Money for community

Four Ararat district community groups will share in nearly $30,000 after Ararat Rural City Council announced its latest round of community grants.

Council chief executive Tim Harrison said it was a tough decision for the application assessment panel after it received 15 applications for projects totalling more than $84,000.

“All the applications were worthy community projects and it’s a shame we can’t fund them all,” he said.

“The four successful applications will bring a lot of benefits to the communities in which they are located, and we know the groups who applied will be pleased to be able to complete their projects.”

Dr Harrison said applicants were – • Wickliffe Lake Bolac Football Club – $10,718 for a kitchen upgrade. • Lake Bolac Memorial Hall – $2517 for new chairs. • Ararat and Stawell District Field and Game – $6342 for a trap purchase. • Streatham Mininera Westmere Rovers Netball Tennis Club – $10,372 for fence upgrades.

The council community grants program has three rounds a year with a total budget of $90,000.

Two funding streams are available – grants for small community projects up to $1000 that have unmatched funding, and infrastructure grants for projects up to $20,000 with matching funding required.

Dr Harrison said the program aimed to fund projects and activities that built communities, maintained community infrastructure and encouraged community groups to work together. successful grant