Community projects share funding

Nineteen local groups will share in $55,120.50 funding to deliver community projects and events across East Gippsland Shire.

The groups were on Tuesday night granted funding under round one of Council’s 2018/19 Community Project Grants at the October meeting of Council.

Mayor Cr Joe Rettino said there is a community value-adding aspect of the program with all funding provided on a dollar-for-dollar matching requirement.

“This means that Council achieves more value for each dollar expended than would be the case for projects without these partnerships,” Cr Rettino said.

The total combined project investment for the 19 community projects is $281,025.

“The objective of the grants program is to provide local community-based organisations the opportunity to access funding for a variety of needs and initiatives in a manner that is open, transparent and accountable,” Cr Rettino said.

The 2018/2019 budget allocation for the Community Project Grants is $111,363. This year Round One received 36 applications and half of the budget has been awarded in this round, leaving $56,242.50 for round two.

A series of afternoon and evening council grants information sessions were held across the shire in June. Locations this round included: Lindenow Community Hall, Bairnsdale Library, Cann River Community Centre, Swifts Creek Community Centre, Benambra Neighbourhood House and Goongerah and Tubbut Neighbourhood House (via telephone).

“The workshops were conducted by council staff to assist community members with their project queries, to give examples of successful past recipients, advise on how to plan and write a project budget and to introduce program staff in the hope that the community will contact us with any further questions,” Cr Rettino said.

Successful community grants recipients are as follows.

Anglican Earth Care Gippsland - $2,440: Development and delivery of a bush learning pilot program in partnership with The Abbey, the newly formed Bush Learning Playgroup, parents and community representatives.

Bairnsdale Chamber of Commerce and Industry - $2,000: Bairnsdale Christmas Festival, including annual community market, festive celebrations and town decoration.

Buchan Recreation and Hall Committee - $1,242: Purchase new, easily movable tables for the recreation pavilion.

Cann River Community Centre - $5,000: Delivery of a series of personal and social participation programs for community members.

Gippsland Lakes Community Health - $2,500: 16 days of activism community event by several; local health and wellbeing organisations.

Great Alpine Gallery - $5,000: Upgrade the interior of the gallery to better showcase the work within it for the community.

Lakes Entrance Croquet Club - $1,795: Purchase of a travelling irrigator for three croquet courts.

Lindenow Cricket Club - $4,800: Restoration of cricket training nets and replacement of synthetic surfaces on the three practice nets.

Lucknow Football Netball Club - $3,000: Installation of an electronic scoreboard.

Mallacoota and District Historical Society - $5,000: Installation of an accessible toilet and hand basin unit at the ‘Bunker’.

Mallacoota Boardriders - $3,000: The Far Easter 2019 multi-day surf and art festival including multiple community groups and boardrider clubs from East Gippsland and New South Wales.

Metung Bowls Club - $2,500: Purchase of new bowls to attract new members.

Mount Nowa Nowa Hall Committee - $718.50: Mount Nowa Nowa Challenge Fun Run.

Paynesville Business and Tourism Association - $3,500: Paynesville Music Festival, with assistance from Paynesville Lions Club, Paynesville Sea Scouts and local businesses.

Paynesville RSL Sub-Branch - $3,800: Establish stage two of the RSL’s remembrance garden, with a focus on education about World War II soldiers and Australia’s military history.

Rotary Club of Orbost - $2,500: Orbost Christmas Eve Festival.

Swan Cove Yoga - $2,325: Subsidised pilot class of ‘chair yoga’ for aged residents in conjunction with Paynesville Neighbourhood House.

Tamboon Progress Association - $2,000: Health and safety equipment for the Tamboon South community, including a defibrillator.

U3A Bairnsdale District - $2,000: Purchase of a defibrillator and associated training.