$250,000 has been given to the Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club for an emergency centre upgrade.
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Minister for Justice and Police and Member for Dubbo Troy Grant announced almost half a million dollars as part of the ClubGRANTS Category 3 Program.
The program aims to provide emergency relief infrastructure to help communities in the Central West during emergencies such as bushfires, storms and floods.
The money will allow the Soldiers Club board to purchase a back-up generator and will provide upgrades to the electrical system.
Mr Grant said the ClubGRANTS Category 3 program was implemented after it was noticed there was a gap in emergency service centres in smaller communities.
“Wellington has received the most significant grant from this round, and that’s because this centre can provide so much for the community,’ he said.
Soldiers Club president Shirley Drysdale said the grant will help become the emergency response centre the board knows it can be.
“If there are emergencies in and around town, we already have the facilities to feed and support people… this generator will go a long way to helping the community,” she said.
Soldiers Club secretary manager David French said in the even of an emergency, the club will now be able to provide 24/7 service to the community.
“The generator will assist us in providing emergency services.
“With a capacity of over 2000 people, we will be able to keep people safe, dry, cool or warm – whatever the situation may be,” Mr French said.
The grant was applied for in October last year.
The upgrades will start on March 1 this year and are expected to finish on June 30.
Other successful local projects in the ClubGRANTS Category 3 Program 2016/17 for emergency relief infrastructure include:
Forbes SES: $128,430 for a new shed and hard-stand area to support sandbagging operations and training. The grant will mean sandbagging operations can continue in adverse weather and at night more easily. Access roads to the headquarters will also be sealed.
Molong RSL Club: $95,000 to install a new kitchen, shower and secure automatic front door. The Club is the designated emergency accommodation facility for the villages of Molong, Manildra and Cumnock.
Yeoval and District Men’s Shed: $10,400 for a generator, gas stove and electrical connections to make its kitchen viable in an emergency. The upgraded kitchen will be the only public accessible kitchen that can supply meals in the case of an emergency in the town.
