Council
25 July, 2025
Funds remain from $177k grants program
CORANGAMITE Shire Council’s grants program for 2024-2025 has seen over 80 applications from various community groups across the shire, with funding flowing to areas including Camperdown, Derrinallum and Lismore.
A total of 84 applicants from across the shire received funding through the five funding programs, with a total allocation of $177,868.40 against a budget of $220,000.
Mayor councillor Kate Makin said applications opened on April 14 and closed on May 26, 2025.
“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.”
A series of grant workshops held across shire throughout May to encourage grant applications, with four registered for Skipton’s session (May 5), 10 registered for the evening session in Camperdown (May 6) and five people registered for the Timboon session (May 7).
Strong interest was shown for the Community Grants program, which saw a total of 29 applications from 28 organisations.
This stream assists community groups with workshops, equipment purchases, development of community and cultural programs, planning activities and community projects, activities and events.
Two applications were deemed ineligible, while another was rerouted to another funding stream.
This resulted in a final funding ask of $43,837 against a budget of $50,000, with ten of the 26 applications from Camperdown and Lismore.
Camperdown and District Community House received $2000 to fund their Grow Community Project: Therapeutic Horticulture for Wellbeing.
Camperdown Bushwalking Club were granted $999 for the acquisition of a rechargeable GPS.
Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum Trust were able to purchase plants for the Camperdown Botanic Gardens thanks to a grant of $2000.
Corangamite Film Society received $2000 to go towards this year’s Corangamite Film Festival.
Rotary Club of Camperdown purchased ten tear drop banners thanks to a grant of $2000.
Lions Club of Camperdown were granted $2000 to purchase a Bain-Marie.
Lismore Land Protection Group received two grants under the Community Grants stream – $1770 to go towards their annual Night Stalk event and $1400 to fund a Landcare educational bus trip.
Camperdown Uniting Church received $1200 to go towards their annual Camperdown Uniting Church Christmas Community Meal.
Camperdown Theatre Company were able to purchase a sewing machine, overlocker and printer thanks to a grant of $1846.
Camperdown Pastoral and Agricultural Society were granted $1577 to purchase a portable PA system.
A surplus of $6163 remained, which was used to fund oversubscribed funding streams.
The Enabling Grants program, which provides financial assistance for community groups to develop shovel-ready projects to enable implementation and delivery funding to be sought, received only two applications.
The funding request totalled $9500 against a budget of $20,000.
Skipton Football Netball Club received $4500 to go towards a strategic planning program project.
Darlington Mechanics Institute and Recreation Reserve were able to move large rocks to the site of new town signage thanks to a $5000 grant.
The Enabling Grants program’s surplus of $10,500 was used to fund oversubscribed grants programs.
Another grants program which saw a strong uptake was the Facility Grants program, which provides financial assistance to committees of management to fund improvements at halls and recreation reserves.
This funding stream received a total of 32 submissions from 26 organisations – an increase from 2024-2025 where 29 applications were received.
Of the submissions, six were second applications from organisations while one applicant withdrew their submission after the grants period closed.
The final request total for all the submissions was $46,976.60 against a budget of $50,000, of which seven came from Skipton, Camperdown and Pomborneit.
Skipton Football Netball Club received $2000 to go towards a grandstand shelter shed project.
Camperdown Badminton Association purchased nets and shuttlecocks thanks to a grant of $470.80.
Camperdown Timboon Rail Trail Committee of Management received two grants under the Facility Grants stream – $1275.56 to improve safety of culverts on rail trail and $1805 to fund the painting of the ceiling of Glenfyne Hall.
Corangamite Lions Football Club received $2000 to go towards their move to Camperdown and upgrades to their changerooms.
Pomborneit Cricket Club was granted $2000 to upgrade building lightings, internet, kitchen and power points in their clubrooms.
Skipton Progress Association received $239.75 to purchase a first aid kit for the Jubilee Centre.
Skipton Recreation Reserve Committee of Management was granted $2000 to facilitate the re-sowing of the oval during winter, as well as $2000 for the repair and replacement of plumbing at the reserve.
A surplus of $3023.40 was used to fund oversubscribed funding streams.
Ten submissions were received for the Environment Support Grants stream, which aims to support organisations and individuals to undertake environmental and sustainability projects within the shire.
Of these submissions, one was deemed ineligible and consequently withdrawn as it was the same property as another application made by the same applicant.
The remaining applications requested a total of $19,554.80, with an application from Camperdown and an application from Lismore.
Lismore Progress Association received $800 for weed removal at Browns Waterholes.
Camperdown Timboon Rail Trail Committee of Management also received funding for weed control, receiving a grant of $2680.
IT Herbs was granted $2515 to go towards a native shelterbelt.
The remaining $30,445.20 will be used for either a second round of the grants program or relocated to other council activities.
The Events and Festivals Grants stream – which provides funding and in-kind support to events and festivals aimed at increasing visitation and economic activity within the shire – also saw strong application numbers.
A total of 17 applications were received, including the continuation of triennial deals with the Robert Burns Celtic Festival, Crayfest and Colour Terang and three new events.
With Colour Terang cancelled for this year, the final funding request total was $53,000 of cash funding and $5000 of in-kind support against a budget of $50,000 – seven of these applications were for events within Camperdown, Derrinallum and Skipton.
Camperdown and District Community House received $3000 in funding to go towards their Spring into Summer mini-festival.
Camperdown Horse Trials’ Northern Horse Park Lakes and Craters International Horse Trials is set to receive $3000 of in-kind support for the event.
Derrinallum Yacht and Power Boat Club was granted $2000 of funding for their Derrinallum Yacht Club 70-year celebrations Regatta.
Skipton Progress Association received $3000 of funding for the Skipton Spring Festival.
Yachting Western Victoria’s Easter Regatta for 2026 will receive $3000 in funding.
Camperdown Pastoral and Agricultural Society will receive $3000 in funding to support the running of this year’s Camperdown Show.
As part of the second year of triennial funding agreement established for Robert Burns, Crayfest and Colour Terang, the Robert Burns Celtic Festival committee will receive $5000 of funding and $2000 of in-kind support for the Robert Burns Celtic Festival.
The $8000 oversubscription was taken from surpluses of other funding streams.
“We just love giving away money,” Cr Makin said.
“These programs are a practical way to support community groups, individuals and businesses to achieve their own priorities and goals.”
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