Fund upgrades community infrastructure

THREE projects in Geelong will share in more than $100,000 in grants from the Living Local Fund set up by the state government.

The Geelong West Neighbourhood House project will deliver an internal wall and an additional entrance, increasing spaces for Neighbourhood House and Geelong Rainbow Inc programs.

The outdoor works will improve capacity to deliver outdoor events such as Geelong Rainbow festival, Winter Solstice and Neighbourhood House week celebrations.

Outdoor works include a new public toilet block and the addition of accessible landscaping design features to the building and toilet block.

The City of Greater Geelong has received $30,000 for their project to create a series of engaging, art-based window displays to activate vacant shopfronts, improve the general amenity and presentation of the Little Malop Central precinct and provide the community with a new reason to visit and spend time in central Geelong.

The Bluebird Foundation have been funded for a new piano for Bluebird House, to be made available to piano teachers and their students, community musicians, songwriters, choirs, music therapy clients, and the Bluebird Friday Glee Club.

Minister for Suburban Development Melissa Horne and Geelong Labor MP Christine Couzens announced the funding last week.

“The government is supporting Geelong with these projects because we know the community deserves great creative spaces,” Ms Couzens said.

More than 400 projects across the state will be supported through the fund, with $15 million available for suburban projects and another $5 million for the regions.

Local councils and community organisations have received grants of up to $200,000 for upgrades to shopping strips, playgrounds, community gardens and public art projects, or to buy new equipment or carry out minor refurbishment works.

“We’re doing what matters by investing in infrastructure that our local communities need to enjoy the services they deserve,” Ms Horne said.

“Our suburbs and regions are great places to live, work and play and we’re making sure they stay that way.”

The Living Local Fund is part of the state government’s Our Suburbs: Living Local and Our Regions: Living Local Initiatives.

For more information, head to suburbandevelopment.vic.gov.au/living-local or rdv.vic.gov.au/living-local