Community groups and organisations will share in almost $500,000 through 28 grants that have been awarded for local initiatives through the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund.
The $10 million fund is an initiative of the Andrews Labor Government that ensures the benefits of the West Gate Tunnel Project can start flowing to the local community by bringing people together and improving adjacent neighbourhoods.
The grants of up to $100,000 have been awarded for festivals, events, displays and upgrades to community, sporting and recreational facilities run by not-for-profit community groups and organisations, to benefit the Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong City Council areas.
Recipients for the inaugural round of grants include Brooklyn Tennis Club which will invest in new tennis court net posts and nets, the Italian Social Club Altona to upgrade two bocce courts and add a new one, and Friends of Community Tributaries to expand the Brooklyn Community Garden, creating a food forest consisting of fruit trees.
The grants follow on from the success of the first round of partnerships, that provided funding of between $100,000 and $1.1 million for a broad range of programs across the inner west.
When complete the West Gate Tunnel Project will transform travel in Melbourne’s west. It will deliver a vital alternative to the West Gate Bridge and remove more than 9000 trucks from residential streets.
Travel times between Melbourne’s west and the city will be slashed by up to 20 minutes, while communities along the West Gate Freeway will enjoy quieter neighbourhoods thanks to more than nine kilometres of new noise walls.
There will also be 14 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths, and close to nine hectares of new parks and wetlands.
To see the full list of grant recipients go to www.westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au/neighbourhoodfund
Quote attributable to Member for Williamstown Melissa Horne
“This is great news for our local community as we see more open space, community events, and more opportunity for us to come together and celebrate what’s great about our neighbourhood.”
“Congratulations to all recipients and I can’t wait to see these ideas come into action through support from the Andrews Labor Government.”