Community
24 July, 2025
Funds flow for Corangamite events
CORANGAMITE Shire councillors have allocated $177,868 to be shared among 84 groups and individuals under the latest round of the Council Grants Programs 2025-2026.
Councillors voted to allocate the funding and in-kind support at its July Ordinary Meeting of Council on Tuesday.
“We just love giving away money,” Corangamite Shire mayor councillor Kate Makin said.
“These programs are a practical way to support community groups, individuals and businesses to achieve their own priorities and goals.”
Cr Makin said applications had opened in April, with the popular funding streams proving well subscribed.
“All applications were checked against eligibility guidelines and independently scored by three assessors,” she said.
“This process aims to make sure the recipients have the capacity to deliver successful projects that benefit the wider community.”
The Events and Festivals Grant Program saw $58,000 allocated to provide funding and in-kind support for events and festivals which increase visitation and stimulate economic activity in the shire.
The tally was a little lighter for Terang this year after the cancellation of the Colour Terang Festival, which as one of the shire’s signature events is automatically grants $7000 in funding.
The Terang Athletic Club and Noorat and District Agriculture and Pastoral Society proved the big local winners under the program, with $3000 being allocated for the Terang Gift 2025 and Noorat Show.
A total of $43,837 was awarded under the Community Grants program, which provides funding for community groups for workshops and equipment purchases, development of new community and cultural programs, community projects, activities and events and planning activities.
This included $1800 for the Ecklin Community Hall’s annual Christmas night, $2000 for the Rotary Club of Terang to host a Community Concert, a $2000 fund for the Terang and District Lions Club to upgrade protective fencing for events and $1500 for the Kolora-Noorat Football Netball Club to upgrade junior development equipment.
The Enabling Grants program provided $9500 in financial assistance to community groups to develop ‘shovel-ready’ projects which are properly planned and cost-effective, enabling project implementation and delivery funding to be sought.
This included $5000 in funding for the Darlington Mechanics Institute and Recreation Reserve to heighten town signage.
The Facility Grants program provides financial assistance to committees of management to assist with improvements at council’s halls and recreation reserves.
This included two separate $2000 grants for the Terang and District Indoor Sports and Recreation Centre to purchase both a treadmill and Pilates equipment for Terang Fitness and $465 for the Cobrico Hall Committee to replace a window.
The Environment Support Grants program provides funding to undertake environmental and sustainability projects across the Corangamite Shire to further enhance the environment and support sustainability projects within the community.
This year funding included $1500 for Elingamite Cobrico Landcare Group towards revegetation efforts on the south side of Lake Elingamite, $1834 for Terang and District Indoor Sports and Recreation Centre to make an energy efficiency upgrade and $2000 for Boonderoo Pastoral Kolora towards a native tree plantation.