Dorrigo’s Environment and Heritage House improved through local grants

Hickory House in Dorrigo and riparian vegetation at the headwaters of the Bellinger River will be improved through grants from the Federal Government.

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said the grants were a chance to build up community groups and acknowledge the great work they do for the community.

“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 grants,” 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 set it up 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 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.”

The grant for Hickory House was delivered through Round 5 of the Federal Government’s Stronger Communities Program. Community groups in the electorate of Cowper received grants totalling $150,000 from this round.

The grant for Bellinger Landcare was delivered through the Communities Environment Program. The government has invested $22.65 million in this program this financial year to support a wide range of small-scale projects to conserve, protect and better manage the environment.