COVID grants support community projects

A TRIO of community projects will receive Surf Coast Shire support in the latest tranche of funding from the COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Grants.

The grants are designed to assist business and community recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the 2020-21 financial year.

Councillors endorsed the officers’ recommendations for the three projects at their January 19 meeting.

Since the beginning of the program, 50 applications have been submitted, and 25 have been funded.

According to the officers’ report to councillors, two applications above $5,000 – YMCA Skate to Recovery and Re-engage, Re-connect, Wellness on the Surf Coast – were recommended for funding as they exceeded the minimum assessment score.

The YMCA Skate to Recovery project successfully requested just under $48,000 in funding.

The project will see the YMCA run a 12-month program to address the lack of a structured support mechanism to assist with social connection for the shire’s large culture of young skaters as part of their COVID-19 recovery.

Eight participants will be trained in Level 1 skate coaching, first aid, and mental health first aid.

Cr Kate Gazzard said she welcomed the funding for the project.

“The youth have been disproportionately affected by COVID, particularly their mental health, so I think this is a really good initative.”

Re-engage, Re-connect, Wellness on the Surf Coast, which received $14,786, will see 17 local businesses collaborate to promote the Surf Coast as a wellness destination and boost tourism to the Surf Coast after the peak summer period.

The businesses will collaborate with Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism on a tour activation campaign, creating four-day comprehensive tour packages including health, wellbeing, adventure, fitness, arts and culture lifestyle, flora and fauna.

The shire also established a Rapid Response category for applications up to $5,000 that could be approved by an officer assessment panel using the established guidelines, so grants could continue in the caretaker period during the council election.

Five applications in the Rapid Response category were assessed, and one grant, to B-Alternative to prepare a waste audit and strategic waste plan for 10 businesses, was approved. Four others – to Surf Coast Women’s Boardriders, Anglesea SLSC, Anglesea Community House and Anglesea Art House – did not meet the minimum assessment score and were not recommended for funding.

Cr Gazzard said those organisations should consider re-applying or applying for smaller amounts.

“There are other grants available, so keep trying,” she said.

The shire has now distributed $619,143.95 from its $1 million COVID-19 Support Allocation.