Various heritage property owners in the Hawkesbury will share $54,829 in grants from the Local Heritage Assistance Program administered by Hawkesbury City Council.
Council has approved financial assistance to 30 successful applicants for heritage properties in Windsor, Central Macdonald, Pitt Town, Wilberforce, Richmond, McGraths Hill, Kurrajong, and St Albans.
The 2023/2024 Hawkesbury Local Heritage Assistance Program is funded primarily by Hawkesbury City Council, and also NSW Environment and Heritage. A requirement of the funding is that property owners match or exceed the funding. The funding available for any one property was set at $2,000 or less.
Thanks to this funding, the well-known heritage listed St Matthews Anglican Church at Windsor, will benefit from $2000 towards repairs to stone wall fencing fronting St Matthews Anglican Church Graveyard, with support also expected from the NSW Government towards this significant project.
The Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Sarah McMahon congratulated the owners and managers of local heritage properties who are aiming to protect and conserve the Hawkesbury's local heritage.
"The program aims to promote positive attitudes towards heritage and to encourage and assist the conservation and restoration of the Hawkesbury's significant heritage," Mayor McMahon said.
"Our Hawkesbury Community Strategic Plan 2022-2042 recognises the importance of conservation and promotion of the Hawkesbury's heritage and history for current and future generations."
"I encourage owners and managers of local heritage properties to consider applying for this increasingly popular program when next year's funding round opens in mid-2024."
For the 2023/2024 Financial Year, the $54,829 program budget is funded by $49,329 from Council and $5,500 from NSW Environment and Heritage. The current grant program will see approximately $430,000 worth of maintenance and conservation works to heritage properties. With ever increasing popularity and interest in the program, and increased funding from Council, a record number of applicants were approved by Council.
In August 2023 applications were invited from owners or managers of heritage listed properties for Minor Maintenance or Conservation Works to heritage listed properties within the Hawkesbury Local Government Area.
Council's free Heritage Advisory Service provides owners of heritage listed properties free and essential advice from an experienced heritage architect, whether it is pre-development application advice, general advice or advice on appropriate maintenance of heritage items.
