Get yourself a grant

AN EXTRA $431,000 is now available to support community projects across Greater Geelong after Council announced its Community Grants program would increase to almost $4.48 million for 2024-25.

As a Brownbill Ward councillor, I have seen the positive impact these grants have had over the years providing millions of dollars in total for projects big and small.

Geelong Ballroom Dance Club, Geelong Gaels and Newtown City Hockey Club were just a few of the many Brownbill Ward community organisations among the 2023-24 grant recipients announced this January.

Geelong Ballroom Dance Club received a $350,000 grant to upgrade its Kendall room, including a kitchenette and purpose-built dance floor, meeting room, office area and ramps.

Geelong Gaels and Newtown City Hockey Club also received grants of $350,000 each for lighting and pavilion upgrades respectively.

Community groups play a crucial role in enhancing our city, and we have recognised this as a Council by increasing the available funding pool.

Available grants range in size to a maximum of $400,000 for capital works in community infrastructure projects.

Applications are now open for the following categories:

• Community Infrastructure
• Arts Projects
• Clean Economy
• Climate Change Partnerships
• Community Events
• Creative Commissions Program
• Environmental Sustainability
• Geelong Heritage
• Healthy and Connected Communities
• Clever and Creative Seed
• Neighbourhood Houses (invitation only)

With the increased funding on offer, I urge you all to consider applying as soon as possible so that even more groups in the Brownbill Ward can benefit.

For full guidelines and to apply, head to geelongaustralia.com.au/grants. For further information or support completing an application, contact the City’s grants team via c[email protected] or 5272 5560.

In more fantastic news for Brownbill Ward, construction has begun on a new covered verandah at the Geelong Botanic Gardens café known as WYM (Where You Meet).

Funded via the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, the project will provide customers a comfortable sheltered outdoor space to dine in.

The café will continue to operate during its regular trading hours throughout the construction works and I encourage you to visit our beautiful Geelong Botanic Gardens and enjoy all they have to offer.

The Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens operate free tours, which give an insight into the garden’s rich history including original heritage buildings and significant tree collections.

The Friends’ horticulturalists, historians and plant enthusiasts are part of what makes our gardens such a colourful, vibrant and attractive destination.

And for our suburban green thumbs, we are exploring ways to increase diversity and even introduce veggie patches and other edible planting to our nature strips.

This follows six weeks of extensive community feedback in response to our draft Nature Strip Guideline and Specification.

Currently the draft document promotes edible planting as a permitted planting type, which reflects the feedback we have received.

We anticipate finalising this document by spring 2024 and as a Council we will carefully consider the document and what it means for our City.

I thank everyone who offered feedback, which will help shape the future of our Greater Geelong’s wonderful green spaces.

As always, please feel free to contact me on 0455 532 006 to raise an issue, or reach out via the City’s website (geelongaustralia.com.au), via phone (03 5272 5272), via email ([email protected]) or via the City app.

Cr Eddy Kontelj

Brownbill Ward