In the croplands of the Eyre Peninsula, weather reports flag more than a top-notch day for getting work done. They also herald conditions for tools down – when elevated wind speed, low relative humidity and an errant spark from a farm vehicle conspire to deliver a devastating fire event.

Having accurate, hyper-local weather information is crucial for many reasons. One of which is that while the industry’s Grain Harvesting Code of Practice is voluntary, recent changes to the Fire and Emergency Services Act mean land owners must ‘take reasonable steps’ to prevent fires. Not doing so incurs significant financial penalties.

The Mangalo War Memorial Community Centre is one of twenty-six recipients of SA Power Networks’ inaugural South Australian Community Grants Program. It has enabled them to install a weather station to service the district, which spans over 500 square kilometres north of Cleve.

Cindy Hannemann applied for Mangalo’s grant and says the community’s weather readings, risk calculations and issuing of harvest bans are undertaken by a volunteer committee.

“The challenge we’ve had is that some of these volunteers farm in multiple areas, not just Mangalo,” says Hannemann.

“By having this weather station at Mangalo, it gives us a reading that is accurate for the area, no matter where the committee are working.”

While Cleve is only 25 kilometres away, relying on their data does not give an accurate picture of Mangalo’s conditions.

She says they have been “pretty lucky to have the harvest ban committee” with only “a couple of fires in the last few years”.

“By making sure that we’re reaping on [non] fire danger days, means that we can usually control it before it becomes a big issue,” she explains.

“You know, it’s a small burnt out patch rather than multiple properties.”

The weather station will also enable the community to monitor rainfall and weather for making crop spraying decisions.

In Adelaide, the Zimbabwe Community of South Australia (ZICOSA) is another of recipient of a community grant from SA Power Networks.

Their group is dedicated to bringing together and engaging with the Zimbabwean community, as well as encouraging multiculturalism in South Australia. Their grant was for a purpose-built barbeque trailer.

ZICOSA’s Kennedy Mavunganidze says the almost-completed barbeque trailer is likely to host up to 600 people at a time, but will also serve a dual purpose.

“Culturally, we tend to come together as families as a way of either catching up [and] supporting each other.

“So, it’s ideal in that we don’t have to find where can we cook, who can supply the barbecue.

“This trailer has got a gas barbecue and a charcoal barbecue. It is also going to have green power from solar panels, and also a battery bank and inverter.

Mavunganidze says ZICOSA is trying to educate its community to “think green”.

“We want our members and the general community to see that you can also use solar power outside of the house… [Here] they will see a barbeque with the lights and PA system running from solar.”

SA Power Networks Executive GM Customer and Community, Jess Vonthethoff was excited to announce the successful projects.

“The grants have been created to assist communities to empower themselves and make a tangible difference in their local area,” says Vonthethoff.

“We were amazed and heartened by the diversity of applicants and ideas and it was a tough job sorting through them all to come up with our award recipients.

“There are so many groups doing important and wonderful things in their communities and we are pleased that we can provide seeding capital to help them take their next step.”

From over 120 applications, SA Power Networks delivered twenty-six grants across the State, including to places such as Hawker in the Flinders Ranges, Murray Bridge, the APY Lands and Kangaroo Island, as well as in Adelaide.

Applications were sought for projects responding to four focus areas: keeping the community safe; supporting SA Power Networks customers and community; supporting a sustainable SA; and supporting innovation for future growth.

The list of grant recipients includes Adelaide and Hills Koala Rescue, Findon High School, Jigsaw Adelaide, Murray Bridge Community Centre, Murray Mallee General Practice Network, Sturt Football Club and SIDS and Kids SA.