The Australian Government has provided funding to local community projects in Wollondilly and the Southern Highlands under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program, with projects to receive $6.4 million in support.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said Balmoral Village Community Hub and Buxton Hall renovation are among the 524 projects funded under the program.

Mr Taylor said the overall program funding was boosted to $390 million to further support communities around Australia to recover from the 2019-20 bushfires. 

“As part of the $2.1 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund, the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program is backing projects which the affected communities have said will best support their ongoing recovery,” Mr Taylor said.

“These grants will go toward projects that support local jobs, small businesses and improving local infrastructure in Wollondilly and the Southern Highlands. 

Mr Taylor said local projects funded included:

• $391,632 - Paint The Town (Wollondilly & Wingecarribee) 
• $510,000 – Water Storage Tanks (Wingecarribee)
• $389,000 – Community Resilience Officer Program (Wingecarribee Shire Council)
• $272,618 – PCYC Social Recovery & Resilience programs (Wingecarribee)
• $150,000 - Jordan’s Crossing Off Leash Dog Park, Bundanoon
• $196,844 - Hill Top Village Park Project
• $215,779 – Balmoral Village Community Hub
• $24,791 – Hazard reduction (across Wollondilly)
• $2,130,000 – Emergency services and regional sporting Hub at Picton Sportsground.
• $521,000 – Dangerous tree removal (across Wollondilly)
• $150,000 – Emergency Signage (Wollondilly)
• $845,501 – Menangle Community Hall
• $139,632 – Buxton Hall Renovation
• $500,000 - Waste and emergency hardstand area (Wollondilly)
• $20,000 – Back to Sport program (Wollondilly)

Details of the funded projects are available on the National Recovery and Resilience Agency website at: https://recovery.gov.au/programs/black-summer-grants.