Grants help community groups bring public spaces to life

A new mural in the city centre, a series of beachside events on the Grasstree foreshore and family-friendly activities in the Northern Beaches have all received funding to invigorate public spaces and bring the community together.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the AMP! Grant aimed to transform public spaces and bring communities together.

“AMP! is more than just a grants program; it's about turning public spaces into captivating hubs,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Creating strong, vibrant places that bring our community together helps to ignite pride in our region, drive economic development and enrich the lives of everyone around us,” he said.

Mayor Williamson congratulated the three successful applicants.

“These three activations are spread across our region and will be exciting events for all community members to look forward to,” Mayor Williamson said.

“I thank all of the applicants for their efforts to help bring our communities together and I encourage everyone to attend the events when they are up and running,” he said.

The AMP! Grants provide a total of $30,000 in funding to activities that use a collaborative approach to strengthen the connection between the people and places they are activating.

The Mackay City Heart Collective’s “Bee Mindful Mural Project” has received $12,170 to create a mural that will connect Wood Street Park with 7^th Lane.

The bee themed mural will commemorate ‘World Bee Day’ in May 2024, with the park a well-known pollination ground for bees.

The Grasstree Beach Progress Association has received $7000 to host Grasstree Grooves.

Grasstree Grooves will be a series of three events on the foreshore of Grasstree Beach which will feature dining, entertainment and a ‘blackboard’ that will provide a platform for community members to showcase their talent.

The Northern Beaches Community Activation will receive $10,829 to deliver a nine-day event that will showcase the diverse local businesses, services and activities available in the rapidly growing Northern Beaches area.

Activities proposed include fitness sessions, children’s activities and a pop-up library, that will then go on to be a community-run initiative.

For more information on the AMP! grants, visit the Discover Mackay website.