Community & Business
10 April, 2021
Community benefits from wind fund
THE latest grants from the Mount Emerald Wind Farm Community Fund have been announced.
THE latest grants from the Mount Emerald Wind Farm Community Fund have been announced.
The aim of the fund is to help Tablelands voluntary groups bounce back from last year’s COVID chaos.
The full list of successful applications in this round of funding were – Atherton Herberton Historic Railway, CWA Tolga, Herberton Mining Museum, Malanda Men’s Shed, Malanda Swimming Club, Mareeba Cricket Club, Mareeba Pony Club, North Queensland Working Horse Association, Ravenshoe Meals on Wheels, Red Earth Running, Tablelands Outdoor Recreation Association, Tolga Lions Club and the Tolga Scarecrow Festival.
The Tolga Scarecrow Festival was cancelled last year due to COVID, but organisers are determined to come back with a bang in 2021.
A spokesperson from the Tolga Scarecrow festival wrote: “We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the Mount Emerald Wind Farm (Ratch-Australia) for their generous support as a Major sponsor of the 2021 Tolga Scarecrow Festival.”
Tom Braes from Mareeba, the chairman of the fund’s independent advisory committee, said “Last year was horrendous for voluntary groups who had their normal fundraising activities curtailed by COVID, so we are very pleased to see so many of them back up and running again," he said.
“As always, it was tough to decide which of the excellent applications to support, but at least one of the successful groups had applied a number of times before so we were pleased to be able to reward their persistence.
“I would certainly encourage other groups who were unlucky this time to apply again.”
The fund, now in its third year, has backed 63 projects located within a 50km radius of the turbines so far, and will continue to offer more than $200,000 per year throughout the wind farm’s working life.
Applications are accepted all year round, with the deadline for the next round of funding on 31 July. Guidance for applicants and application forms are available at www. mtemeraldwindfarm.com.au
