Council
7 May, 2026
Cash in waiting for community groups
COMMUNITY groups across the shire shared in $8000 of funding through the Ready Now Grants program, with 17 applications received between October last year and March this year.
Of the 17 applications listed in a report presented to Corangamite Shire Council at last week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council, only one was located in the Lake Keilambete Ward which encompasses Terang and surrounds.
The Ready Now Grants program provides small allocations of funds up to $500 for projects and activities supporting community inclusion and participation as well as providing equipment, facilities and public spaces which are appropriate for community use.
Grants are open to volunteer-based, incorporated community groups operating within the Corangamite Shire Council local government area.
Funding recipients under the program included the Terang Men’s Shed, which received $500 in March for the purchase of a new laptop.
The Ready Now Grant program has an annual budget allocation of $20,000, with the remaining $5100 anticipated to be granted during the remaining quarter with additional promotion of the availability of the grant to be undertaken.
Councillor Nick Cole said the money was waiting to be used and encouraged any groups in need of funding to submit an application.
“You’ve got two months to get it in and get it out the door,” he said.
“We want it spent throughout the shire – locally, if possible – to do those little jobs that need doing.
“There’s money sitting there to do those little jobs someone thinks will be a good idea to have done on the club rooms and such.
“It’s there to be used – we want it done so the community can benefit and keep ticking along.”
Councillor Ruth Gstrein seconded the motion to note the report, saying the list of community organisations who applied for funding was “quite amazing”.
“$500 doesn’t seem like a lot these days, but it’s a lot of sausages that you have to sizzle for a community group,” she said.
“It’s a rolling program, so you just jump on council’s website.
“It’s quite easy.”
Any community groups interested in learning more about opportunities to secure funding through the Ready Now Grants program can do so on the Corangamite Shire Council website at https://www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/Community/Grants-and-funding/ReadyNowGrants.