The Waubra community today celebrated the opening of a new playground made possible by a passionate group of local Mums determined to give their children a safe and fun outdoor experience.
More than 100 school and kindergarten students were the first to try out the playground which features modern climbing structures, swings and slides designed for toddlers to pre-teens, as well as new safety fencing and a double electric BBQ with picnic table and drinking fountain.
The Western Renewables Link (WRL) project partnered with local groups to identify, plan and deliver the community-led project through its Benefit Sharing Program, which aims to deliver a positive legacy for impacted communities. WRL provided $200,000 in funding which complemented $100,000 from the Victorian Government’s Tiny Towns Fund and the Waubra Wind Farm Community Fund, and over $30,000 raised by the local Waubra community through sheep drives, bingo and trivia nights and local donations.
The playground highlights how the WRL Benefit Sharing Program is collaborating with communities to bring local ideas to life.
WRL Project Executive Michael Learmonth congratulated the local Mums for their drive and determination to deliver the new playground for their community.
“The playground was funded as a direct result of strong feedback from the community, highlighting the importance of delivering early benefits on the WRL project and responding to what matters locally,” Mr Learmonth said.
“This was a grassroots community project backed by many local groups including Waubra Kindergarten, Waubra Primary School, Waubra CWA, Football and Netball Club, Mount Bolton Lions Club, Waubra Community Hub and the Mother’s Group and we’re proud to get behind it.
“We encourage other groups in the area who have an idea that will benefit their local community to consider applying for a WRL grant.”
Three local Waubra Mums, Lucy, Molly and Brianna, started the new playground project idea over two years ago with the simple goal to create a play space where local children, families and visitors could come together, play, connect and enjoy community year-round.
Lucy commented, “What started as a small idea, backed by a lot of maternal determination, has grown into something far bigger than we ever imagined. Seeing our vision come together is incredibly rewarding. We hope this playground is a testament to what can be achieved when the community comes together with a shared purpose and we hope it will be enjoyed by our children, and generations of children and families to come.
“We thank WRL for their generous contribution which allowed us to take the project beyond a basic playground upgrade and create something much more modern, engaging and unique for our community, with a range of additional features that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.”
Located at the Waubra Recreation Reserve, close to the Sunraysia Highway, it will encourage visitor spend by providing a rest stop for travelling families.
The official launch also featured a pop-up stand hosted by WRL, sharing information about the Local Grants Fund which is currently available to groups along the proposed WRL route.
As part of WRL’s commitment to early investment, the Local Grants Fund will invest $4 million in locally-led projects that strengthen communities and deliver meaningful benefits during the project’s development phase. The Local Grants Fund will support projects across the seven Local Government Areas along the proposed WRL route. The deadline for applications for the Local Grants Fund is 30 June 2026. More information is available at https://www.westernrenewableslink.com.au/community/benefit-sharing-program/local-grants-fund/
About the WRL Local Grants Fund
The $4 million Local Grants Fund is part of the WRL Benefit Sharing Program, which includes a multi-million dollar community investment designed to directly respond to the challenges of those living in the areas most affected by the proposed transmission line.
Applications are open for grants ranging up to $50,000 for smaller initiatives through to $300,000 for larger legacy initiatives supporting ideas that address local priorities and strengthen communities. Applying for or receiving a grant does not indicate support for WRL and doesn’t affect anyone’s right to oppose the project.
The Local Grants Fund is open to groups based in the Local Government Areas of Ballarat, Hepburn, Melton, Moorabool, Pyrenees, Northern Grampians and Ararat. The fund will support locally-led initiatives across five priority areas: community infrastructure, environment and conservation, new energy initiatives, community connection and participation, and emergency services capability and resilience.
About the Western Renewables Link
The Western Renewables Link is a proposed 190-kilometre 500 kV overhead high-voltage electricity transmission line that will carry renewable energy from near Bulgana in western Victoria to Sydenham in Melbourne’s north-west. The project is critical infrastructure required to unlock the renewable energy potential of western Victoria and will deliver clean energy to all Victorians. AusNet is contracted by VicGrid to develop and deliver the electricity transmission project, which will connect wind and solar energy generators in Western Victoria to the grid, powering more than one million homes across the state. www.westernrenewableslink.com.au.