Council
2 August, 2024
Funds flow for 100 community groups, projects
ONE hundred community and individual projects will share in over $220,000 from Corangamite Shire Council’s 2024-2025 grants programs.
Funding from the Community Grants, Enabling Grants, Facility Grants, Environment Support Grants and Events and Festivals Grants programs was allocated at the July council meeting last week.
Mayor Kate Makin said allocating funding through the grants programs was an annual highlight for council.
“It is one of the most valuable ways we can support our communities,” she said.
“It’s fabulous that so many people are proactive and volunteer their time to make our communities great places to live.
“I look forward to seeing lots of these projects roll out over the next year.”
The Community Grants Program offers up to $2000 towards community activities and events including workshops and equipment purchases, planning activities, and the development of new community, leisure, cultural or recreational programs.
Thirty-six successful applicants received a combined $58,346, including 15 from the Camperdown district:
Courthouse Camperdown received $2000 for ambassador tourism training;
Lions Club of Camperdown was awarded $1000 for the skin cancer screening van visit;
Corangamite Film Society received a grant of $2000 for the 2024 Corangamite Film Festival;
Lismore Progress Association was awarded $1738 for the purchase of a laptop computer and software;
Camperdown and District Community House received $2000 for their garden therapy program;
Camperdown Botanical Gardens and Arboretum Trust was awarded a grant of $2000 for the purchase of shrubs and other plants;
Rotary Club of Camperdown received $1578 for the purchase of a small hot water service;
Camperdown Horse Trials was granted $2000 for the introduction of a new level 65 competition;
Camperdown Uniting Church received $1200 for the annual Christmas Community Meal;
Camperdown and District Historical Society was awarded $1293 for the purchase of digital copying and recording equipment;
Camperdown Theatre Company received $2000 for the purchase of portable sound production equipment;
Skipton Football Netball Club Incorporated was awarded $2000 to go towards the community celebration of their 150th year;
Camperdown Returned and Services League sub-branch received $1197 for purchase of a laptop and external hard drive;
Camperdown Little Athletics received a grant of $1823 for purchase of a laptop computer; and
Camperdown Badminton Association was awarded $1266 for purchase of sports equipment and first aid supplies.
The Facility Grants Program offers up to $2000 (on a dollar-for-dollar basis) to committees and clubs or organisations whose primary function in the shire is to help with facility improvements or equipment.
Twenty-nine successful applications received a combined $45,300.40, including:
Lake Bookaar Recreation Reserve Committee of Management, who received $2000 for improvement works for the driveway into camping area at the Bookaar reserve;
Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail Committee of Management, who received $2000 for replacement of rear door and windows;
Skipton Recreation Reserve Committee of Management, who were awarded $1598.39 for installation of carpet in their clubrooms;
Camperdown Pastoral and Agricultural Society, who were granted $1226.43 for toilet facilities upgrades;
Skipton Progress Association, who received $1063.96 for pet waste bag dispensers; and
Camperdown Golf Club, who were granted $2000 for upgrades to the club’s IT system.
The South Purrumbete Recreation Reserve Committee of Management was awarded two grants – receiving $2000 to assist in reinstating community sport and installing a new cricket pitch and $2000 for works on the community toilet facilities.
The Enabling Grants Program offers up to $5000 to assist community groups to develop “shovel-ready projects”.
These grants can pay for business case preparation, scoping, community consultation, plans and drawings, permits and approvals or engagement of professional grant-writing or other assistance to secure project funding.
Four successful applicants received a combined $20,000.
The South Purrumbete Recreation Reserve Committee of Management was among the recipients, receiving $5000 for the development of a strategic plan and community vision.
The Environment Support Grants Program offers up to $3000 (on a dollar-for-dollar basis) for environment and sustainability projects, including installation of energy and water saving items at community facilities.
Eighteen applications received a combined $47,356.20, including:
Looton Dairy, who received $3000 for the planting of native shelterbelts - Westline Dairy made a similar application to Looton;
Western Plains Mobile Preschool, who were awarded $3000 for a kindergarten vegetable garden; and
Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail Committee of Management, who were awarded $2913.70 for weed control on the rail trail.
The Lismore Land Protection Group received three grants - $3000 for installing exclusion fencing for a private wetland, $1333 for the Titanga Night Stalk community education program, and $2000 towards ‘Setting up your carbon accounting’ workshops.
The Events and Festivals Grants program includes two streams: local and signature events and festivals.
Local events and festivals are smaller scale events with available funding of up to $3000.
Signature events and festivals are larger scale events with available funding of up to $7000 of both grant and in-kind.
Sixteen successful applicants received a combined $43,600 funding and $6500 in-kind support, including:
Camperdown Pastoral and Agricultural Society, who received $3000 of in-kind support towards the Camperdown Show;
Camperdown Community House, who were awarded $3000 for Spring into Summer Festival;
Robert Burns Celtic Festival Committee, who received $3500 of in-kind support for the Robert Burns Celtic Festival;
Skipton Progress Association, who were awarded $3000 for the Skipton Annual Spring Festival;
Camperdown Horse Trials, who received $3000 for the Lakes and Craters International Horse Trials; and
Derrinallum Yacht and Power Boat Club, who received $1500 for the Derrinallum Yacht and Power Boat Club Classic Regatta.