Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton recently caught up with Gilgandra Museum vice president Phil Howard and president Max Zell to announce their successful Powering Communities Program grant, which they will use to upgrade their lighting and hot water system.
Ten community groups in the Parkes electorate will benefit from lower power bills thanks to the Federal Government’s Powering Communities Program.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton congratulated the 10 organisations who received grants ranging from $5,000 to $12,000 to help reduce their energy costs.
“Energy bills are often one of the biggest overheads for not-for-profit organisations,” Mr Coulton said.
“I’m thrilled to be able to support these local organisations to reduce their power bills and ease the financial pressure they face, through the installation of solar panels or more energy efficient lighting and hot water systems.
“It’s groups like these that are the heart of communities around my electorate, and this assistance will allow them to continue to grow, invest and support local jobs.”
The $10.2 million Powering Communities Program provided each electorate with a total of $67,700 to fund up to 12 small projects.
Successful organisations in the Parkes electorate:
| Organisation | Funding | Project |
| The Corporate Trustees of the Diocese of Armidale (Warialda Anglican Church) | $5,000 | Install a 11.1KW solar panel system on the roof of the Vicarage |
| Mungery Recreation Reserve Land Manager | $5,147 | Install a 6.6KW solar panel system on the roof of the Mungery Hall |
| Coolabah United Citizens Incorporated | $8,987 | Install a 5KW PV solar system on the roof of Coolabah Hall |
| Gilgandra Museum and Historical Society Incorporated | $7,408 | Upgrade existing fluorescent lighting within the Gilgandra Museum entrance foyer and display building with LED fittings. Install power connection for an instantaneous hot water system for kitchen and upgrade external security lighting to LED floodlights. |
| South Broken Hill Football Club | $6,000 | Install a solar system at South Broken Hill Football Club |
| Camp Cypress Limited | $10,314 | Install a 12.5KW grid connect solar system to the roof of the dining room of the Camp Cypress holiday camp facility at Baradine |
| Nurruby Children’s Services Incorporated (Narrabri) | $6,500 | Install $16.425KW solar panels connected to the grid |
| Coolah Men’s Shed | $5,571 | Install a 6.3KW grid connected solar system |
| Tooraweenah Branch of the Country Women’s Association of NSW | $6,780 | Install a 5KW PV solar system |
| Narrabri Clay Target Club | $5,993 | Install 5.2KW solar panels and inverter |
