Community
30 July, 2026
Groups cash in on almost $200,000 funding
CORANGAMITE Shire is set to have a packed calendar after 86 applicants shared in almost $200,000 in funding under the latest round of the shire’s Council Grants program.
Councillors voted at Tuesday’s Ordinary Meeting of Council on how funds under this year’s Council Grants Program would flow, which saw groups across the shire cash in on $195,698.
A total of 86 recipients shared in the funding, with a future round for the Enabling Grant program still to be held as there was no applications.
Recipients under the Community Grants stream included the Emu Creek Pony Club receiving $2000 towards the replacement of a stove and oven within the clubrooms, the Terang and District Lions Club receiving $2000 for the purchase of a large general-purpose marquee and the Ecklin Community Hall receiving $1000 to host a community trivia night.
The Facility Grant stream saw the Terang and District Indoor Sports and Recreation Centre receive $2000 to purchase fitness equipment and the Terang Men’s Shed receive $1369 to replace a wood band saw.
The successful Environment Support applicants included Neil Porter Legacy with a $3000 allocation to host the Humans and Habitat Environmental Forum at Terang College in September, the Terang and District Lions Club receiving $2000 for the replacement of the garden at Terang train station and two separate allocations of $3000 for the Mount Noorat Management Committee for an upcoming planting day and crater weed management.
The Events and Festivals stream included an automatic allocation of $7000 for the Terang Colour Festival 2026, one of three automatic allocations for signature events which attract audiences in excess of 2000 and significant public attention.
Local events to also receive funding included $3000 for the Noorat and District Agricultural and Pastoral Society to support the 2026 Noorat Show live music stage and $3000 to the Terang Athletic Club to bring the Terang Gift back to town this year.
The vote on applications to receive funding was broken into multiple sections as all councillors, at one stage or another, had a conflict of interest on the vote due to their volunteer work with a vast number of community groups which had applied for funding.
Councillor Laurie Hickey said the need for councillors to be in and out of chambers while the voting occurred was an example of their dedication to the wider community.
“This is a good reflection of how we as a shire are supporting our residents through a number of different organisations, event and festivals and opportunities for communities to come together and celebrate all good things within their environment,” he said.
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.”
Councillor Jamie Vogels said every dollar made a difference.
“I think this has got a massive multiplier effect throughout the community for every dollar we put into this kind of stuff,” he said.
“The volunteer effort multiplies it out many, many times for local investment.
“It’s really good to see so many community projects spread across the shire.”
Councillor Geraldine Conheady encouraged groups to apply for funding available through the Enabling Grant, which provides one-off funding to groups with a shove-ready project.
“Any community groups that have got shovel-ready projects, this is an opportunity for you to seek some support for those,” she said.
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