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South Gippsland Shire Council to host community grants information for 2024 in-person and online sessions and more project updates

South Gippsland Shire Council project and program updates.

By news@gippsland - 19th January 2024 - Back to News

Council's second round of Community Grants for 2023/24 are now open. To ensure that prospective applicants are well-prepared and informed, South Gippsland Shire Council is hosting both an in-person and online information session. These sessions are designed to brief community groups on what can and can't be funded and provide a demonstration of the SmartyGrants online application process.

South Gippsland Shire Council hosts in-person and online sessions to inform potential applicants, covering funding guidelines and demonstrating the Smartygrants application

These sessions will take place on Monday 29 January:

• In person: 11.00am to 12.00pm at Council Chambers, Leongatha
• Online: 7.00pm to 8.00pm

Registration for either session is essential. For more information and to register (for free), please visit Community Grants Information Session website. Be sure to get in quick, as these sessions fill up fast!

At Meeniyan Hall, our community celebrated 2024 Australia Day Award nominees, recognizing individuals and events contributing significantly to the region. Three winners were honoured

Australia Day awards

On Wednesday our community gathered at the Meeniyan Hall (Mechanics Institute) to celebrate our 2024 Australia Day Award nominees. The night provided an opportunity to honour the individuals and events that contribute significantly to our region. There were an array of nominees all deserving of recognition for their selflessness and dedication, with three category winners awarded. They were:

• South Gippsland's Citizen of the Year: Kathryn Smith
• South Gippsland's Young Citizen of the Year: Laila Witeveen
• South Gippsland's Community Event of the Year: Southern Lights Festival - Korumburra

A heartfelt congratulations and thank you to all the nominees. To read about the outstanding achievements of all the 2024 Australia Day Award candidates, please visit Australia Day Awards website.

The Commercial St Streetscape project has a budget of $3 million and is funded by council with a loan from the Victorian government's Community Infrastructure Loan Scheme

Korumburra streetscape renewal

Streetscape works in Korumburra will be starting soon. The works will help to improve pedestrian and driver movement, increase visual appeal and improve accessibility for all. It is intended that the renewal of Korumburra's CBD will attract new residents, businesses and visitors, promoting positive community and economic growth.

For more information about these works and for timely updates, please visit Korumburra Streetscape website.

In celebration of Coal Creek Community Park and Museum's 50th anniversary in March 2024, an exhibition themed "South Gippsland or the world in 50 years" will showcase up to 50 selected works

Coal Creek 50th anniversary

South Gippsland Shire Council is calling for Expressions of Interest from artists or art collectives to be a part of Coal Creek Community Park and Museum's 50th Anniversary Exhibition. Be a part of this exciting exhibition encapsulating the theme of "What will South Gippsland or the world look like in 50 years?"

We invite you to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for up to three works per artist or group to showcase in our upcoming display. Expressions of Interest close 31 January 2024. For key dates, more information and to submit your EOI, please visit 50th Anniversary website.

Have your say

The Future of Coal Creek

The future of Coal Creek is up for discussion! At the final council meeting for 2023, the Coal Creek Discussion Paper was endorsed for community feedback. The Discussion Paper outlines the Parks current situation, including key issues, strategic planning and proposes potential options for the future of the community facility to get the conversation started.

Community consultation is scheduled to open Monday 22 January 2024. In the meantime, we invite everyone to read the Discussion Paper at Your Say South Gippsland website. Feedback will close Sunday 31 March 2024.

The amendment suggests eliminating burdensome permit triggers in rural zone schedules and adding specified documents to Clause 72.08, including environmental and housing strategy references

Planning Scheme Review Amendment C129

The Planning Scheme Review Amendment proposes to implement the collective recommendations of the South Gippsland Planning Scheme Review 2023 by introducing new and revised local content in the Municipal Planning Strategy and the Planning Policy Framework, and by amending the schedules to zones, overlays, general provisions and operational provisions.

