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Education key under biggest ever Love Water grants program

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Children’s education initiatives, a recycled water wash bay and irrigation pump upgrades are among 14 successful projects that will share almost $80,000 under round two of Hunter Water’s 2020/21 Love Water grants program.

The one-off grants are valued up to $10,000 and will help fund a range of water conservation and efficiency ventures, as well as education, environmental and sustainability schemes.

The local recipients were CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning, Macquarie Preschools Cooperative Limited, Wangi Bowling Club Co-Op Ltd, Boolaroo Public School P&C, Cessnock Multipurpose Children’s Centre, Port Stephens Salvation Army, Newcastle Meals on Wheels, Uniting NSW/ACT, Tenambit Public School, Dudley Public School Parents & Citizens’ Association, Tilligerry Habitat Association, ATWEA College (Alesco Senior College North Lakes), Swansea Belmont SLSC and The Rail Motor Society Incorporated at Dungog.

NSW Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the expanded 2020/21 Love Water grants program had distributed a total of $200,000 to 34 beneficiaries across the two rounds to assist the local community as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The economic impact of COVID-19 is still being felt everywhere,” she explained.

“These grants will enable local groups and organisations to continue their valued work, while also helping them to make smart water choices.

“It was pleasing to see so many high-quality applications in round two of the biggest ever Love Water grants program, with a strong focus on water conservation infrastructure, education, and community advocacy.”

Hunter Water managing director Darren Cleary said the large number of applications showed the community was embracing the Love Water message.

“While we haven’t been able to fund all of the applications in the program, we were able to increase our contribution to the number of projects, which meant that funding was shared further across the community,” he stated.

“One of our round one recipients, the Wyee Hub, is a not-for-profit organisation that will use rainwater to support economically-stressed families with washing and cleaning clothes.

“Our $9,000 grant is helping the Hub to buy and install three 25,000-litre tanks, as well as pressure pumps, which will provide free water for each use.

“We were also able to identify other opportunities throughout the process, such as education partnerships, that would assist with generating more advocacy within the community and add value to projects.

“Our Love Water grants program highlights the importance of working together to make smart water choices, which will ensure we have a resilient and sustainable water future.”

Visit www.hunterwater.com.au/grants for more information about the Love Water grants program.

Round 2 2020/21 Love Water grants recipients

  • CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning ($6,839): The installation and maintenance of irrigation, watering and plumbing to service a community garden.
  • Macquarie Preschools Cooperative Limited ($4,235): The modification of taps to access water from existing rainwater tank. Installation of a dry creek bed and rainwater garden, and the installation of an electric pump/pit to recycle the water expelled by the pump.
  • Wangi Bowling Club Co-Op Ltd ($8,580): The installation of a water tank, pump and pipes to harvest rainwater from the club roof. This will assist with water efficient irrigation in the community garden.
  • Boolaroo Public School P&C ($6,300): The installation of a rainwater tank, installation of taps to new and existing tank and irrigation system to utilise rainwater on the gardens.
  • Cessnock Multipurpose Children’s Centre ($5,500): The installation of two water tanks and pump to link with current water engineering play area to enable water re-use on the gardens.
  • Port Stephens Salvation Army ($3,000): The installation of water efficiency irrigation in the sensory community garden.
  • Newcastle Meals on Wheels ($7,500): The installation of water tanks and the construction of a volunteer water wise garden.
  • Uniting NSW/ACT ($1,930): The installation of water tanks to use on preschool gardens.
  • Tenambit Public School ($7,425): Establishing a permaculture garden in the school including a rainwater tank, frog pond and ecosystem education.
  • Dudley Public School Parents & Citizens’ Association ($5,732): The connection of existing water tanks and installation of wicking bed kits, as well as an indigenous water themed mural.
  • Tilligerry Habitat Association ($6,000): An upgrade of existing watering system with an automated dual water supply linked to a smart phone app for efficient and smart monitoring.
  • ATWEA College (Alesco Senior College North Lakes – $3,400): The installation of a rainwater tank to support the installation of hydroponic farm.
  • Swansea Belmont SLSC ($5,000): The installation of rainwater tanks and plumbing to set up a system for wash bays, then recycling of this water to use on gardens.
  • The Rail Motor Society Incorporated – Dungog ($5,000): The installation of two water tanks to collect rainwater, and use water to maintain gardens, and for washing rolling stock.

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