Seventy-nine community organisations, clubs, event organisers and businesses from across Colac Otway Shire are set to share in more than $297,000 in Council grants.
Mayor Kate Hanson said it was wonderful to see a diverse range of projects and initiatives funded by the Colac Otway Shire Grants Program, with many of the shire’s small towns represented in the successful grant applications.
“It’s great to see our small towns and communities putting forward grants and making the most of the program.
“Grants include Otway District Football and Netball Club funding a storage shed, floorboards at the Barwon Downs Hall, cricket training facilities at Carlisle River, improvements to access at the Gellibrand Hall – to name a few.
“Around the shire, you’ll also see façade improvements take place at the Forrest General Store and The Perch in Lavers Hill, along with businesses in Apollo Bay and Colac.
“It can be difficult for smaller clubs and community groups to raise funds, but they’re so much a part of what makes Colac Otway a great region, it’s wonderful for Council to provide this support to ensure they can continue to be places people go to play sport, learn, socialise and create.
“Many of the applicants from clubs and community groups are volunteers, and we thank them for giving their time to apply for the grants as the initiatives, projects and events will benefit the wider Colac Otway community.
“Similarly we’re grateful to our local business owners too, it will be great to see shopfronts in Colac, Forrest, Apollo Bay and Lavers Hill receive updates, which has a flow on positive effect for people visiting and shopping in the shire,” Mayor Hanson said.
Communities, event organisers and businesses across Colac Otway Shire will be contributing over $2.3million to the successful projects and events.
“The successful projects are broad with significant social and cultural impact for our community, this is also matched by the significant economic return through works and activities undertaken as part of the grants,” Mayor Hanson said.
From Tuesday July 12, Council will re-open the 2022-23 Grants Program with remaining funds of $14,311 available for new applications with community groups, local events or businesses encouraged to apply (please note that recipients of the 2022-23 grants program are not eligible). Applications will be assessed against the program criteria and approved as they are received until funds are fully allocated or up to 30 April 2023.
For program categories and further information, please visit Council’s website at www.colacotway.vic.gov.au
Category 1, Community Grants:
Item No | Applicant | Project Name | Grant Recommended $ |
1. | Otway District Football Netball Club Inc. | Storage Shed for Otway Districts Football Netball Club | $9,900 |
2. | Barwon Downs Community Group Inc. | Hardwood Floorboards Makeover at the Hall | $2,440 |
3. | Irrewarra Cricket Club | Upgrade of Colac Secondary College Training facility | $10,000 |
4. | Carlisle River Cricket Club | Carlisle River Cricket training facility | $10,000 |
5. | Cressy and District History Group | Public Art project ‘Cressy, Our Story’ Mural on Cressy Water Tower | $10,000 |
6. | Anam Cara House, Colac | Re-Roof Shed | $5,400 |
7. | Rotary Club of Colac West | Upgrade Catering Equipment at the Showgrounds Shed | $2,956 |
8. | Simpson Car Club Inc. | Upgrade of Spectator Lights and Pit Area Lights | $10,000 |
9. | Warrion Public Hall Committee Inc. | Hall Painting and Path Repair | $6,085 |
10. | Colac Yacht Club | Re-Carpeting of Yacht Club Hall | $7,572 |
11. | Apollo Bay Bowls Club Inc. | New Oven for Bowls Club Kitchen | $3,500 |
12. | Beeac Windmill Park Committee auspiced by Beeac Progress Association | Beeac Windmill Park Painting | $2,754 |
13. | Cressy Bowling Club | Cressy Bowling Club Synthetic Green Replacement | $10,000 |
14. | Warrion Cricket Club Inc. | Pop Up Sprinklers Replacement | $4,555 |
15. | Climate Action Team Inc. | Reducing Household Emissions and Energy Costs: Forum and Practical Application | $2,600 |
16. | Birregurra Golf Club | Renovation and Construction of Golf Green | $7,810 |
17. | Irrewillipe Sports and Entertainment Complex | Historical Display Cabinets | $2,880 |
18. | Gellibrand Public Hall Inc | Improve All Ability Access to Gellibrand Public Hall | $5,616 |
19. | Apollo Bay and District Historical Society | Caring for and Protecting our Precious History – Dehumidifiers | $2,870 |
20. | Colac City United Cricket Club Inc. | Refresh Eastern Reserve rooms. Internal Painting Project | $3,353 |
21. | Alvie Recreation Committee of Management | Remediation works to prevent water entering the Alvie Recreation Centre | $7,481 |
22. | Southern Otways Sustainable Inc. | Analyse and Report on Commercial Losses in Apollo Bay due to Unreliable Power | $10,000 |
23. | Otway Barham Landcare Group auspice by Southern Otway Landcare Network | Marengo Cultural Education Centre and Environmental Weed Control project | $7,000 |
24. | Southern Otway Landcare Network | Shrub Club Community Nursery Bench Restoration | $10,000 |
25. | Forrest Public Reserves Committee | Cinema Forrest | $5,611 |
26. | Community Hub Inc | Life After Farming – create a Directory of activities and services | $2,100 |
Total | $162,483 | ||
Category 2, Community Events and Support (including *2A Major Community Organised Event):
Item No | Applicant | Project Name | Grant Recommended $ |
1. | Warrion Public Hall Committee Inc. | Warrion 110th Flower Show | $3,500 |
2. | Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism | Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism Conference 2022 at COPACC | $3,127 |
3. | Rotary Club of Colac | The 2023 Otway Trail Run | $5,000 |
4. | Creative Otways Inc. | Colac Otway Arts Trail – social media and website | $5,000 |
5. | Colac Orchid Club Inc. | Annual Orchid Show and Sales 2022 | $2,000 |
6. | Elliminyt Primary School | School Production | $1,260 |
7. | Colac West Primary School | Colac West Primary School Concert | $1,788 |
8. | Golden Gumboot Working Group auspice by Old Beechy Rail Trail Friends Inc. | Hunt for the Golden Gumboot 2022 | $2,500 |
9. | The Colac Players Inc. | Production and performance of one amateur theatre production at COPACC | $4,259 |
10. | Rapid Ascent Pty Ltd | Otway Odyssey and Great Otway Gravel Grind 2023 | $5,000 |
11. | Apollo Bay WordFest auspice by Apollo Bay Arts Inc. | Apollo Bay WordFest 2022: Curious and Curiouser | $5,000 |
12. | Southern Exposure | Run Forrest Trail Run 2023 | $5,000 |
13. | Wye to Wongarra Landcare Group | Making Room: Fungi to Forest. Community walks and workshops to identify weeds/plants/fungi | $1,834 |
14. | Bicycle Network | Great Vic Bike Ride 2022 | $5,000 |
15. | Colac Neighbourhood House auspice by Colac Area Health | “Some happy day” film and Q&A to highlight plight of homelessness | $2,040 |
16. | Apollo Bay Seafood Festival auspice by Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce | Apollo Bay Seafood Festival presents SOS event series (marketing campaign) | $5,000 |
17. | Let’s Talk Colac Otway | Wellbeing Expo | $2,000 |
18. | International Management Group of America Pty Ltd | 2023 Keiser Great Ocean Road Running Festival | $5,000 |
19. | Beech Forest and District Progress Association | Beech Forest and District Progress Association Event | $2,000 |
20. | KSJ Event Management | Lochard Energy Women’s Warrnambool Cycling Classic 2023 | $5,000 |
21. | *Category 2A Major Community Organised Event WinterWild auspice by Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce | WinterWild 2022 | $10,000 |
Total | $81,308 | ||
Category 3, Small Grants Program:
Item No | Applicant | Project Name | Grant Recommended $ |
1. | Main Street Planters auspiced by Birregurra Community Group | Main Street Planters (maintenance of planter boxes along Main St Birregurra) | $844 |
2. | Colac Woodcrafters Guild Inc. | Purchase a wood lathe and specialised sharpening equipment | $1,038 |
3. | Colac Table Tennis Association | Replacement Equipment (tables, nets, scoreboard) | $1,214 |
4. | Otway Plains District Scouts | Barongarook scout camp hut lighting upgrade | $1,346 |
5. | Colac Otway Rover AFC | Line Marker equipment | $1,769 |
6. | Colac Cake Decorators CDAV | Expert Teaching workshops | $700 |
7. | 2nd Colac Sea Scouts | First Aid Training | $1,200 |
8. | Gellibrand Community House Inc. | Screen for The Gellibrand Community House | $1,995 |
9. | Colac Central Bowling Club Inc. | Air Conditioner for Kitchen | $1,487 |
10. | Forrest and District Historical Society | Tables, chairs and display mount boards | $721 |
11. | Birregurra Landcare | River flat Revegetation Project | $1,780 |
12. | Apollo Bay Radio Inc. | Apollo Bay Radio Studio equipment upgrades | $965 |
13. | Birregurra Preschool | Building Blocks at Birregurra Preschool | $1,641 |
14. | VICSES Colac Unit | New computer and maintenance program software for Colac SES | $2,000 |
15. | Irrewarra-Beeac Football Netball Club | Storage space for our Netball players equipment | $1,600 |
16. | Cororooke Tennis Club | Community garden for pathway at Tennis Club entrance | $960 |
17. | The Colac and District Dog Obedience Club Inc. | A new Clubroom Vacuum Cleaner | $299 |
18. | Central Otway Landcare Network | A Bird’s Eye view of our landscape (Purchase drone to take aerial photos/videos of the landscape before/after completion of on ground natural resource management works | $1,000 |
19. | Colac and District Football Umpires Association | Heating/Cooling System for Football Umpire Rooms at Lake Oval | $1,935 |
20. | Colac Adult Riding Club | Building a new round yard on the Colac ARC grounds | $1,994 |
21. | Western Eagles Football Netball Club | Website Development Project | $1,909 |
22. | Alvie Football Netball Club Inc. | Purchase Freezer (Brrr..It’s Cold in Here) | $905 |
Total | $29,302 | ||
Category 4, Building Façade Improvement Program:
Item No | Applicant | Project Name | Grant Recommended $ |
1. | Gravity Cafe | Update the facade to business frontage (paint Murray Sreet front) | $3,000 |
2. | Gerangawood Pty Ltd | Bank – paint facade | $2,192 |
3. | Water Supply Specialist | Building Facade Improvement – painting and signage | $3,000 |
4. | Colac to Coast Real Estate | Building Facade Improvement – new signage | $925 |
5. | Theodore Podiatry Group | Building Facade Improvement – painting and signage | $3,000 |
6. | Wisdom Investments Group Pty Ltd | Exterior wall painting (1st floor and south side) | $1,000 |
7. | Forrest General Store | Forrest General Store Façade Improvements Project | $3,000 |
8. | The Perch Lavers Hill | Painting building exterior | $3,000 |
Total | $19,117 | ||
Category 5, Small Business Environmental Sustainability Program:
Item No | Applicant | Project Name | Grant Recommended $ |
1. | The Sandman Mattress Company | Removal of old gas heaters and install new split systems | $2,500 |
2. | Dar Tèta | Upright Freezer | $2,479 |
Total | $4,979 | ||
