Three local West Coast community groups are set to benefit and will continue providing vital support to the community with funding from the Granville Harbour Wind Farm annual Community Grants Program.
Rosebery Neighbourhood House Co-ordinator Naomi Cox said their grant will go towards its Pantry Upgrade Project for new facilities to ensure they can continue assisting over 70 people a week.
“Our pantry is used for food security for the local communities on the West Coast and an upgrade is needed due to the extra demand for the service and the ever-increasing financial hardship of our community.
“The pantry is a valuable asset to our people, especially given they don’t have the direct access larger townships have to facilities such as The Salvation Army and Lifeline, making our service extremely important.
“As a not-for-profit organisation without the assistance of grants provided from generous funding from the likes of Granville Harbour Wind Farm to make these crucial improvements to health, safety, and livelihood, many individuals and families would be at risk.”
Granville Harbour Wind Farm General Manager Antony Beard said they were proud to continue supporting programs and projects that provided for the local community.
“We are strongly dedicated to funding as many critical community and sustainable initiatives as we can to continue providing a positive impact on the West Coast,” Mr Beard said.
Coastal Family Day Care also received funding for a project to address the lack of qualified early childhood educators, working closely with the Zeehan Study Hub in attracting, recruiting, and re-training early childhood educators.
“The lack of early childhood education and care facilities on the West Coast is a long-standing issue and is now in crisis. We have limited access for children and families to participate in early childhood education and care and don’t have a childcare facility in Zeehan.
“The money will be used to facilitate information sessions to attract and recruit potential students on the West Coast for a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, which requires 160 hours of work placement, and to create a simulation lab for students to participate in a work placement during their course of study.”
Zeehan Men’s Shed in addition received funding for new shelving for their workshop and welding shed.
It will also enable the purchase of safety equipment including masks and gloves that can be used when sanding and wood turning.
Mr Beard said Granville Harbour Wind Farm is proud to share the benefits of generating clean renewable energy and helping to provide a positive social impact now and into the future.
Now completing its fourth year, the Grants Program has provided over $60,000 to community initiatives promoting greater livability and vitality on Tasmania’s West Coast.