Grant money is rolling out to local community groups to help reduce power costs and improve energy efficiency.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann has been visiting successful recipients of the Blair Powering Communities program, which saw seven groups share in $67,700.
“The program assisted community groups to invest in measures that will save them money on power bills, while helping reduce their carbon footprint,” Mr Neumann said.
“COVID-19 has made it hard for many of these groups and these grants will make a huge difference over a long period.”
Mr Neumann recently visited the Ipswich Little Theatre, which received $12,000 to replace inefficient stage lights with state-of-the-art LED technology.
“The new LED stage lights will allow Ipswich Little Theatre to reduce energy consumption and power costs at the Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator Theatre in Queens Park.
“The group plans to replace outdated stage lighting technologies in both performance spaces, particularly as they are being phased out in the northern hemisphere.
“The new lights will have the added benefit of making the theatre far more comfortable for the performers and patrons.
“With cooler, more efficient LED lights, the air-conditioning will not have to run for as long or as hard.
“Ipswich Little Theatre has a long history of significant investment in this heritage building, so I am proud and pleased to help them continue their work.”
Other groups successful in receiving grant funds include the Ipswich Knights Soccer Club, which received over $10,000 for solar panels and an inverter, to help with the cost of running the expensive irrigation pump.
The Ipswich Railway Sub Branch of the RSL received a grant of almost $10,000 for solar power on the newly refurbished Flint Street headquarters.
Solar power will be installed at the Leichhardt One Mile Community Centre with a grant for close to $10,000.
A $12,000 grant will help Ipswich Meals on Wheels install a battery system to store solar-generated power to offset their power bills.
The Toogoolawah Show Society’s $6,109 grant is helping to upgrade flood lights to LED to make the grounds more secure and safe for patrons.
