Sixty-five community groups, event organisers and businesses from across Colac Otway Shire are set to share in more than $240,000 in Council grants.
A variety of facility improvements, sustainability initiatives, events and façade improvements are among the items which have been approved for funding by Council at the June meeting.
Mayor Cr Kate Hanson said Council were very proud to endorse the Colac Otway Shire Grants Program and support such a wide range of community groups, clubs, events and businesses.
"It's really heartening to see our community start to look to recovery and renewal as we ease our way from the difficulties faced in 2020.
"We had a great response to the Grants Program this round with requests for funding for a diverse range of community initiatives.
"There's some really interesting projects taking place in Colac Otway, like the History Trail and Diprotodon Dig elements at Cororooke Open Space which will be great to see come to life.
"Then there's facility upgrades that will have flow-on positive benefits for our smaller communities, such as a cubby house at the Birregurra Preschool Centre and a refurb of the tennis clubrooms at Gerangamete.
"Importantly, Council's Grants Program is providing support to businesses to implement sustainability initiatives into their operations. We're confident interest in this category will continue to build as more businesses see the benefits and opportunities Council can help facilitate.
"We've had the Building Façade Improvement Program included in the grants funding for a few years now, it's wonderful to see 11 businesses will receive a revamp to help improve shopfronts in Cororooke, Colac and Apollo Bay.
"Events in the shire which will receive funding include a range of artistic, sporting and community celebrations; we hope the financial support will help events get back on their feet and attract visitors to the region, along with providing entertainment and opportunities for our local communities to come together.
"Council grant funding creates leverage for further investment in the region with the requirement for groups and businesses to make a contribution and we strongly encourage applicants to make use or shire-based trades and suppliers where possible."
"The annual grants program creates significant partnerships between Council and the community and we'd like to thank everyone who made a submission."
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Successful Colac Otway Shire Grant Program 2021 - 22 applications include:
Category 1 – Community Grants
Item No. |
Applicant |
Project Name |
Grant Recommended $ |
1 |
Forrest Horse Riding Club |
Viewing shelter shed revitalisation |
$3,000 |
2 |
Birregurra Community Group |
Storage Facility |
$10,000 |
3 |
Tomahawk Creek Cricket Club |
Addition of second cricket practice net |
$4,000 |
4 |
Warncoort Tennis Club |
Divert water/mud away from Tennis Courts |
$8,000 |
5 |
Cressy & District History Group |
Public Arts Project on Cressy Water Tower 'CRESSY, OUR STORY' |
$10,000 |
6 |
The Gerangamete Community Auspiced by Forrest Lions Club |
Refurbishment of Tennis Clubroom on the Gerangamete Recreation Reserve |
$5,225 |
7 |
Birregurra Preschool Centre |
Birregurra Preschool's Cubby House and Storage Improvement Project |
$10,000 |
8 |
Rotary Club of Colac West |
Rotary Show Shed Upgrade |
$5,455 |
9 |
Colac & District Historical Society Inc |
Storage facility for preservation of Heritage Collection |
$3,934 |
10 |
Red Rock District Progress Association |
Cororooke Open Space: Welcome Gateway signs, History Trail and Diprotodon Dig elements added to the park |
$7,088 |
11 |
Southern Otway Landcare Network (SOLN) |
SOLN Community Nursery Support Centre |
$10,000 |
12 |
Warrion Recreation Reserve Committee of Management |
Reserve Seating Replacement |
$4,615 |
13 |
Simpson Car Club Inc |
Safety Suits |
$4,262 |
14 |
Kawarren Recreation Reserve Committee Inc |
Reserve External Toilet/Shower Facility Refurbishment |
$10,000 |
15 |
Positive Ageing Ambassadors Auspiced by Community Hub Inc |
Wiser Drivers and Safer Scooters |
$4,500 |
16 |
Beeac Golf Club Inc |
Water sustainability project (water tanks) |
$3,000 |
17 |
Pirron Yallock Committee of Management |
Supply and install CCTV with 4 Cameras and Security Lighting |
