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Grants provide recovery lift

Augusta Margaret River Times
Shire president Ian Earl with grandchildren Kobi, 4, and Bodhi, 2, and successful grant applicants Dr Lydia Altini, Margaret River Wine Association chief executive Amanda Whiteland, and Woven co-ordinator Amy Godfrey.
Camera IconShire president Ian Earl with grandchildren Kobi, 4, and Bodhi, 2, and successful grant applicants Dr Lydia Altini, Margaret River Wine Association chief executive Amanda Whiteland, and Woven co-ordinator Amy Godfrey. Credit: Picture:, Warren Hately

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River confirmed $265,000 in stimulus grants to community groups and other organisations this week.

The measures come from the ratepayer-backed Economic Stimulus and Community Resilience grant programs, announced this year to guide local COVID-19 recovery efforts.

The Shire named 14 projects with confirmed funding this week, with at least one more proposal under review.

The biggest winners were the Margaret River Wine Association, allocated $42,800; the Margaret River Chamber of Commerce, with almost $56,000; and the Undalup Association, which received $19,765 to run a traditional fire-management workshop next year.

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The Augusta-Margaret River Clean Community Energy group also received $65,000 for revolving solar-panel installation.

The MRWA grant will help wineries “to continuously improve their sustainability credentials through all the environmental, social and economic aspects of their businesses”.

The chamber grant will go towards its business hub proposal, with the Times reporting mid-year the one-stop shop could be established on Margaret River’s main street, helping traders with business support and mentorship.

Precious Plastics Margaret River was another winner, scoring $19,000 to go towards its search for a new headquarters featuring a self-sustaining community-based recycling and manufacturing centre.

Cowaramup-based collective Woven was also awarded $11,866.

Co-ordinator Amy Godfrey told the Times the funds would help support the group and increase its potential to hold community events.

Dr Lydia Altiri and her colleague Lorraine Aldridge received about $7000 to design and implement a community lifestyle-change project aimed particularly at residents with chronic illness.

Shire president Ian Earl said the “targeted funding” would bolster community recovery efforts.

“The funds we’ve made available are intended to back innovative projects that will drive local industry development or strengthen the broader community’s capacity to withstand shocks into the future,” he said.

“The pandemic has shown us local communities need to be resilient in their own right, and we think these initiatives will help support this.”

Other recipients included Bushtucker Tours, Augusta Pharmacy, the Margaret River Community Pantry, and Nature Conservation Margaret River.

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