Rappville was one of many regional communities devastated by the recent bushfires, but the Nationals in Government are helping rebuild and recover.
More than 50 homes were destroyed, lives were lost, and livelihoods were shattered when the res ripped through the region, but it is an incredibly resilient community, local Nationals Member for Page Kevin Hogan said.
Richmond Valley Council received over $1.4 million in grants from the Federal Nationals in Government to assist with bushfire recovery, and it has used this money to rebuild important community infrastructure.
Mr Hogan thanked the council for its role in leading local recovery efforts.
“The recent bushfires devastated our community and it is important we rebuild together,” Mr Hogan said.
“I would like to congratulate Richmond Valley Council on the way they have distributed the money.”
In welcoming the funding, Richmond Valley mayor Robert Mustow said it was a priority of council to ensure recovery was undertaken in the timeliest manner possible.
“Council’s priority is to rapidly rebuild stronger and more resilient communities, focusing on the health and wellbeing of our people, as well as the repair of property and restoration of the environment,” Cr Mustow said.
Recipients in Rappville include:
• $500,000 to Rappville Hall to rebuild the hall and provide an improved space for outdoor covered areas.
• $230,000 to build pedestrian/cycle access from the school to the post office.
• $50,000 to develop a Rappville master plan aimed at expanding the scale of the village.
• $220,000 for Rappville Sportsground to replace burnt infrastructure and allow for upgraded facilities.
Kyogle benefits from grants
Kyogle Council also received a $1.3 million grant to assist with bushre recovery.
Mr Hogan recently joined Kyogle Council Mayor Danielle Mulholland to officially announce some of the recipients in Woodenbong.
Cr Mulholland said the funding would allow her community to rebuild and bring tourism back to the area.
“The bushfires not only physically damaged much of the area, but also had a large economic impact on businesses,” she said.
Recipients across the Kyogle LGA include:
• $25,000 to Woodenbong Golf Club to re-roof the golf club, attach a new gutter and insulate.
• $5,000 to Jubul Aboriginal Co-operative to fund a cleanup day at Jubul.
• $1,000 to Richmond Valley Volunteer Health Transport Inc. for the purchase of a bar fridge and hot water urn for volunteers.
• $7,500 to Friends of the Labyrinth for interpretive signage, a bench seat, paving and mulch.
• $1,470 to Border Tourism Group – Woodenbong Progress Association, for signage for a new tourism group in Tenterfield area.
• $4,778 to Ettrick Hall for new chairs and a pergola.
• $2,200 to Kyogle FC club for a concrete slab.
• $24,960 to Hanging Rock Hall – Wadeville Reserve Land Manager, for a new stage and internal renovations.
• $10,000 to Bundgeam Preschool for a fence for a bush tucker garden.
• $5,000 to Swoopin Season – Kyogle Together, to employ two young people as mentees.
• $21,610 to Bonalbo RFS for a demountable RFS training/operations room
• $25,000 to Kyogle Show Trust for an existing boundary fence 449 meters long, adjacent to the Queensland Road.
• $3,000 to Kyogle Youth Action – Kyogle Together, for a music program.
• $25,000 to Tabulam Campdraft for a new amenities building at Tabulam Racecourse.
• $7,000 to Woodenbong Common Trust for fencing of the Woodenbong common.
• $25,000 to Woodenbong Reserve Land Manager for a tractor and slasher, for use in the showground and other community maintenance activities.
• $10,000 to the Kyogle and District Arts Council for undertaking maintenance and structural repair to the Unity Arch sculptures at Sandilands Triangle on the Bruxner Highway.
• $5,000 to Sine Cera for bathroom renovations in chalet, stairs and deck replacements.
• $5,000 to Traditional Shotokan Karate-Do Federation NSW – Far North Coast Incorporated, to purchase uniforms for competition.
• $5,000 to Mallanganee Hall Committee for a dishwasher, stove and instant hot water.
• $25,000 Woodenbong RSL Hall for internal and external works, painting, lining and bathroom.
• $20,000 to Real Art Works to hold creative arts workshops over six weeks in Kyogle, Bonalbo, Tabulam, and production of resilience cards for participants.
• $5,000 to Kyogle Community Gym to run a Lift from Life Course – resistance training program for people with or at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• $25,000 to Collins Creek Hall for road sealing between the school and the hall.
• $5,000 to Kyogle Golf Club for renovations and to assist with the payment of bills.
