Council
31 July, 2026
Funding boost across shire
COMMUNITY groups across the Corangamite Shire have received a funding boost thanks to council’s various grant programs which were approved this week.
Councillors voted to approve a total of 86 applications across four grant programs at this week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council, allocating a total of $195,698.
A fifth grant program – the Enabling Grants, which provides funding to community groups to develop ‘shovel-ready’ projects – will be rolled over as the $20,000 allocation was not utilised in this round.
The vote on the grants programs saw a number of councillors leaving the room due to a conflict of interest, which changed with each program.
Deputy mayor councillor Laurie Hickey said the number of conflicts of interest showed the dedication of councillors to their communities throughout a variety of organisations.
“This is a good reflection of how we as a shire are supporting our residents through a number of different organisations, events and festivals, and opportunities for communities to come together and celebrate all good things within their environment,” he said.
The Community Grants Program, which provides grants of up to $2000 towards community projects, activities or events, development of new community, leisure, cultural or recreational programs, workshops, planning activities and the purchase of equipment, saw a total of 26 applications.
The total ask from this program was $46,508 against a budget of $50,000, leaving $3492 to be reallocated to an oversubscribed program.
A further five applications were received, with one moved into the Environmental Support program, two not accepted due to being second applications from the same group and two considered duplicates after being transferred to the Events and Festivals program.
The Camperdown Uniting Church received $1200 to go towards its annual Christmas Community Lunch, while the Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum Trust received $2000 to purchase plants for the gardens.
Camperdown’s Returned and Services League (RSL) sub-branch applied for $2000 towards furnishing a welfare lounge for returned servicemen, while the Darlington Mechanics Institute and Recreation Reserve Committee of Management applied for $2000 towards a screening event of the film ‘Just a Farmer’.
Council approved $1647 for the Derrinallum Yacht and Power Boat Club to host a regional training weekend at Deep Lake in Derrinallum, as well as $2000 for the Camperdown Clocktower Quilters to get professional finishing for quilts to be donated to those in need.
Camperdown Magpies Bowls Club received $1098 to purchase a new computer to maintain secure digital records, while Derrinallum Progress Association received $2000 towards the Christmas Under the Elms community event.
Lismore Land Protection Group will be able to have an educational bus trip thanks to a $1400 grant, while the Corangamite Film Society will be able to host a six-day Iranian film festival across the shire thanks to a $2000 grant.
The Skipton and District War Memorial Swimming Pool will receive $1027 towards improving equipment and purchasing new balls, while the Skipton Art Trail Group – auspiced by the Skipton Progress Association – will receive $1600 towards a Christmas wreath making workshop.
Camperdown Cycling Club applied for $2000 towards new design kits to reflect the club’s identity while promoting inclusivity, visibility and safety, while the Camperdown and District Historical Society applied for $2000 towards the purchase of a computer for cataloguing their collection and a photo-quality A4 printer.
A total of 29 applicants received funding under the Facility Grants program, which equalled an ask of $49,202 – leaving $798 from the program budget of $50,000 for reallocation.
The program aims to provide financial assistance to committees of management to improve council’s halls and recreation reserves, with grants of up to $2000 available.
An additional two submissions were received for the Facility Grant, which were deemed ineligible due to being proposed under a different grants program within the same financial year.
Bradvale Recreation Reserve received $2000 towards the replacement and installation of an oven, while the Camperdown Golf Club received $2000 towards hiring equipment for tree maintenance.
The Lake Bookaar Recreation Reserve Committee of Management were granted $2000 towards restoring the west wall of the old Bookaar School, while Leura Oval Committee of Management were granted $2000 towards repairs of the Lew Kelly scoreboard.
Skipton Recreation Reserve Committee of Management will be able to repair their veranda to stop birds entering thanks to a grant of $2000, while the Skipton and District Historical Society will be able to purchase an overhead scanner thanks to a $750 grant.
A second application from the Skipton Recreation Reserve Committee of Management was approved for $2000 towards repairing the ceiling in the netball changeroom, while the Camperdown Pastoral and Agricultural Society will receive $2000 towards grading the track around the Showgrounds.
The Environment Support Grants program, which provides financial assistance of up to $3000 to community groups, organisations and individuals to undertake environmental and sustainability projects within the Corangamite Shire, saw 17 applications.
The applications represent a total funding ask of $45,988 against a budget of $50,000, which resulted in $4012 being available for reallocation.
One additional grant was transferred over from the Community Grants Program, while one grant was deemed ineligible as it provided a direct benefit to an individual.
The Lismore Land Protection Group received $1290 towards their annual Titanga Night Stalk event, while Friends of Mount Leura received $1973 towards their Hollows for Wildlife Protection project.
The Skipton Recreation Reserve Committee of Management applied for $3000 towards their Skippy Solar 26 project, while Dennis and Robyn Rosolin applied for $3000 to plant shelter trees on their farm.
Cherie Byrne was also among recipients, receiving $2025 towards regenerative planting of her farmland, while the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail Committee of Management were granted $2700 towards weed control on the rail trail.
The Events and Festivals Grants also saw strong uptake, with 14 applicants totalling $54,000.
The program, which aims to encourage cultural tourism and economic activity, increase visitation and assist the development and growth of new and existing events, provides both cash contributions and in-kind support which can range from venue hire to fee waivers.
Local events and festivals – which attract audiences of up to 2000 people and celebrate local culture, towns and streets – can receive up to $3000, while signature events – which attract audiences in excess of 2000 and showcase the whole shire – are funded on a triennial basis for up to $7000.
Camperdown’s Robert Burns Celtic Festival is among the three events which have been automatically approved under a simplified application, receiving $7000 for next year’s event.
The Celtic Festival shares its recognition and automatic approval with Port Campbell’s Crayfest and the Colour Terang Festival.
An additional eight applications were received for the program, with two being for seasonal community activities and deemed ineligible – council, however, voted to consider an additional budget allocation for the 2026-2027 program to enable seasonal activities to become eligible.
One application was withdrawn as the event is no longer being held, while four were not recommended as they did not meet the grant program guidelines.
The Skipton Progress Association’s application for the 2026 Skipton Springfest was not funded under the Events and Festivals program, instead receiving funding from the Community Recovery Funding provided following the January 2026 bushfires.
The Camperdown Pastoral and Agricultural Society received $3000 of support for this year’s Camperdown Show, while Derrinallum Progress Association was provided with $3000 of support for a Derrifest cut-out.
The Camperdown Horse Trials received support totalling $3000 towards the Northern Horse Park Lakes and Craters International Horse Trials, while Yachting Western Victoria received $3000 towards the regional regatta in 2027.
Councillor Ruth Gstrein said she believed the funding would go a long way towards supporting the tireless efforts of volunteers whose efforts provide an economic boost for towns throughout the shire.
“There’s 86 applicants and just under $200,000 has been allocated to those organisations,” she said.
“I think it just shows the depth and breadth of our volunteers across Corangamite Shire.
“Some of the grants aren’t enormous amounts of money but they certainly make a difference.
“You’ve got to fry a lot of sausages to make $2000 these days so I hope these small amounts do help.
“I’m happy for these dollars to be spent locally – we’re always talking to government how we can get best value out of funding that they give us, and I think these community committees do the same for us.”