THE Telegraph Point community may be small, but it has a mighty heart.
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If a job needs doing, they rally together to make it happen and post-bypass, this tight-knit community has ensured it stays on the map.
On Friday, September 21, they had almost one million reasons to celebrate with the announcement of $940,921 to build footpaths to connect key village locations and revitalise facilities at Charlie Watt Reserve, the breeding ground for some of the Hastings’ up-and-coming sports stars.
Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams and Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peta Pinson visited the village to announce the funding injection.
This latest round of the government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund has seen more than $3.2 million poured into the Telegraph Point community this year alone, with an earlier $2.32 million secured to help council build the village’s long-awaited sewerage scheme.
“These funding announcements will deliver long awaited infrastructure for a small village which deserves the same quality services as it’s neighbouring counterparts,” Mrs Williams said.
Port Macquarie-Hastings mayor Peta Pinson said that supporting the Hastings’ growing community is only possible through great teamwork.
“The partnership we have built with the state government and our local communities means together we can continue to deliver important facilities right across our region. We’ve got this money ready to go now and it’s up to council to use it wisely and deliver well.
“Charlie Watt Reserve is a popular spot, and the improvements to lighting and drainage will provide for an even better outdoor community space,” Ms Pinson said.
Western Phoenix Football Club president and head coach Ben White said the commitment to provide the community with improved sporting facilities has been warmly welcomed.
“The facilities here weren’t fantastic and we have done remarkably well to do what we have done through sheer people power to get it where it is,” Mr Smith said of the community’s hands-on approach to maintaining the facilities at the reserve.
U10s soccer player Amelia Standfield-Gates was excited by the news the field will have better lighting.
“It’s great we will have better training facilities,” she said.
President of the Telegraph Point Community Association Sue Pike tipped her hat at the hard work of dedicated residents who have rallied to ensure their village was supported.
“This is a really caring community,” she said. “To get footpaths to connect the school to the reserve and local businesses is wonderful.
“We have embraced opportunities for our village since the bypass and it will benefit our community in the long run.
“We’ve got a safer highway and it is much more quiet in town. We support each other and we support local business.”