Zoe Moffatt
Greater Western Water (GWW) announced four community groups and clubs in Sunbury and Macedon Ranges will receive funding this year through its annual grants program.
In an announcement on June 22, GWW said 26 groups and clubs across the western region will receive a share of $176,000 in funding to increase opportunities for community participation and development.
Woodend Primary School and Woodend Landcare Group will receive $3780 to set up an irrigation system at the school community children’s garden.
Botanist and parent Nicole Middleton runs the children’s garden and said she was very excited to receive the news and the irrigation system is going to save time and water.
“I was very happy and excited because I had applied for a couple of other grants to cover the irrigation system but wasn’t successful,” Ms Middleton said.
“The garden is run on tank water … [and] it takes about an hour to water it by hand.
“[The irrigation system] will be a much more efficient use of our water so it can go straight to roots at the right time of day.”
Ms Middleton said it will also save time as someone needs to be at the school watering the garden at least every few days.
“It will save a lot of time … and it [can be] hard because people are on holidays, especially over Christmas and new year.
“It’s better to water early in the morning but no one wants to go school at 7am on school holidays.
“But the main thing is it will save a lot of water.”
Other groups to receive funding include; Sunbury Agricultural Society, Macedon Ranges Music Festival and Riddells Creek Lions Club.
GWW general manager strategy and partnerships Kessia Thomson said applications were received from every local government area across the water corporation’s service area.
“We’re so impressed with the quality of submissions we received,” Ms Thomson said.
“We received 50 per cent more applications than last year and each one was excellent.
“We have funded … projects that make our region a great place to live, including environmental initiatives, community care projects, art exhibitions and family and cultural events.”
