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South Gippsland Winter Festival 2025, opportunities for all ages, grants and other council projects updates

South Gippsland's Winter 2025 is packed with grant opportunities, community events, workshops, environmental projects, business awards, and local initiatives supporting residents, volunteers, and nature across the region.

By news@gippsland - 17th July 2025 - Back to News

The Community Grants Program is now open for round one applications. The program aims to support community initiatives that enhance the quality of life, heritage, recreation and cultural opportunities for South Gippsland residents.

South Gippsland Council Grants support community-led projects enhancing life, culture, heritage, and recreation - available to not-for-profits via SmartyGrants

Drop in for a chat with our Grants Officer about the program between 10.00am and 3.00pm at one of the following sessions:

Monday 28 July - Leongatha Library
Tuesday 29 July - Korumburra Library
Monday 4 August - Foster Library
Thursday 7 August - Mirboo North Library

Round one applications close Sunday 31 August. For more information, visit South Gippsland Shire Council Grants Program website.

South Gippsland advocacy

Today Mayor John Schelling, Deputy Mayor Sarah Gilligan, CEO Allison Jones and Director Strategic Partnerships Christian Stefani met with Danny O'Brien - Member for Gippsland South, Leader of The Nationals, Deputy Leader of the Coalition and Melina Bath - Member for Eastern Victoria. The meeting provided a great chance to speak about Council's current advocacy priorities and issues and opportunities for South Gippsland.

Mayor, councillors, and executives met with local MPs to discuss advocacy priorities, key issues, and opportunities for South Gippsland's future

Giant earthworm census

Get involved and help protect one of Gippsland's most extraordinary native species, the Giant Gippsland Earthworm (GGE). The Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group in partnership with the South Gippsland, Bass Coast and Latrobe Catchment Landcare Networks, GGE expert Dr. Beverley Van Praagh and a local plant ecologist are leading a large-scale census to map where GGEs still occur.

The census is open until Thursday 31 July. Get involved by visiting Giant Gippsland Earthworm website.

This rare 2-metre underground giant needs your help. Join the 2025 census by July 31 to report possible Giant Gippsland Earthworms sightings

Climate smart farm planning

The South Gippsland Landcare Network is offering a free program with experienced landcare facilitator and sustainable agriculture consultant Peter Ronalds, guiding you through the process of creating a whole farm plan for your property. For more information, visit the EOI for Climate Smart Whole Farm Planning Course page.

Gippsland Business Awards

The Gippsland Business Awards 2025 finalists have been released, and South Gippsland has an overwhelming number of businesses in a range of categories.

Accommodation and Tourism

Hospitality and Food Services

New Business

Paws & Ponies

Congratulations to all the finalists! Winners will be announced on Friday 29 August at Churchill. To see the full list of finalists, visit Gippsland Business Awards website.

South Gippsland Landcare offers a free program with Peter Ronalds to help landowners develop climate-smart whole farm plans

Community engagement

Korumburra Skate Park

Council is seeking feedback on plans for the new skate park that will be delivered as part of the Korumburra Railway Precinct Project. The skate park is aimed at beginners and intermediate skaters and will be located near the new BBQ shelter and toilet block. Provide feedback by completing the online survey.

To learn more, visit the Korumburra Skate Park project page.

Proposed Sale of Land: Part 71 MacDonald Street, Leongatha

South Gippsland Shire Council has proposed to commence statutory procedures to sell part of the land known as Part 71 MacDonald Street, Leongatha Reservation to the adjoining landowner for consolidation and remove the reservation status.

Members of the public are invited to make a submission regarding the proposed sale of land. Have your say on the Proposed Sale of Land: Part 71 MacDonald Street, Leongatha.

Council Supported Events and Activities

Community Grants Program - Drop-in sessions between 10.00am and 3.00pm

Monday 28 July: Leongatha Library
Tuesday 29 July: Korumburra Library
Monday 4 August: Foster Library
Thursday 7 August: Mirboo North Library
Wednesday 20 August: Council Meeting
Saturday 18 October: Eat Drink Play Gippsland

Read the latest Mayor Message and Noticeboard for further updates.

