Dorrigo's Hickory House Dorrigo and riparian vegetation at the headwaters of the Bellinger River will be improved through grants from the Federal Government.
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Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said the grants were a chance to build up community groups and acknowledge their great work.
"Local volunteers and their community groups provide important services to our communities, which is why our Government is supporting them through Round 5 Stronger Communities and the Communities Environment Program," he said.
"Hickory House committee will receive $20,000 to revitalise the building and Bellinger Landcare Inc will receive $20,000 for riparian vegetation management.
"Both these projects will improve assets important to the Dorrigo community and provide some welcome additional work for local tradespeople."
Hickory House and Neighbourhood Bus Committee President Erica Polden said the grant would help to beautify Hickory House and allow it to better meet the community's needs.
Hickory House is currently used by senior citizens, support services, University of the Third Age and a church group.
"The house is approximately 70-80 years old and there have been only minor changes made to it during this time," she said.
"This grant, combined with the committee's own funds, will replace the broken guttering, provide new external wall cladding, eves and fascia boards and provide a much-needed coat of paint.
"We regard it as the first phase of our revitalisation program. In the future, we will do further fundraising activities and later refurbish the internal building, but we are grateful for this grant which will kick-start the process."
Bellinger Landcare Coordinator Sandy Eager said the $20,000 grant would support Landcare in its ongoing work to control weeds and improve native vegetation at the headwaters of the Bielsdown and Bellinger Rivers.
"Dorrigo Mountaintop Landcare Group has been supporting private landholders in the area since 1991 to improve about 20 hectares of mostly-cleared land at the headwaters of our two rivers," Ms Eager said.
"This local Landcare Group and landholders have been protecting these areas from stock impacts and have been establishing vegetation corridors for wildlife movement, rainforest regeneration and improved water quality.
"Bellinger Landcare thanks the Federal Government for this grant as it will enable us to continue to support private landholders undertaking best management land practices in this sensitive area."
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Ute Schulenberg
Journalism was always my plan but plans being what they are, I did not get to realise it until my early 40s ... and have loved every minute since. For me community journalism is the most intimate and honest place to be in this field - telling the stories of people I live with, side-by-side, every day. It is an honour.
Journalism was always my plan but plans being what they are, I did not get to realise it until my early 40s ... and have loved every minute since. For me community journalism is the most intimate and honest place to be in this field - telling the stories of people I live with, side-by-side, every day. It is an honour.