• $500 to Belinda Carlilie to contribute towards her Diploma of Counselling.
• $25,000 to Bazaar – Kyogle Together, for a part-time coordinator, entertainment budget, volunteer support items and promotion.
• $5,270 to Kyogle Together for server capacity to enable a mobile workforce.
• $3,000 to Woodenbong Amateur Swimming Club for the provision of initial training and ongoing training for volunteer lifeguards, and the safe and efficient running of swimming club each week during the swimming season.
• $4,998 to Kyogle Landcare Inc for follow up maintenance of weed control along Fawcett’s Creek walking track. This will maintain the work completed in 2019 under a Public Reserve Trust Fund grant.
• $500 to Sandra Davie for photography equipment including camera upgrade, tripod and lighting to photograph stained glass, to develop an online prole.
• $19,189 to Kyogle Track and Trail MTB Club for improvements to the Kyogle MTB Park including the reconstruction of trails damaged during park closure due to re danger, construct additional trails, install signs, install seats and bike racks and operational costs (fees to Forest Corp NSW).
• $5,000 to Kyogle Fairymount Festival Committee for a puppet-making workshop and parade expenses for 2021 Kyogle Fairymount Festival.
• $23,870 to Kyogle Tidy Towns Committee for an LED information sign for the Kyogle Visitor Information Centre.
• $5,000 to Woodenbong Progress Association for an image library for Woodenbong.
• $4,000 to Kyogle Foodbank – SDA, for funds to cover the cost of food given to Kyogle and surrounding villages persons, unable to cover part or whole of their basic food purchases.
• $1,000 to Kyogle Bowling Club for the purchase of children’s bowls set for junior competitions.
• $5,000 to Bloodwood Gallery for a mural of the local mountains on a shop front.
• $25,000 to Woodenbong Hotel for a disabled bathroom and painting.
• $1,701 to Woodenbong B&B for signage, landscaping and grading.
• $5,000 to Clarence River Wilderness Lodge for a pull-over bay and viewing platform.
• $5,000 to Mitre 10 Woodenbong to assist with the payment of bills to keep the business open.
• $25,000 to Cawongla Store for a handrail and a deck.
• $25,000 to Bonalbo Service Station for external works to upgrade food service.
• $24,944 to Urbenville and District Bowling Club for solar panels.
• $5,000 to Tabulam News to pay for fuel for locals and visitors, and to stay open.
• $5,000 to Lynda’s Pitstop for visitor economy stimulation.
• $5,000 to Woodenbong Driveway for roof repairs.
• $25,000 to Sine Cera for the painting of buildings externally, stairways and deck replacement, and access roads.
• $5,000 to Wiangaree General Store for roofing repairs.
• $5,000 to Cougal Park B&B for a replacement fence.
• $5,000 to Thrifty T Woodenbong for the painting of the building.
• $5,000 to Gateway Fine Foods for safeguarding jobs.
• $5,000 to Mallanganee Pub for safeguarding jobs.
• $12,000 to Ripples on the Creek for repairs to cabins, signage, fruit trees, painting.
• $5,000 to R&R Farmstay for an animal shelter.
• $5,000 to Bonalbo Post Oce for repairs to fencing and building.
• $15,000 to Upper Clarence Trading Co-operative for painting the inside and outside of the coop and also toilet facilities painting.
• $5,000 to Bonalbo B&B for painting and floor coverings.
• $18,000 to Bonalbo Hardware for a mural on side of the shop, installation of a laundromat, x external doors and refurbish ornate internal doors.
• $5,000 to Tabulam Hotel to pay bills to keep business open.
• $25,000 to Wild West Store Mallanganee for xing the cold room floor, recover the main shop floor, x trims, replace shelving and repaint inside.
• $25,000 to Bonalbo Bowling Club for solar panels and painting the outside of the building.
• $11,000 to CK Café and Catering for repairs and repainting of the shop front and the side wall where the customer seating area is.
• $25,000 to Dog and Bull for the refurbishment of the drive-through including local artwork, bar and kitchen floor.
• $5,000 to Woodenbong Engineering to assist with paying bills to keep the business open.
• $4,984 to GL & RL Baker for the conversion of the old convent in Mallanganee to accommodation.
• $25,000 to Rosewood Farm Enterprises for driveway access, onsite parking, visitor amenities (intending to run Farm Tours STCA).
• $7,700 to Little Cambridge for an air conditioner in the kitchen, two outside arbours and outdoor lighting