What's on South Gippsland

Great Southern Rail Trail Planting - Stage Two

The Korumburra Landcare Group have organised Stage Two of the Great Southern Rail Trail Planting program. The Korumburra Landcare Group Growers have grown 4,000 plants to be donated. These plants will be located approximately 600m west of the Korumburra Wayside stop.

Date: Saturday 26 July
Time: 9.30am to 1.00pm
Where: Meet at the Korumburra Lions Wayside Stop, South GIppsland Highway, Korumburra

For more information, visit the Korumburra Landcare Group Facebook page or email for RSVP.

Energy Circles - How warm is your home this winter?

The Venus Bay Community Centre and Mycelia Renewables are working in partnership to deliver a series of Energy Circles informative workshops and events over the coming months. The first session is How warm is your home? This session provides easy options on how to stay warm this winter.

Date: Wednesday 23 July
Time: 1.00pm to 2.30pm or 5.00pm to 6.30pm
Where: Venus Bay Community Centre

Email for RSVP email CLAUDINE.EVANS@MYCELIA.ORG.AU.

In Good Company - from connection to change

Join facilitator Pete Canny and a panel of local change makers for a morning of connection, insight and shared learning. Explore how strong networks and collaboration help build better communities.

Date: Saturday 26 July
Time: 9.30am to 12.00pm
Where: Meeniyan Hall

For booking, visit trybooking website.

Your community

Seniors Festival - Expressions of Interest

The Victorian Seniors Festival returns this year, running from 1 to 31 October, creating fantastic opportunities for people aged 60 and over to participate in a program full of free or low cost events and activities.

Councils are reaching out to invite you to take advantage of Seniors Festival, by hosting an event to showcase your group, increase interest in your activities, attract new members, and maybe even new volunteers. To register your event or activity, click the link below and submit a form.

If you have any questions, please contact:

For submissions of Seniors Festival activities for council promotion, visit South Gippsland Seniors Festival 2025 website.

Victorian Seniors Festival runs 1 - 31 October with free or low-cost events. Host an event to showcase and grow your group!

Business Workshop Survey

Council is inviting businesses from across South Gippsland to complete a brief Business Workshop Survey. How will your feedback help? It will shape our workshops and webinars program for the next financial year!

2025 Volunteering Sector Survey

Volunteering Victoria's 2025 Volunteering Sector Survey is now open. To ensure volunteering stays valued and sustainable into the future, they want to understand what it's like to lead volunteers today, directly from the people who know it best. The survey is open until 5.00pm Friday 25 July. To complete the survey, visit Volunteering Victoria website.

Have Your Say: 2025 Volunteering Sector Survey Now Open to Help Shape the Future of Volunteering in Victoria

Flu season

Council offers immunisation sessions across the region to help keep you and your family safe from the flu and other vaccine treated diseases. Book a vaccine at one of the upcoming community sessions via South Gippsland Shire Council website.

Discover South Gippsland: Local Favourites from the Visitor Information Centre

Inspiration from Maggie, Tourism Information Officer: "Having moved from England a lifetime ago and thinking that Australia was covered in sand and kangaroos, I was pleasantly surprised how stunning this diverse landscape really is!

Living near Agnes Falls, this was the obvious choice. After a heavy downpour, the falls are breathtaking as the water cascades over rocks and down the 59-metre drop. On the drive up, take in the views across the dairy farms to Corner Inlet and beyond to Wilsons Promontory National Park. You will not be disappointed!

There are plenty of picnic tables where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful canopy of tall trees and spot many bird species, including Kookaburras, Currawongs, Rosellas, Honeyeaters and so many more. We look forward to sharing more local favourites in upcoming editions. Until then, why not take a picnic and drink water, and your furry friend (on a lead) to Agnes Falls? Happy exploring!

Pictures from South Gippsland Shire Council website and Giant Gippsland Earthworm website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com