This morning, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot Macdonald announced Port Stephen's Council will receive $24,000 for the region's heritage work.
With this funding, residents will be able to apply for small grants to help preserve and maintain local heritage works for the future.
Scot MacDonald says the funding isn't just for particular heritage projects.
"So it will go towards their advisory services, their record keeping and just assisting the community so it's not targeted at a particular heritage asset. this is more for their back office and to support all the heritage work that they do as a Council."
"Our local heritage speaks to our history, so it's important to protect, promote and celebrate it".
The funding has been welcomed by the General Manager of Port Stephens Council, Wayne Wallis, who says without funding, heritage work in the region cannot be done.
"Maintaining heritage items can be costly and as it's been said there's always the pressure to pull down and build something new. It is expensive to maintain these heritage items and the historical significance of that so providing some funding that the residents can use to maintain or restore their own properties it certainly helps to keep those heritage items on the forefront," Wallis said.
The announcement also marks the start of this year's Australian Heritage festival, which runs until the 21st of May.
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| Scot Macdonald and Wayne Wallis this morning at the funding announcement |
