Three Dimboola groups have shared in more than $100,000 of community grants that have been allocated to not-for-profit groups in the Wimmera under the 2024 Murra Warra Wind Farm Sustainable Community Grants Fund.

A total of $110,000 was distributed from this fund, around $10,000 more than the last round in 2023, that will go towards fourteen diverse environmentally sustainable community projects in the Hindmarsh, Horsham, and Yarriambiack municipalities, which neighbour the Murra Warra Wind Farm.

The croquet club received $5,000 for a new watering system for its greens, and the golf club also received $5,000, which it will use for new, more efficient heating and cooling for its club rooms. The R.S.L. received $2,200 to replace the old blinds in its clubrooms, some of which are over fifty years old.

The Rainbow & District Landcare Group will use its grant to educate and train local land managers and landowners in all aspects of rabbit biology, population monitoring and control methods to help tackle the region’s rabbit problem.

“Rabbits impact agricultural production, damage crops, soils and native vegetation, as well as local biodiversity,” said group secretary, Bernard Young. “They’ve infested agricultural land, businesses, roadsides and recreational areas, and are encroaching into the urban fringe. Once the participants have completed the training, they’ll be encouraged to share knowledge and mentor other land managers more widely across the district.”

A $20,000 grant was allocated to the Minyip Recreation Reserve Committee of Management to install a new irrigation system for the junior oval to enable efficient watering. The Horsham Motor Sports Club also received $20,000 to replace their ageing staff/competitor toilets with new energy-friendly facilities.

Other 2024 grant recipients include -
  • Centre for Participation - New freezer to support the Wimmera Food Collective Program.
  • Horsham City Bowling Club - Solar panels on its clubhouse
  • Wimmera River Improvement Committee - To ‘green’ the Wimmera River picnic area.
  • Laharum Public Hall - Trestle tables to support events like vegetable swaps.
  • Natimuk Climbing Club - For a ‘Kilter Board’ artificial climbing wall.
  • Taylors Lake Football & Netball Club - Solar lighting for storage facility and weather-protected seating at netball court.
  • Warracknabeal Playgroup - Environmental education program for children.
  • Warracknabeal Golf Bowls Club - New landscaping and garden upgrade around the bowling green.
The recipients were announced at a function at the Horsham Golf Club on Wednesday morning where Chris Gulvin, Operations Manager of Squadron Energy’s Murra Warra Wind Farm, presented to representatives of each successful organisation.

Mr Gulvin said the renewable energy company was pleased to once again support an impressive list of projects that would benefit the Wimmera community and environment.
“A big thank you to everyone who applied for the latest round of community grants,

“Squadron Energy is pleased to support not-for-profit community groups and organisations working to make a positive and lasting contribution to regional communities near the Murra Warra Wind Farm.”

- Chris Gulvin, Operations Manager of Squadron Energy’s Murra Warra Wind Farm
Mr Galvin also thanked Wimmera Southern Mallee Development who administers the fund, and their team of volunteers who assessed all of the applications.

Squadron Energy’s assets in the Wimmera include the Murra Warra I and Murra Warra II Wind Farms, located east of Dimboola. Together, they encompass 99 turbines, generating enough electricity to power more than 375,000 homes and preventing around 1,405,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.