Celebrating Community Grants

THE Bellarine has such a rich community life.

It is on display for all to see, especially at this time of year when there is an explosion of activities and events on offer.

Through Council’s Community Grants program, we aim to support those initiatives that help make the Bellarine such a fantastic place to live and to visit.

The latest round of Community Grants, worth $768,766, were awarded to a total of 118 projects, across categories such as community events, environment and arts and culture.

From a general events perspective, the grants recipients highlight the wide variety of entertainment and activities that are on offer.

The grants aim to support the long-term sustainability of these events, which generate social and economic benefits that spread to surrounding towns and businesses.

While the benefits of these events are shared, a lot of them are heavily reliant on volunteers and operate under financial pressure.

It is for this reason that the Community Grants program can have a major impact for a relatively small outlay.

The maximum $10,000 grant was awarded to the organisers of the Portarlington Mussel Festival.

The community-run event, which is being held this weekend, is expected to attract about 30,000 people.

It is a great showcase of the area’s high-quality produce, with more than 200 stalls and a range of live entertainers to cater to the massive influx of visitors.

Council is proud to provide financial support to the annual event, which filters its proceeds back into the local community.

Other annual drawcards to receive grants include the Ocean Grove Acoustic Festival ($6,000) and the Bellarine Show ($3,000).

While the Sail Bellarine regatta – which is a collaboration between Indented Head, Portarlington, St Leonards and McCrae yacht clubs – received $5,000.

In line with our commitment to spread the Christmas cheer far and wide, there are also grants to assist community groups with their festive celebrations.

Council supports Ocean Grove’s Carols in the Park – which attracts about 3,000 people – through a separate community partnership fund.

As part of this round of Community Grants, we are also providing $5,000 to help Ocean Grove Business Association enhance the Christmas atmosphere in the town.

At the other end of the peninsula, we allocated $3,300 to Church by The Bay Portarlington, which will be used to deliver a community carols event.

The Bellarine is also home to some creative and forward-thinking sustainability projects.

Council is a supporter of the wider Electrify Everything program, which aims to transition away from gas to a low-carbon future.

The Electrify Ocean Grove initiative, led by Goodbye Gas Pty Ltd, was allocated $15,000 to assist more homes to make the switch.

The Portarlington Bowls Club’s bid to invest in solar energy was supported with a $9,950 grant.

Two environmental projects – Bellarine Catchment Network’s indigenous planting at Black Rock and Bellarine Landcare Group’s regional plan to control rabbit populations – each received $10,000.

There is a full list of grant recipients from across Greater Geelong – and more information about upcoming grant opportunities – available at geelongaustralia.com.au/grants

Cr Trent Sullivan

Mayor, City of Greater Geelong