General News
30 September, 2025
Central Goldfields Shire community groups receive thousands in grants
Seventeen local community groups will share $36,496 in funding expected to support projects that benefit the region.
The Central Goldfields Shire community groups were allocated the funding at last week’s council meeting as part of the annual Community Grants Program.
The initiative is an opportunity to fund community organisations’ recreational, cultural, social, and economic projects that benefit the local shire and its community.
Central Goldfields Shire mayor Grace La Vella congratulated the successful recipients.
“We have so many local groups working hard across the length and breadth of our shire, contributing to the wellbeing, heritage and participation of our towns and districts,” she said.
“The Community Grants Program is our opportunity to encourage and support those who do so much — often with very little,” she said.
Applicants could apply for grants between $500 and $3000 across four categories: infrastructure, creativity and innovation, community development, and climate action.
“Community Grants aren’t always a lot of money, but they can make a big difference to these groups, clubs and small organisations. They can improve capacity, start new programs, expand their reach and help bring people together,” Cr La Vella said.
Among the recipients was the Central Goldfields Historic Machinery Society’s shed power and lighting project, receiving $3000, Maryborough and District Garden Club Inc’s Central Goldfields Shire Garden Competition, receiving $1000, and the Bowenvale Hall’s southern fence replacement, receiving $700.
However, despite the councillor’s agreement on the grants’ importance to community groups, their own role in the grants approval was contentious.
Interim amendments were proposed to the Community Support Policy, which clarified council’s role is to note rather than approve grant allocations.
According to the officer’s report, this was to make this year’s allocations consistent with the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) report Fraud Control Over Local Government Grants (2022) and with current best practice.
This meant that a panel of council staff considered the total of 19 applications received.
It's a change councillor Geoff Bartlett was alone in voting against despite other councillors voicing their understanding.
“In effect, for me, that removes the community’s elected representatives from the process. I feel that’s very disheartening to lose our councillors’ voice in the application process,” he said.
He proposed that the panel could be made up of councillors and council officers in a 50/50 mix.
According to the officer’s report, the change strengthened the process’ integrity by removing council’s ability to vote on individual applications.
The intention was to reduce the potential of conflicts of interest.
The report said the panel members completed conflict-of-interest declarations, and no conflicts were identified.
However, as councillor Gerard Murphy explained, councillors can complete those same declarations.
Councillor Liesbeth Long also left the meeting due to her role as president of the Central Goldfields Bushwalking and Hiking Club, who were granted funding.
“It’s another thing that us councillors get pushed to the side because they think, someone in State Government think, we’re going to do something,” Cr Murphy said.
However, he also emphasised that it’s crucial for community organisations to receive their funding without delay.
“We have to get this going for the community and then we need to work on this in the next six or eight months,” he said.
Although a total of 19 applications were received, requesting $41,916 of funding out of $46,250 available, Cr Murphy called on more of the community to apply.
“I implore to the community and the organisations, if you think you’ve got something for next year, go forward now,” he said.
“Ask the officers how do we do this for next year … so you’re not putting something together in a hurry.”
Unsuccessful applicants were also encouraged to request feedback on their application.
Councillor Ben Green explained that the two unsuccessful applications were due to their structure.