$2,779 |
18 |
Alvie Football Netball Club Inc |
Sparkly Clean Glasses |
$2,075 |
19 |
Warrowie Recreation Reserve |
Masterplan |
$5,445 |
Category 2 – Community Events and Support (including *2A Major Community
Organised Event)
Item No. |
Applicant |
Event Name |
Grant Recommended $ |
1 |
Rapid Ascent Pty Ltd |
Otway Odyssey and Great Otway Gravel Grind 2022 |
$5,000 |
2 |
Rotary Club of Colac |
The 2022 Otway Trail Run |
$2,000 |
3 |
Birregurra Festival Committee Auspiced by Birregurra Community Group |
Birregurra (Covid Safe Adapted) Festival |
$5,000 |
4 |
Warrion Public Hall Committee |
110th Warrion Flower Show |
$3,636 |
5 |
Colac Show N Shine Committee Auspiced by Colac RSL Sub- branch |
Colac RSL Show N Shine |
$5,000 |
6 |
Colac Kana Festival Inc |
Colac Kana Festival |
$5,000 |
7 |
Southern Exposure |
Run Forrest Trail Run 2022 |
$5,000 |
8 |
Elliminyt Primary School |
School Production |
$770 |
9 |
Otways Tourist Park |
Gellibrand River Blues and Blueberry Festival |
$5,000 |
10 |
Anam Cara House Colac |
10 year Anniversary Celebration Book Launch |
$1,850 |
11 |
IMG Pty Ltd |
2022 Keiser Great Ocean Road Running Festival |
$5,000 |
12 |
Let's Talk Colac Otway |
Wellbeing Expo |
$2,000 |
13 |
Creative Otways Inc Colac Otway Arts Trail |
Colac Otway Arts Trail |
$5,000 |
14 |
Apollo Bay WordFest |
Apollo Bay WordFest: Making Waves |
$5,000 |
15 |
Otways & Coast Permaculture Group |
Otways & Coast Permaculture Workshop Program |
$900 |
16 |
Golden Gumboot (Community) Working Group Auspiced by Old Beechy Rail Trail Friends Inc. |
Hunt for the Golden Gumboot 2021 |
$4,730 |
17 |
Colac Chamber of Commerce |
Colac Otway Business Excellence Awards |
$3,292 |
18 |
Gellibrand Community House Incorporated |
Winter Dinner |
$3,000 |
19 |
Colac RSL sub branch |
100 year anniversary of Colac RSL sub branch |
$2,000 |
20 |
Apollo Bay Seafood Festival Auspiced by Apollo Bay Chamber of Commerce |
Apollo Bay Seafood Festival 2022 |
$10,000* (Major event) |
Category 3 – Small Grants
Item No. |
Applicant |
Project Name |
Grant Recommended $ |
1 |
Colac Camera Club |
Upgrade digital projector system |
$1,108 |
2 |
Beeac Progress Association |
Concrete slabs for new picnic tables |
$725 |
3 |
Apollo Bay Mechanics Hall |
Exterior Front repairs |
$1,800 |
4 |
Irrewillipe Sports and Entertainment Complex |
Defibrillator |
$1,270 |
5 |
Red Rock Regional Theatre and Gallery (RRRTAG) |
Purchase of Vacuum Cleaner & Coffee Machine |
$2,000 |
6 |
Colac Pony Club Inc |
Replacement of Shade Sails |
$1,303 |
7 |
Colac Cake Decorators |
Teaching expertise |
$300 |
8 |
Birregurra Landcare Auspiced by Upper Barwon Landcare Network |
Riverbank Rehabilitation Project |
$1,250 |
9 |
Elliminyt Public Hall Inc |
Install floor covering on Hall stage and steps |
$1,325 |
10 |
Birregurra Golf Club |
Greens Equipment |
$251 |
11 |
Beeac Community Centre Inc |
Let's get Buffed (Vinyl floor cleaning) |
$750 |
Category 4 - Building Façade Improvement Program
Item No. |
Applicant |
Project Name |
Grant Recommended $ |
1 |
Cororooke General Store |
Façade Clean Up |
$2,888 |
2 |
Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co- operative |
Apollo Bay Fishermen's Co-op on Pascoe |
$3,000 |
3 |
Otway Plaza Body Corporate |
Otway Plaza Shop Front Beautification |
$3,000 |
4 |
The Shop, Cororooke Auspiced by Red Rock Regional Theatre and Gallery |
Improve The Shop Facade |
$3,000 |
5 |
Ziibo |
Building Facade Improvement |
$667 |
6 |
The Flower Room |
Upgrade Facade |
$700 |
7 |
Colac Otway Disability Accommodation Inc |
Minor works at The LEAP Shop |
$3,000 |
8 |
Captain George's Seafood |
Business Signage |
$3,000 |
9 |
Toshco Music |
Beautifying Facade by updating business signage |
$1,672 |
10 |
Colac's Murray Street Market |
New signage and clean-up of awning |
$2,898 |
11 |
Cow Lick Books |
Cow Lick Bookshop Facade Upgrade |
$1,793 |
Category 5 - Small Business Environmental Sustainability Program
Item No. |
Applicant |
Project Name |
Grant Recommended $ |
1 |
Brae Restaurant Pty Ltd |
Purchase of a Closed Loop Organics Composting System |
$5,000 |
2 |
Great Ocean Road Brewhouse |
Going Green (Water Tanks) |
$3,992 |
3 |
Jo's Pantry |
Dishwasher to provide sustainable usage of water |
$1,969 |
4 |
Sound Audiology Pty Ltd |
Clinic Revamp - insulation |
$2,000 |
