including a small stove, a lawn mower and a whipper snipper.

As part of the process, the Centre worked with at-risk students from Weeroona Secondary College to imagine, scope and design ways to utilise the upgraded system going forward.

With the associated energy saving upgrades, it is expected to be able to move away from its dependence on fossil fuels and save on their energy bills.

Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters commended the local hub on its application to the competitive grant program.

“This project will have long term gains for the Long Gully community,” she said.

“It will first and foremost reduce their energy bills (and) it has also supported at-risk students who are disengaged with mainstream schooling engage in their community.”

Round 9 of the Programme opened on 14 February last year, with $22.65 million peovided to support infrastructure projects providing social benefits for local communities across the country.

The SCP has committed funding to over 19,100 community-based projects since its establishment approximately ten years ago.

More information can be found on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts website.