Parklands MTB Trail Project Update
This afternoon I submitted our application for the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) Community Grants – “Major Grants – Community Facilities grant”. Completing one of three grant applications we’re working on.
This application is the result of many, many hours of effort and I would like to thank everyone who helped out – including Michael (our secretary), Rob (SCTA), Helen (SCRC Grants Officer), Kurt (SCRC Trails Activation Officer), Eugene (Ranger), Kathy (NSPR Grants Officer) and the local trail building businesses who submitted quotes to us with short notice.
Once again we would like to thank all those who have sent in letters of support – they are extremely useful for demonstrating the support this project has. We still need letters for the state grant so please continue sending them in.
This grant provides for up to $30,000 to contribute at least 25% towards the cost of developing a community facility such as installing lighting for a sport field or building/renovating an amenities block. In our case it will go towards building the 3.5km beginners loop and fulfil the 20% co-contribution requirement of the National Parks, Sport and Racing “Get Going Clubs – Places and Spaces” grant of up to $100,000. The two grants are designed to compliment each other in this manner – the combination of a community organisation, local council and state government typically results in a successful outcome for the local community and worthwhile expenditure of public funding.
We will continue to work on the grant applications for the state government grants – of which there are two, “Get Going Clubs” and the aforementioned “Get Going Clubs – Places and Spaces”. We hope to meet with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services (QPWS) to renew our agreement for developing and maintaining the trail network in Parklands in the coming weeks.
Also I would like to encourage everyone who can offer professional services and/or materials towards this project to let us know what it is that you can contribute and the estimated dollar value of the contribution. The council grant is not guaranteed and we need to ensure that we can meet our 25% in-kind contribution for the state government grant. These contributions can be in the form of discounts. Examples of contributions:
Services:
- Carpentry – helping build park structures and furniture
- Plumbing – roofing and guttering and should we obtain a water tank, we’ll need a hand installing it
- Landscaping – a professional landscaper can bring great ideas for plants and gardens around the skills area and help with the work
- Concreting – if everything goes to plan we may need someone who can provide a concrete slab for the shelter and maybe the water tank
- Signage – designing/printing, installing posts/bollards, auditing existing signage
Materials:
- Timber
- Concrete
- Bricks
- Road base/aggregate
- Roofing/guttering
- Fasteners/bolts/nuts/screws and other hardware
We’ll be working closely with QPWS to ensure that the workmanship and materials meet their requirements.
Also don’t forget that the work doesn’t end when everything is built. We will need on-going support to maintain these developments – we’re not going to leave the rangers to look after it all. Once we get these grant applications finished we will get the trail care alerts and roster up and running. We’re working on a number of initiatives to ensure ongoing maintenance is made as easy as possible.
