Community grants open soon

A Moorabool Shire Council grants program is opening for applications in two weeks, and workshops are on offer to perfect your application.

Council’s Community Grants Program will open to local non-profit organisations between 1 – 31 August, with a pool of over $270,000 on offer for projects that benefit the Moorabool community.

Past recipients The Pentland Hills Landcare Group have received a $3,000 grant under the program, as part of their ‘Myrniong Wildlife Corridor’ project.

The project included a large planting of native trees and shrubs, and installation of educational wildlife signage at the Myrniong Recreation Reserve, and the Landcare Group plan to create an intergenerational connection through the project, engaging the help of staff and students from Myrniong Primary School with the tree planting.

President of the Pentland Hills Landcare Group, Alan Morton, said the grant was helping the group with its mission to encourage awareness and protection of the local landscape and wildlife.

“We have the opportunity to teach local children about the environment and encourage our local young people to be hands on in creating an area for future benefit to our bird life as well as activating our community reserve,” Mr Morton said.

“Planting of the new small shrubs and ground covers will with time attract a wide range of birds and hopefully, butterflies, small bees and insects.”

Moorabool Shire Mayor Cr Rod Ward urged local non-profit groups like the Pentland Hills Landcare Group to put apply for Community Grants funding, so Council can help bring their fantastic plans to fruition.

“Are you part of a community group looking for some extra funding for a great new project in the Shire? Our Community Grants Program might be able to help, with over $270,000 available this year,” Cr Ward said.

“Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance received funding via our Arts and Culture funding stream last year for a fabulous mural. So why not give it a go?”

Two online Grant Writing Workshops will be held on Wednesday 19 July and Tuesday 1 August, both from 6pm – 7pm on Microsoft Teams.

Two in-person drop-in sessions will also be held for applicants to discuss their projects with staff. The sessions are free but require bookings, and will be held from 9am – 5pm on Friday 4 August at Council’s Ballan Office, and from 9am – 5pm on Wednesday 9 August at Lerderderg Library.

For more information and to book a workshop or drop-in session, visit moorabool.vic.gov.au/CommunityGrants.