THE Surf Coast Shire has approved just under $17,000 of grants in its latest tranche of funding in its COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Program.<\/p>\n
As of September 30, the shire has allocated $936,780 of the $1 million earmarked to support COVID recovery initiatives across the municipality, with a balance of $63,220 remaining across the various streams.<\/p>\n
Councillors received an update on the program at their October 28 meeting, and a majority resolved to approve the two allocations.<\/p>\n
The first is $12,060 to Rebecca Hosking, who will use the funds – through the Creative Communities stream – to create an illuminated large night-time projection installation.<\/p>\n
To honour the ancient culture of Australia\u2019s First Nations people, Bunjil Dreaming will explore our land and the constellations beyond via the eyes and form of Bunjil, created with moving paint landscapes.<\/p>\n
Captured on film using macro lenses, the physical movement of paint will merge land and water landscapes and blend the magic of interstellar constellations forming and coloured paint rivers meeting the ocean.<\/p>\n
The soundtrack comprises music performed by Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Norm Stanley.<\/p>\n
Since the August 24 report on the program, officers approved a $4,850 grant to Mosulu Estate Winery under the Small Business Support Program to redesign and improve their retail website.<\/p>\n
The shire is also assessing applications for two grants of $5,000 each to run \u201cAdopt a Worker\u201d programs in Anglesea and Lorne.<\/p>\n
If successful, the marketing campaign by Lorne Business and Tourism and Business and Tourism Anglesea will encourage to offer a bed, spare room or other accommodation to a worker so that local businesses will be fully staffed over the summer months.<\/p>\n
Cr Paul Barker moved the motion but voted against it. He unsuccessfully attempted, with Cr Heather Wellington\u2019s support, to not approve the $12,000 allocation to Rebecca Hosking.<\/p>\n
Cr Barker said funded applicants in the COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Program received an average of $15,000, with most receiving several thousand dollars.<\/p>\n
\u201cI supported some of these grants in the early stages, but as time went by I saw the payments weren\u2019t necessarily the best use of ratepayers\u2019 money.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe value is staggering to me in hindsight, and has really resulted in us picking winners and losers throughout the COVID recovery period.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this initiative would have been much better, in hindsight, had it been funded voluntarily through philanthropic means – in this case, it hasn\u2019t – rather through rates that are forcibly taken.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Wellington also unsuccessfully moved to not accept any more applications for funding and to return the excess to general revenue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe immediate need for this has passed, and I think we should hold it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Cr Liz Pattison did not support the alternate motion, saying the COVID-19 pandemic was \u201cfar from over\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me, it\u2019s ridiculous to even question how effective (the grants) are, because our community and our volunteers and our organisations are so dedicated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Councillors will receive a program evaluation report at their March 2022 meeting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE Surf Coast Shire has approved just under $17,000 of grants in its latest tranche of funding in its COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Program. As of September 30, the shire has allocated $936,780 of the $1 million earmarked to support COVID recovery initiatives across the municipality, with a balance of $63,220 remaining across the various streams. […]<\/p>\n