KU-RING-GAI Council has been awarded nearly $250,000 in funding for environmental projects, local heritage, community arts and events.

More than $243,000 will be awarded in the 2023-2024 financial year for a range of environmental projects, conservation of heritage properties, community events and the arts.

This year 14 submissions for events and arts sponsorships were received and approved for funding.  Events include the Wahroonga Food & Wine Festival, the Special Olympics Ku-ring-gai Fun Run, the Bare Creek Trail Run, Dogs in the Park and the Ku-ring-gai Art Society annual art exhibition. Organisations receiving funding this year include the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra and Marian Street Theatre for Young People.

Examples of projects funded through the heritage home grants include tuckpointing of brick facades in Pymble and Roseville; timber cladding repair in St Ives; roof repairs and tiling in Pymble and Lindfield; restoration of distinctive curved windows at a Killara home and repairs to a decorative ceiling in a Gordon property.

Just over $100,000 in funding was awarded to various community environmental and Net Zero projects through the Council’s Environmental Levy Grants. It is the 25th round of funding through Ku-ring-gai’s environmental levy for projects designed to protect and restore the natural environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Projects funded this year include plants for a bush tucker garden at Lindfield Public School; bushland restoration at Auluba Oval in Turramurra, waste and recycling initiatives at various schools and a series of events to drive solar uptake in Ku-ring-gai.

Mayor Jeff Pettett said the Council would continue funding for projects and events that ‘can demonstrate a real benefit to our community’.