Love is all around: 2023 Love Water Grants announced
Hunter Water has announced 15 recipients of its Love Water Grants program, totalling more than $100,000, following the highest number of applications ever received.
The one-off grants valued at up to $10,000 primarily support water conservation and efficiency initiatives, as well as projects with an education, environmental and sustainability focus.
Minister for Water, Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson, said the Lower Hunter community proposed innovative water-saving approaches.
“It’s clear from the 76 applications, a record number, that the local community is committed to providing innovative solutions to help save our most precious resource however they can.”
“In the current economic climate, we’re seeing now more than ever how important it is to support our community. The diverse range of projects from amenities upgrades to irrigation systems to community gardens all promote water conservation and will make a significant difference to the people of the Lower Hunter.”
The Love Water Grants program opens each year on Valentine’s Day (14 February).
This year, in a stroke of serendipity, one of the Love Water Grants recipients is Valentine Hydrotherapy Pools (VHP).
VHP will use the grant funding to upgrade its amenities block to be more water efficient, including installing eight new dual-flush toilet cisterns. The Pools Committee will also put in a 10-thousand-litre water tank.
VHP Committee Member, Lynda Payne, said the organisation is excited and grateful to receive a Love Water grant.
“Our pools serve multiple parts of our community. Our hydrotherapy pool facility is where disabled, injured, post-operative or older people can exercise with their physiotherapist. In our heated 15m pool, babies to adults can become water confident and learn to swim. We’re a charity, so receiving the support to see a much-needed project come to life is wonderful."
Hunter Water Managing Director, Darren Cleary, said VHP’s project captured what the Love Water Grants program is all about.
“We’re committed to supporting our community, and Valentine Hydrotherapy Pools’ project will have some great community outcomes when it comes to saving water and improving the facility’s functionality,” Mr Cleary said.
“Thank you to all applicants, and congratulations to the successful recipients. We’re proud to support our community as we work together to ensure we have a sustainable and resilient water future.”
For more information, visit Love Water Grants
2023 Love Water Grant recipients
Organisation |
Project |
Funding |
LGA |
Australia's Wildlife Ark Ltd (Aussie Ark) |
Hunter Region Endangered Turtle Breeding Program |
$10,000 |
Multiple - Hunter River |
Biraban Local Aboriginal Land Council |
Growing Plants for their return to country |
$10,000 |
Lake Mac |
New Lambton Heights Infants School P&C Association |
Embedding water conservation ideology and practice into early school life |
$8,860 |
Newcastle |
Fig Tree Community Association |
Olla Water Workshops |
$5,328 |
Newcastle |
Australian Sailing |
Water conservation and education in sailing clubs in the Lower Hunter |
$9,953 |
Multiple - Lower Hunter |
Valley Village Early Learning Centre |
Bush Tucker Garden and Frog habitat Water Conservation |
$3,700 |
Maitland |
Millers Forest Public School |
Millers Forest Garden Water System ('Water' you think about this?) |
$10,000 |
Maitland |
Maitland Community Men's Shed |
Water System Pressure Upgrade |
$2,800 |
Maitland |
St John's Primary School Lambton |
Developing Biodiversity in Our Garden |
$3,115 |
Newcastle |
Trees in Newcastle (TIN) |
TIN Water Plan |
$9,200 |
Lake Mac |
St Johns Church Community Garden |
Water for community garden |
$8,400 |
Port Stephens |
Valentine Hydrotherapy Pools Inc |
Love Water Saving - Step 1 |
$10,000 |
Lake Mac |
Clarence Town Public School |
Connections for Our Climate |
$4,024 |
Dungog |
PCYC (OzHarvest) |
Nourish Community Garden |
$9,400 |
Lake Mac |
Lodge Paxton 608 |
Water efficiency project |
$3,237 |
Cessnock |