Local tennis clubs have claimed big win in community grants presented by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
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Wauchope Timbertown Tennis Club and Port Macquarie Tennis Club were among a number of winning grant recipients at a cheque presentation for Council's Community Grants Program on May 29.
Twelve of 24 community groups made it through the program and were awarded $83,421 towards creation, development and promotion of local projects.
Wauchope Timbertown Tennis Club received the largest share of the grants with $10,000 for facility improvements, while Port Macquarie Tennis Club were given $3440 for safety fencing.
WTTC president Mike Trotter said it was the second grant in two years the club had received, allowing it to free up funds for bigger items.
"We've got a three part project, first part is a combined boundary wall with the swimming club which is going to be painted bright blue," he said.
"Second part is installing safety bollards in our parking area because the existing barrier has come to the end of its life.
"Third one is we are installing a retaining wall with our adjoining neighbours, because our court surface is higher than our neighbours properties.
"The last grant got us just over the line for a $120,000 development with resurfacing of our courts, so we are a great supporter of these grants.
"They allow us to free up our money for big ticket items."
Port Macquarie Club president Lyndon Bartholomew said tennis was growing in the area and the Club was grateful for grants received.
"We are sealing off an area for kids to come and play," he said.
"Families can come and play tennis with the knowledge their kids are secure, we are planning to have a playground put up there.
"It's all about trying to get more people in to play tennis in a family setting because tennis is trying to grow."
Other grant awardees included covered seating worth $9800 for Bonny Hills Progress Association, $2393 for LED lighting for the Port Macquarie-Hastings Bridge Association and a $3770 community website for Comboyne Community Association.
Bee education and bio-security awareness worth $8678 for Hastings Valley Amateur Beekeepers Association.
Motorcycle Friendly Wauchope received $3770 for Motofest collateral, Seaside Scavenge receiving $3326 for a community clean up and Laurieton Men's Shed receiving $5996 for a thicknesser.
Hastings Orienteering Group received $7651 for collateral for events, Rotary Club Port Macquarie Sunrise got $10,000 for a shade sail over Liberty Swing and Friends of Mrs York's Garden were given $9140 for a new covered seat.
The grants were presented by Mayor Peta Pinson at Port Macquarie-Hastings Function Room, while a Acknowledgement to Country was made by Birpai woman Kelly O'Brien.
Mayor Peta Pinson said Port Macquarie was thankful for the efforts of these active community members.
"You all have specialised things that you do, you all have organisations but that actually ripples out into the community," she said at the presentation.
"Thank you so much for being such wonderful community members."
Excess funding allocated to the Community Grants program worth $12,710 will be put towards ANZAC Day and Rememberance Day traffic control costs which currently have a $15,000 deficit.
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