Local groups boosted by Quattro community grants

Applications are now open for the latest round of Quattro: The New Queens Park community grants program, and with applications closing at 5pm on Friday May 30, there is no better time to nominate your community projects and events.

This is the third round of the community grants program – provided by project partners the Department of Housing and Works and Peet Limited – which has provided 11 different community projects with around $13,000 in much needed funds since its inception.

Peet Limited Managing Director Brendan Gore said the community grants program is an important part of the project's commitment to building the local community.

"It's great to see what a difference the grants make to schools, volunteer groups, service agencies, sporting clubs, individuals, and associations, whether it's to kick-start a project or an event, or strengthen their position in the community," said Mr Gore.

"The program supports the groups and volunteers who are making a significant contribution to the Queens Park community," he said.

The community grants team are particularly eager to hear from organisations with projects and activities that:
• Deliver positive social, economic or environmental outcomes for Queens Park.
• Stimulate and add value to the local community's sense of pride, place and identity.
• Encourage local economic vitality.
• Enhance or restores the local natural or built environment.
• Support community art, culture and/or heritage.
• Provide sport, leisure or recreation-based opportunities for the local community.
• Cater for the less advantaged in the local community.
• Promote diversity and equality in the community.

Last year, the Queens Park Karate Dojo was one of the successful community grant recipients and instructor Linda Lim-Scriven says the money has benefited the entire school.

"Receiving the community grant has made a big difference to our school. We have been able to provide a discount in training fees to our students and the funding has also allowed us to send two students to a national coach accreditation training course, which will benefit the other students," Ms Lim-Scriven said.

Past recipients have also included projects designed to educate school children about healthy eating habits as well as youth skills programs that develop skills in woodworking activities, computer skills training and other workshops.

Quattro: The New Queens Park forms part of the Department of Housing and Works' New Living Program and is currently being undertaken with project partner Peet Limited, and the City of Canning. 

Acting Deputy Director General of the Department of Housing and Works, Mr Shane Hamilton, said Quattro: The New Queens Park involves the redevelopment of the Department's former public rental housing cluster in "Maniana".

"These houses are being demolished and the land reconfigured, to create new single residential and grouped dwelling sites for sale.  The Department will also be retaining land for its rental housing construction program."

"In addition, the project involves the refurbishment of ageing Department of Housing and Works rental dwellings for either retention or sale and the beautification of the neighbourhood through landscaping and entry statements."

All interested community/service groups/clubs must register their interest to apply by 5pm on Friday 30 May. Groups who have applied before are welcome to apply again.

For guidelines and application forms please visit www.quattroqueenspark.com.au or contact Clara Deans at Creating Communities on 9284 0910 or email clara@creatingcommunities.com.au