The amendment also proposes to remove onerous permit triggers in the rural zone schedules and to include the following background documents in the Schedule to Clause 72.08 (Background Documents) being the Giant Gippsland Earthworm Environmental Significance Overlay Reference Document (South Gippsland Shire Council, September 2015), South Gippsland Social and Affordable Housing Strategy (Hornsby & Co, 2022) and Nyora Development Strategy (Planisphere, 2016).

This amendment is now open for community feedback. Interested parties are welcome to review and provide comments on the proposed changes. To view the documentation and provide your feedback, please visit Planning Scheme Review website.

Free Rapid Antigen Tests

Free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are available for community members to collect at the following locations:

• Foster Library - 9 Main Street, Foster
• Poowong Library - 18 Ranceby Road, Poowong
• Mirboo North Library - 2 Brennan Street, Mirboo North
• Korumburra Library - 15 Little Commercial Street, Korumburra
• Leongatha Library - 2 Smith Street, Leongatha

Upcoming events

Australia Day Events

Australia Day is fueled by community gatherings happening nationwide, fostering significant community camaraderie and uniting people. In South Gippsland, communities and towns will unite on Australia Day 2024 - Friday, January 26th. For a full list of the events, visit South Gippsland website.

Summer series

The Summer Series 1 initiates the festivities with an evening of energetic swampin' stompin' Blues. From the gritty garage grooves of Jungle Jim Smith to the raw, psychedelic blues of Nick Carver and the Mean Street Butchers, along with a soulful stroll down Ozone St.

• Date: Friday 2 February 2024, 5:30pm - 10:00pm
• Cost: $25 per adult, $15 per concession/child under 18 years

Book your spots for the Summer Series 1. 500 tickets only, so don't miss out, book now!

Charley Crockett

Love Police and Frontier Touring present 'Live Across Australia.' Award-winning country star CHARLEY CROCKETT and THE BLUE DRIFTERS return after sold-out shows, offering Americana tales. EMMA DONOVAN joins, performing soulful country from her solo album. SWEET TALK brings vintage swagger to select cities. For tickets and tour info head to Charley Crockett's website.

Funding opportunities

Community grants

South Gippsland Shire Council's second round of Community Grants are now taking applications. Community Grants are an opportunity for council to give back to local clubs and community groups who give so much to others. Grants can be used for both minor and major projects and equipment, planning and developing reports, and festivals and events.

Additionally, to help community groups with their Community Grants application, council is holding an in-person and online information session on Monday 29 January. For more information, to apply for a grant or to register for an information session, please visit Community Grants website. For further assistance, please phone 5662 9200 or email
grants@southgippsland.vic.gov.au.

Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR)

The Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly benefit local communities. The following grants are currently open for application:

Strengthening Rural Communities - Rebuilding Regional Communities: The Australian government has partnered with FRRR. To distribute $5 million from 2022 to 2024 to support community-led initiatives. The objectives of the program are to:

• Enhance the process of recovery of remote, rural and regional communities from the COVID-19 pandemic
• Reduce social isolation and foster stronger, more resilient remote, rural and regional communities
• Sustain local remote, rural and regional organisations and their work

Strengthening Rural Communities - Small & Vital - Grants up to $10,000 are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities that strengthen local people, places and climate solutions, with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000).

For more information, to submit an application, or to check out other funding opportunities, please visit FRRR website.

Tiny Towns Fund

Have you checked out the Tiny Towns Fund yet? From hiking trails, splash parks, and community hall upgrades to gallery fit outs, communities can apply for funding to support a range of projects that will make locals even prouder to call their town home and attract visitors.

Applications are now open with some conditions applying including co-contributions and populations lower than 5,000. To find out more and to apply, please visit Tiny Towns Fund website.

Snap Send Solve

Spotted a dangerous pothole? Or maybe some broken playground equipment? Get it reported quickly and easily using Snap Send Solve. It's free! Download the app to your phone now or report it online at Snap Send Solve.

Pictures from South Gippsland Shire Council website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com