Grant applications of up to $30,000 will open on August 1 for community projects in Summerland Point, Gwandalan, Chain Valley Bay and Mannering Park.
Chain Valley Colliery Funding Program was established as a joint initiative between Delta Coal (formerly Lake Coal Pty Ltd), Central Coast Council and the communities of Summerland Point, Gwandalan, Chain Valley Bay and Mannering Park to provide funding for not-for-profit organisations to deliver projects that improve community infrastructure and services.
On December 23, 2013 Delta Coal (Lake Coal) was granted development consent to extract up to 2.1 million tonnes of coal per calendar year until December 31, 2027.
As a condition of consent and on the instigation of local community groups directly affected by coal mining, Lake Coal and Council developed a Voluntary Planning Agreement that requires $0.035 for each tonne of coal produced to be allocated as a community funding program to develop community capacity within the suburbs of Summerland Point, Gwandalan, Chain Valley Bay and Mannering Park.
This funding program opens once per year and applicants can apply for up to $30,000 of funding per application from this year’s total $40,000 available in grants.
Council will receive applications between August 1 and 31.
The last round of funding went towards building a large pavilion next to the wharf at Gwandalan to enable people with disabilities to enjoy fishing.
Other funding went to Mannering Park Tidy Towns Group for its Time to Renew project, Manno Men’s Shed for workshop equipment, Chain Valley Bay Progress Association for tables, seating and covered barbeque area at Chain Valley Bay Hall playspace area and Southlake Incorporated to help Kingfisher Shores Community Garden.
Sue Murray