There's something a little Game of Thrones-like about the NSW government's latest grant program.
It pits project against project, neighbour against neighbour, to see who emerges as the grant winner.
It's a popularity contest, or perhaps a contest of who has the most liked Facebook page or the biggest email address book.
Minister for finance and small business, Damien Tudehope, described My Community Project as an "innovative program that puts decision-making in the hands of community members".
Would-be voters are encouraged to go to the website https://mycommunityproject.service.nsw.gov.au/ and click on their electorate to see which projects are in the running.
Then it's a case of selecting a shortlist and putting them in order. The first preference will get 10 points, second 5, third 3, fourth 2 and fifth favourite will pick up one point.
The winner is obviously the project with the most points.
People can only vote once and only in their own electorate. Voters need a MyServiceNSW Account and a Medicare card to shortlist projects. Voting can also be done in person at a ServiceNSW centre.
Mr Tudehope said: "We asked people to think about what their community needs, develop those ideas with a sponsor and then tell us how funding could turn that concept into reality.
"People have put a lot of work into their applications, so I'd encourage everyone to have their say and pick their preferences from the list of projects in their area."
Mr Tudehope said more than 1,500 project ideas had been submitted across 93 electorates.
Projects across the Mountains include new playgrounds, upgraded parks, new lighting systems, a sports scoreboard, new bubblers, ozone pool treatment, mowing equipment, weaving workshops and outdoor sculptures and exercise equipment.
Amounts sought range from $20,000 to $200,000.
Grants of up to $200,000 are available in each electorate. Voting closes on August 15 with successful projects to be announced from September 2019.
Details of the 29 Mountains projects are below.
- Natural and Healthy Swimming $150,000. Improving community health, safety and swimming enjoyment at Springwood pool by upgrading to a contemporary, eco- friendly Ozone filtration system.
- Woodford Reserve Interpretation Path $41,790. A new path in Woodford Reserve linking Vale Rd to the existing footpath, to improve access to new interpretive signage.
- Nature Play Playground at Gordon Falls Reserve $190,000. Wild/nature themed improvements to the playground at Gordon Falls - accessible flying fox and swing, slide, climbing opportunities and Bunyip walk.
- Nature Play Space $53,610. A natural play space that offers the community a space promoting considered risk taking and physical challenges boosting active lifestyles. Sponsored by Katoomba Leura Preschool.
- Valley View Exercise Area $34,500. An outdoor exercise equipment area located in an amazingly beautiful part of the Blue Mountains, the Mountains Christian College.
- Aboriginal Women's Weaving Circle $29,440. 12 workshops for local Aboriginal women & girls to learn traditional weaving skills using natural materials partly collected & prepared by them.
- Lighting up Katoomba Tennis Club Courts $75,000. Providing greater access to tennis for Blue Mountains residents through the installation of low-energy LED lighting at Katoomba Tennis Club.
- Springs for Springwood: Places to gather and refresh $43,378. This project will provide new water filling stations and park benches, making our town a better place to be.
- BMCC Mower at croquet club $35,000. Ride-on reel lawn mower to enable the croquet club to maintain the three existing croquet lawns at Peter Carroll Field.
- Mountain Smashers. Gaming Tournament for the Blue Mountains $30,000. A regular Super Smash Bros Ultimate tournament for gamers of all ages, genders and skill-levels.
- DARE to be safe $40,400. A new generator at DARE Springwood will ensure the safety of people with a disability in the event of a bushfire or natural disaster.
- Accessible toilet and shower in the heart of Springwood $54,969. We seek to provide an accessible toilet/shower for people with disabilities, the homeless, the public, in the heart of Springwood.
- St Alban's Public Vehicle and Mobility Access Redevelopment $140,000. Improve public access and safety, alleviate traffic congestion on Megalong Street and improve visual impact on Leura Village.
- Building the Moon: Children as Architects for Play $37,646. 'Building the Moon' is a week-long play-program, inviting children from 12 months-12 years to become architects of their own play scapes using a series of 30+ playable lightweight, robust sculptural elements - all based on the phases of the moon.
- Winmalee Flexible Transport Options $35,000. A dedicated vehicle will offer a transport option for socially isolated/vulnerable/frail community members & provide opportunity to fully participate in life.
- Playground upgrade at Lawson Public School $21,982. To upgrade the playground to encourage children's imagination and maintain all children's physical and mental health within the outside environment.
- If You Build It, They Will Run! $140,000. Regeneration of Wentworth Falls Public School field from cow paddock to safe, environmentally sensitive, outdoor play and activities venue.
- Community Catering Trailer - Katoomba Rotary $25,000. A state-of-the-art trailer for better food, safer handling and more options for catering at community events.
- Invigorate Blaxland High School Performance Arts Centre $200,000. BHS PAC revitalisation: new lights/tiered chairs/projection system/signs/storage/Fly System for Truss; upgrade sound system/dressing rooms/back stage breakout/practice rooms; enclose technical bay.
- Megalong Valley Pony Club - Cross Country Course $20,090. Megalong Valley Pony Club (MVPC) is proposing to build a cross country course around the inside perimeter of the grounds.
- Farm It Forward $150,849. Farm It Forward is a regenerative food growing project aiming to grow local food and foster community connections.
- Tom Hunter Park - Scoreboard and information screen $28,900. Purchase and install state-of-the-art outdoor screen to allow information, scores and results to be displayed.
- Moving the Mountains $26,904. Supporting our Blue Mountains community to get active by giving them opportunities to discover new activities and social connections.
- Blue Mountains Festival of Children's Literature $35,000. An affordable, fun and stimulating day of literature-based activities with renowned, kid-approved authors and illustrators, here in the Blue Mountains.
- Upgrading access to a community facility - St Hilda's carpark $52,000. Sealing the carpark so activities and events can be accessible to everyone equally.
- Froma Lane Street Art Gallery $45,000. This project will beautify a laneway thoroughfare in Katoomba by featuring the work of local, contemporary female street artists.
- Mount Victoria - Village on the Edge and Gateway to the West $30,000. Provide metal sculptures and playground equipment, in keeping with our history, to the Memorial park in Mount Victoria.
- Local free multi-purpose sports court $51,744. Revitalise a 40-year-old asphalt sports court; New fencing Basketball Soccer Tennis nets; Primary School children and local community.
- New Playground Facilities at Springwood Country Club $137,500. A brand new playground for the whole community to enjoy.