Friday December 3, 2021
Projects targeting tree planting, community events and upgrades to local schools, pre-schools, sporting and aged care facilities will be awarded funding under Round 2 of the Uralla Grants program.
$50,000 in funding has been awarded to a dozen community projects and events under the second stage of the program, which is designed to share the benefits of the New England Solar Farm with the wider community
Uralla Grants is funded by UPC\AC Renewables Australia, the developers of the New England Solar Farm, and is overseen by a Community Reference Group which includes local community representatives.
New England Solar Farm Construction Project Director Tim Greenaway said support from the grants program would start immediately, with the first community event to take place this weekend – The Uralla Fairy Festival.
“The Uralla Grants program is a very important part of the New England Solar Farm project,” Mr Greenaway said.
“It demonstrates our commitment to the local community and finding ways to support people from all areas and ages across the region.
“It’s particularly pleasing that support from Uralla Grants can start straight away – with $5,000 in funding to help support this weekend’s popular Uralla Fairy Festival.
“I would like to thank everyone who made the effort to apply for the second stage of the Uralla Grants program and I look forward to seeing the successful projects delivered over the next 12 months.”
The New England Solar Farm is a 720-megawatt solar farm and battery project being constructed near Uralla in the New England region of NSW. It is Australia’s largest hybrid solar and battery energy storage facility under construction. 2
Construction on the initial road upgrades for the first stage of the New England Solar Farm is nearing completion and early work on the substation and switching yard is now underway.
The $100,000 Uralla Grants program was developed as a way for the solar farm and battery project to provide support during the early construction phase of the project.
Further funding for the local community will be provided under the New England Solar Farm’s Community Benefit Sharing Initiative.
