Green is the colour of community spirit

Clean, green projects feature high on the agenda for the Port of Townsville’s inaugural $50,000 Community Fund.

The first annual Community Fund recipients include a mix of 17 sports, arts, environmental and social projects. Environmentally-friendly projects were among the big winners which is in line with the Port of Townsville’s strategic vision for the next 30 years, Port Vision 2050.

Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare received $6,500 to build a new shade house at its recently relocated Bush Garden Nursery at Rowes Bay. Other eco-conscious projects supported by the Fund include an upgrade to NQ Football’s solar system, the replacement of Townsville Sailing Club’s ageing beach mats with 100% recycled 'Mobi Mats', and the refurbishment of 10 laptops for African refugees via LiteHaus International.

Ocean-related projects also featured proximately including support for the Volunteer Coast Guard, the Mission to Seafarers, the Museum of Underwater Art, Arcadia Surf Life Saving Club, and a Community Day as part of this year’s Magnetic Island Race Week.

Port of Townsville Chief Executive Officer Ranee Crosby said the Port was proud to back such a wide variety of projects from across Townsville and Magnetic Island in the Community Fund’s first year.

"These projects align with a range of our initiatives including with our plans to be carbon neutral by 2025 along with being zero waste and planting one million trees by 2050," she said.

"We are acutely aware that our Port is intrinsically linked to the lives of all people living across North Queensland. The projects supported by our Community Fund reflect the diverse nature of our vibrant community, while sharing the Port’s commitment to sustainability.

"We were blown away by the response to our call for applications and very proud to have been able to fund 17 of the 31 projects that requested financial backing. Our support for these groups ranges from $6,500 to assist Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare to $453 for bookshelves in the new community library being established by the Magnetic Island’s Men’s Shed.

"The common thread in all of the projects supported through the Community Fund is that their value within the community will far exceed their monetary value and the Port is extremely pleased to be contributing in a small way."

Minister for Resources and Member for Townsville Scott Stewart welcomed the Port of Townsville’s announcement.

"The Port of Townsville has been an integral part of the city for a long time so it’s great to see them giving back directly to the community through this fund," he said.

"It’s great to have so many different and diverse groups across the city benefit from these grants."

Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Committee Member Julia Hazel said funding would enable it to increase nursery operations, attract more volunteers and continue enabling native plantings across Townsville.

"The relocation of our Nursery is a wonderful opportunity to increase volunteer participation, maximise local provenance plantings across the region, share expert knowledge, increase partnerships and continue public education," said Ms Hazel.

"Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare is the only supplier of local provenance tube stock and the nursery’s expansion will allow us to enhance the supply chain of native plants to all customers, thereby improving the region’s environmental sustainability and contributing to the Port’s own goal of planting one million additional native plants by 2050."

The Community’s Fund’s will also see more than 4,000 junior football players benefit from the sponsorship of an upgraded solar system at 1300SMILES Active Park.

North Queensland Football Limited General Manager Declan Carnes said the system would maximise the Park’s solar capacity, reduce energy costs benefitting thousands of players across the region.

"The new solar panels will help us significantly reduce our power bills and pass the savings on to thousands of players across the region through reduced game fees. We hope that by making football more affordable, we will also make the game more accessible for would-be players across our region."

Recipients of the 2021 Port Community Fund

The Port of Townsville’s Community Fund was launched in February 2020 to support initiatives that align with the Port’s vision to improve sustainability in four key areas: Planet, Community, People and Prosperity.