Sport
2 December, 2025
RM Equestrian Centre receives grant
Hodgson Vale-based RM Equestrian Centre is one of 95 community projects across regional Queensland to be successful in Powerlink’s community grants program.
The centre will receive $3,500 towards improving its Dressage Arenas riding surfaces.
“Our goal is to upgrade and improve the standard of four dressage arenas riding surfaces to meet competition-level requirements, ensuring safer, higher-quality surfaces that support optimal performance and fairness in our Equestrian competitions,” RM Equestrian Centre said.
“This includes enhancing surface quality with high standard arena sand to provide a safer more consistent, high performance environment for horses and riders.
“These improvements aim to support fair competition, promote best practices in dressage, and elevate overall standards of our facilities.”
Powerlink is awarding almost $375,000 to 95 community projects, chosen from more than 180 applications from across 18 local government areas.
Community groups were eligible for up to $5,000 in funding, capped at $25,000 per local government area, with programs to be rolled out in 2026.
The search for quolls on the Downs
Also successful in the grants program was the Quoll Society of Australia, which is receiving $2,100 towards surveys of the Spotted-tailed Quoll in the Darling Downs.
“The project aims to empower communities in the Southern Downs and Toowoomba regions to take an active role in conserving the endangered spotted-tailed quoll,” the Quoll Society said.
“With ten new cameras, we will run community events that provide field training in wildlife monitoring.
“Participants will gain the skills and confidence to set cameras, identify habitats, and report sightings, with opportunities to continue monitoring under the Quoll Society umbrella beyond the lifespan of the project.
“This citizen science approach builds local capacity, fosters long-term community engagement and collects vital data to guide conservation actions such as revegetation and pest management.”
According to Toowoomba Koala and Wildlife Rescue, quolls have been sighted previously at Mount Rascal and Pilton.
