Farrer MP Sussan Ley has congratulated three local businesses who will each receive funding from the federal government’s Energy Efficient Communities Program.

According to Ms Ley small businesses have been hit hard by COVID-19 and any assistance from government is a welcome boost to help cut costs by reducing demand on power or resources.

“I was particularly impressed with the application from ‘Merridong Farms’ in the southern Riverina, a family-run farming operation with properties lying to the south of Coleambally.

“Rotating crops of rice, cotton, barley, wheat, and canola, the Burnett family will use a $20,000 grant to help automate and control their irrigation infrastructure through real-time monitoring. They also have plans to step up the management of yields using drones with high tech cameras.

“Another successful Farrer operation to win funding includes the management of Tocumwal’s Golf Resort & Early Settlers Motel who receive $20,000 to upgrade fridges and install new led lighting.

“And Corowa Golf Club will receive $15,810 to undertake a full energy audit of its entire course-wide operation in order to help improve their future balance sheet,” Ms Ley said.

The Energy Efficient Communities Program is aimed directly at smaller businesses and community organisations to help reduce energy consumption.

The grants can also be used for energy and emissions assessments, monitoring and management, or small community energy generation and storage projects.

The latest grant recipients were announced as part of the Government’s $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package to deliver on Australia’s 2030 climate commitments.

The full list of successful applicants is available at business.gov.au