Grants Awarded To Community Projects

Media Release

Twelve Golden Plains community events and projects will be delivered across the Shire, thanks to Council’s Community Strengthening Grants Program.

In the first round of this year’s grants program, Council awarded a combined $44,531 to the successful groups for twelve projects across four categories: Healthy Active Living; Creative Community; Environment and Sustainability; and Community Safety.

The successful groups were announced to the community at the Council Meeting on Tuesday 29 June, and the recipients were invited to tune into the livestream to hear Councillors read out a statement on each of the successful projects.

In this round, grants were allocated to 11 local organisations, ranging from the newly-established Bannockburn Inclusive social group for elderly residents and those with a disability, to the Inverleigh Primary School Gardening Group. The supported projects include establishing a neighbourhood community safety plan, upgrading community facilities, and supporting local events. Council’s contribution of $44,531 for this year’s first round of grants will deliver $99,062 in total value (across the 12 projects), a return of $2.22 for every $1 invested.

Mayor Cr Helena Kirby welcomed the great applications and congratulated the successful community groups.

“Council is thrilled that 12 community projects will share in $44,531 of funding from Round One of this year’s Community Strengthening Grants Program.

“In this round, Council received some terrific applications, from community groups right across the Shire, from Linton to Lethbridge. I congratulate local groups and organisations that were successful in securing a grant from Council, and we’re so pleased to be able to support their worthwhile projects.

“Our Community Strengthening Grants have been a valuable source of financial support for local events, projects and programs in our Golden Plains Shire communities for 26 years. In 2020, Council awarded $146,212 to 33 Golden Plains community groups over two rounds, and we are looking forward to assisting more community groups when applications for this year’s second round open in September.

“Council will hold several information sessions over the next two months to help community groups get started in preparing their applications, and ensure we are able to support another contingent of exciting community projects.”

Applications for Round Two of this year’s Community Strengthening Grants Program will open on 1 September, 2021, and Council will run drop in information sessions in July and August to assist community groups get ready to apply. There will be six sessions across Golden Plains Shire from 5 to 6pm on:

  • Thursday 15 July – Rokewood Memorial Hall, Rokewood
  • Tuesday 27 July – The Well, Smythesdale
  • Thursday 29 July – Inverleigh Public Hall, Inverleigh
  • Tuesday 3 August – Haddon Community Learning Centre, Haddon
  • Tuesday 10 August – Bannockburn Cultural Centre, Bannockburn

Community group members that cannot make these sessions can contact Council’s Community Partnerships Officer at 5220 7220 or [email protected].

The recipients of the first round of Council’s Community Strengthening Grants 2021 are:

Community Group

Project Name

Grant Category

Grant Amount

Inverleigh Progress Association

Open Space Mower Replacement

Environment and Sustainability

$10,000

Inverleigh Primary School Gardening Group

Raised Beds for Edible Garden Project

Environment and Sustainability

$1,600

Linton and District Progress Association

Linton Community Safety Plan Connecting Community and Leaders

Community Safety

$6,000

Smythesdale Progress Association

Shower Ventilation Project

Community Safety

$800

Smythesdale Community Planning Group

Music at the Market

Creative Communities

$2,300

Smythesdale Arts & Music Community Fiesta

Event Support for the Smythesdale Arts and Music Community Fiesta

Creative Communities

$5,795

Meredith History Interest Group

Connecting the Past while looking to the Future

Creative Communities

$3,800

Inverleigh Cemetery Trust

Seating for Rest and Reflection

Healthy and Active Living

$2,930

Golden Plains Trail Riders

Safety Items

Healthy and Active Living

$640

Bannockburn Inclusive

Bus and Ferry trip to Sorrento for people with disabilities and the elderly

Healthy and Active Living

$1,600

Lethbridge Public Hall

Replacement of Ovens

Healthy and Active Living

$2,042

Linton and District Progress Association

Community Seating and Gardening Group Equipment

Healthy and Active Living

$7,024

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