Federal funds granted to community projects

FIVE projects across the Geelong region will share in $274,000 under round two of the Building Better Regions Fund’s Community Investment stream.

The funding was announced earlier this month, and Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson said the community-based projects were a positive investment in the region’s future.

The five successful projects are:

• Colac Otway Shire’s Forrest Mountain Bike Trails Detailed Design Plan (grant $100,000, project cost $200,000) to deliver a comprehensive development plan integrating data to facilitate a trails network
• Bellarine Community Health’s Bellarine Healthy Futures Building Regional Leadership Capacity (grant $35,000, project cost $70,000) to develop a Bellarine region wide collaboration to enhance the leadership skills of health and community sector leaders and overcome persistent resourcing and service delivery challenges
• City of Greater Geelong’s Strategic Plan for Use and Management of Geelong’s Heritage Assets (grant $100K, project cost $225K) to develop a plan for the City of Greater Geelong’s significant portfolio of heritage assets
• Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Into the DeepWild (grant $19,620, project cost $19,620) to fund four bus tours as a new element of the 2018 WinterWild festival to showcase the dark, elemental side of the Otways and Southern Ocean in winter, and
• G21 Agribusiness Forum Inc’s G21 Provincial Food Showcase (grant $20,000, project cost $20,000) to showcase a regional food exhibition on the Bellarine Peninsula, hosted by local food and beverage producers.

“These projects will drive economic growth and transform communities, ensuring that our region remains resilient and prosperous into the future,” Ms Henderson said.

Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government John McVeigh said the Building Better Regions Fund continued to deliver major benefits for rural, regional and remote communities throughout Australia.

“The Community Investment stream of the Building Better Regions Fund is another part of our plan for regional Australia. It supports community activities from expanded local events and strategic planning to improving leadership and capability.”

He said the Coalition, under round two, was investing more than $4 million in more than 100 Community Investment stream projects which were expected to create more than 4,000 jobs.