First time heritage grants to have a lasting effect

Published Monday, 05 May, 2014 at 05:00 PM

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection
The Honourable Andrew Powell

Queensland’s historic past will be better protected for the future, after the Queensland Government awarded more than $600,000 to community groups and owners of heritage-listed places. 

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection, Andrew Powell, said 34 applicants had been successful in the first heritage phase of the Everyone’s Environment grantsprogram. 

“The Newman Government is committed to heritage. We have introduced this element to our successful Everyone’s Environment Grants program and a new heritage category in this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards line-up,” Mr Powell said. 

“Recipients will receive grants between $3,000 and $40,000 for projects that protect and conserve our built heritage and improve access to and understanding of heritage-listed places or historic shipwrecks. 

“Among the recipients, the Queensland Maritime Museum Association will receive $29,216 to install a new 10 metre commercial gangway to the tugboat Forceful. 

“This will provide members of the public and museum volunteers with safe access to the vessel.” 

Queensland Maritime Museum CEO, Ian Jempson welcomed the heritage grants initiative. 

‘The Queensland Maritime Museum is one of many small not-for-profit groups caring for significant heritage places in Queensland,” Mr Jempson said. 

“Grant funding is vital to our organisation in assisting us with the care, presentation and making these heritage places accessible and interesting to the general public.” 

Mr Powell said there was tremendous interest in the heritage phase of the grants program with 106 applications received. 

“Some of these projects will have an enormous impact in their local area, helping to improve tourism by allowing visitors to access and enjoy the heritage site or shipwreck,” he said. 

“Tourism is one of the state’s economic four pillars and any project that encourages visitors has a flow on effect for the Queensland economy. 

“I congratulate the 34 applicants that have been awarded funding in this round of the Everyone’s Environment grants program and encourage more community groups to identify worthwhile projects before the announcement of the next round.”

Round three of the Everyone’s Environment grants program will open for applications in mid-2014.

Details of the Everyone’s Environment grants program are on the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection’s website www.ehp.qld.gov.au .

[ENDS] 5 May 2014  

Media contact: Lynette Keep 0419 620 299