Monday 20 August, 2012
Tamworth Regional Council Heritage Advisor, Clare James, today launched the Heritage Assistance Fund for 2012/2013 which aims to help owners of historically significant properties to carry out improvements to their buildings.
Tamworth Regional Council and the NSW Heritage Office created a local fund of $42,000 which provides dollar-for-dollar grants to individual owners who want to improve the physical appearance of their buildings.
Ms James said last year was a successful one for the program with funds allocated for a range of restoration work to residences, commercial and community buildings across the region.
`The 2011/2012 program included the completion of twelve projects with a total project cost of $94,051,' she said. 'Applications are now being invited for funding under the 2012/2013 Heritage Funds.
'Works eligible for funding may include the external painting of a building or the repair or replacement of certain features of an item - such as a new verandah, roof or fence' and must be completed by May 17 next year.'
Funding priority will be given to buildings which are listed as a heritage item in the Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan (TRLEP) 2010.
In 2011/2012, Council's Heritage Assistance Fund contributed toward a range of projects including the painting of the former Retreat Theatre in Tamworth, the painting of a series of shop facades in Manilla's Central Business District, and repairs to the Woolshed Complex and Retreat Store at Longford Station, Bendemeer.
Maintenance works were also completed at a number of the Barraba Showground pavillions, Barraba Combined Pensions and Senior Citizens building, two prominent shop facades in the Central Business District of Barraba, and a structural assessment of the Old Church Boutique in Nundle. Other completed projects included maintenance to six private homes in Tamworth.
Applications will be received until Friday 7 September 2012 and application forms and guidelines about the program are available from the Council offices at Tamworth, Manilla, Barraba and Nundle.