Adelaide Hills Council has successfully bid for a variety of grants amounting to over $1 million that will go towards bushfire recovery initiatives and building resilience for the local economy.
Through the Federal Government’s Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program we will receive $781,415 to support jobs, businesses and economic resilience. Proposed projects for these funds include toilet refurbishment and a formed path for the Mill Road Corner pocket forest in Lobethal, a new toilet at the Woodside Institute, building upgrades at Fabrik Arts
+ Heritage, footpath upgrades, and the completion of a Crafers to Stirling
cycle connection.
The donation-based Wildlife Recovery Fund has committed $50,000 for our use over three years on post-fire weed control for the Lobethal Bushland Park Bushfire Recovery Project. These vital funds will help us achieve significant success in the recovery of this important conservation area.
Finally, Council will receive $170,000 through the Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Grants Program for four different initiatives:
Pome Fest 2020 will receive $30,000 to produce a virtual, COVID-19 version of its popular event supporting the Apple and Pear Growers SA. Virtual experiences will include orchard and packhouse tours, cider tasting masterclasses, pruning, grafting and cooking demonstrations, and an apple pie cooking competition.
The trail network in Lobethal Bushland Park will be replaced and improved. Proposed infrastructure for the $40,000 received includes boardwalks, park benches, bollards, trail markers, bridges, hand rails, and informative signage.
A further $60,000 will go towards the Amy Gillett Bikeway for interpretive signs that will share, educate, and promote local destinations and characteristics to users, as well as including an acknowledgement of who Amy Gillett was.
The remaining $40,000 will fund a light installation, Flocking Together, created by Cindi Drennan and Illuminart in collaboration with the local community. Illuminart, who are nationally renowned for their spectacular projection works, will create a visual welcome to Lobethal positioned in Mill Square opposite the township’s major intersection. Contributions for the final piece will be sought from the community with support from Fabrik Arts + Heritage.
