Council
25 September, 2024
Shire looks at key funding opps’
BEFORE entering caretaker period ahead of the upcoming local government election, Corangamite Shire councillors approved applications to two key funding programs.
The Victorian Government’s Tiny Town Fund and the Australian Government’s Growing Regions Fund programs close for applications during the local government election caretaker period.
Council’s chief executive officer (CEO) was authorised to develop and submit applications to both funds.
Acting CEO Justine Linley said council had been advised of two funding opportunities which were open for application.
The funding stream for the Growing Regions funding has a minimum project funding of $500,000 and a maximum project funding of $15 million.
A co-contribution would be required from the Corangamite Shire which means the total funding available would be 50 per cent of eligible project costs.
There were four potential projects identified council could consider putting forward:
The Skipton Community and Recreation Hub (stage one);
Camperdown Theatre Redevelopment;
Mockridge Park development; and
Camperdown to Timboon Rail Trail – bridge 13 and associated infrastructure.
Mrs Linley recommended the application for funding for the Camperdown to Timboon Rail Trail – Bridge 13 be put forward for funding.
“The total project costs for the project are in excess of $1 million and $500,000 has been allocated towards this project with $150,000 committed from the Camperdown Timboon Rail Trail Committee and the remaining funds from council,” she said in her report to council.
“The project meets the project readiness and eligibility criteria.
“On this basis it is recommended that an application be submitted to the Growing Regions Fund for this round for the Bridge 13 and associated infrastructure project.”
Councillors unanimously voted to propose Bridge 13 on the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail as the project seeking funding from the Growing Regions Fund.
Applications for the Growing Regions Fund close October 10.
Cr Ruth Gstrein voted to move the recommendation at the meeting.
“I am pleased to see the Bridge 13 on the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail is being proposed for the Growing Regions Fund, and this is just so important,” she said.
“We’ve just finished the trail from Timboon to Port Campbell, and it would be a shame if we have to have the top section of Camperdown-Timboon closed, because I know that a lot of people are going to be using that trail.
“Fingers crossed - let’s hope it’s successful in this round.”
The second funding stream was round two of the Tiny Towns grant, which could be applied for between $5000 and $50,000.
A co-contribution of 25 per cent of the total project budget would be required.
Four projects were proposed to be submitted for the following projects as part of round two of the Tiny Towns Fund:
Cobden: Tandarook Park masterplan implementation;
Lismore: Footbridge underpass at Browns Waterhole;
Timboon: Construction of a half basketball court; and
Skipton: Jubilee Park amenities.
Councillor Geraldine Conheady said the “right projects” were selected to be nominated for funding and encouraged community groups and organisations to reach out to council for assistance in applying for the grant.
“If anyone’s got some questions about their application or having a few little issues getting it prepared, you can ring the council and get some help to get your application completed,” she said.
“There’s quite tight timing around this funding opportunity, and I think it closes quite soon through the caretaker period.
“It does demonstrate that having projects in the pipeline that we’ve sort of done part of the preparatory work becomes really valuable because our officers had to move very quickly to grab this opportunity, and we had some projects that were some part way down the road in terms of being prepared for funding applications.
“I am impressed and pleased that we were very careful about the council’s capability to meet the co-contribution components of this funding because obviously we need to be sure that our budget can handle it too.”
Cr Gstrein said the funding program would help make the projects “easy to achieve”.
“I would like to mention that Camperdown and Terang were both successful in receiving $50,000 in the first round and that was the upgrade to the pathways in the Camperdown Botanical Gardens, which is certainly much-needed, and the Terang Civic Hall flooring project,” she said.
“I know they’re only reasonably small amounts of money but saying that $50,000 can make a big difference to these smaller projects, particularly when there’s co-contributions needed.”
The chief executive officer was authorised to prepare and submit applications to the two funds.
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