NT Government’s major Community Benefit Fund is open for round two applicants

A Top End equestrian has urged Territorians to apply for the NT government’s second round of major funding. Here’s how he will spend his own grant.

Organisations can now apply for up to $250,000 to improve their facilities and stage events in the second round of Community Benefit Funds from the NT government.

Recipients from the first round of applications were announced in October, including Fannie Bay Equestrian Club.

President Jurgen Dous said the club’s $75,000 grant would be used to build a six-bay stable.

Fannie Bay Equestrian Club president Jurgen Dous said the club would build six new stable bays with the major grant. Mr Dous is pictured here with his horse Belle. Picture: Che Chorley

Mr Dous said the grant was “absolutely vital”.

“We are a very old club, we’ve been here since 1969,” he said.

“Much of the infrastructure was built before that, and destroyed in Cyclone Tracy, and then rebuilt with the debris from the cyclone.”

Mr Dous said the club did not charge “huge membership fees” and relied on the NT government’s generosity.

He urged any eligible organisations to apply for the second round of funding.

The club currently has two blocks of eight stable bays, as well as another old block of seven.

Fannie Bay Equestrian Club president Jurgen Dous introduced Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison to his horse Belle. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Other highlights from the first round recipients include plans to refurbish the Gove Library’s toy room and purchase green-energy lighting towers for use at the Mindil Beach markets.

Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said the Community Benefit Fund grants put much-needed funding into the hands of Territory organisations.

“The grants also enable these groups to build on the important work they do to make our communities better places,” she said.

“There are hundreds of groups across the NT which depend on access to funding from sources such as the CBF, and that’s why our government is proud to support these organisations that promote social connections and community wellbeing.”

Applications close on February 28, and successful organisations could benefit from a funding pool worth $4.9m.

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