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Baw Baw Shire Council welcomes $510,000 funding from the Victorian government for the Noojee Forestry Transition Project

Baw Baw Shire Council received $510,000 from the Victorian Government for the Noojee Forestry Transition Project, supporting initiatives like project management, a community hub feasibility study, and household energy audits.

By news@gippsland - 21st June 2024 - Back to News

Baw Baw Shire Council has welcomed $510,000 from the Victorian Government towards the Noojee Forestry Transition Project. Council has received three grants from the Community Development Fund which will go towards supporting The Shaping the Future of Noojee project which is part of the broader Forestry Transition Program.

In addition to $38,500 announced in May 2024, the Shaping the Future of Noojee project involves five key working groups

Transition funding initiatives

The program supports workers, businesses and the community in transitioning away from native timber harvesting. The funding grants will go towards the following initiatives:

• $410,000 for a two-year project management extension
• $80,000 for a feasibility study for the proposed Noojee Multipurpose Community Hub and Education Centre
• $20,000 for a free Power Usage and Needs Audit for 100 households in the region

These grants are in addition to the three grants totalling $38,500 that were announced last month by the Victorian Government.

Noojee project funding

The Shaping the Future of Noojee project comprises five key working groups that feed into the strategic direction of Noojee. These working groups are:

• The Eco Tourism Working Group
• The Specialised Agricultural Industry Development Working Group
• The Multipurpose Community Hub and Education Centre Working Group
• The Ethical Hunting and Game Processing Working Group, and
• The Power and Connectivity Reliability Working Group

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Annemarie McCabe welcomed the $510,000 from the Victorian Government. "This latest funding announcement is a major milestone for Council's Shaping the Future of Noojee project, as it will really help to propel the work being undertaken and continue to support the region to transition away from native timber harvesting."

"This additional $510,000 will further support the working groups to investigate long-term economic and social outcomes for the area," she said. Noojee is one of 11 Victorian towns and communities receiving support to transition and implement new strategies in their local economy.

Pictures from Visit Gippsland website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com