Council has approved more than $160,000 for community groups, events and projects in the first community grants round of 2021/22.
Projects given a boost include the expansion of Katie Rose Cottage’s Japanese garden to provide palliative care patients and their families a tranquil place to spend precious time together.
Sports clubs are among the biggest recipients, including Cooroora United Football Club in the hinterland, which received a $30,000 grant to upgrade its lighting.
Club spokesperson Andrew Grennan said the grant was well timed.
“With the current metal-halide lighting, our club was struggling to meet the requirements to host night games in Cooroy. This funding will enable us to continue playing competitive games at night and maintain a positive light reading that exceeds the standards set by our local and state governing body,” he said.
“With the new lights being LED it will reduce our power consumption, as well as contributing towards a reduction in our carbon footprint. Requiring lower maintenance and infrequent replacement it will dramatically reduce yearly costs of running the facility. Along with Noosa Council, the club would also like to thank the Office of Liquor and Gaming as well as the hard work of our club committee over the last five to six years for making this project a reality.
“The sports fields are used all year round as the cricket club takes over when the football season finishes, plus we play a summer soccer competition so the new lights will get lots of use.”
This grant round will also help Noosa Rugby Club host a marquee sevens event in the competition’s inaugural year.
“Noosa Rugby is delighted to receive support from Noosa Council that will see the club host the Queensland State 7s on November 13 and 14,” club president Donald Mckill said.
Other grant recipients include the Tall Trees Art Exhibition in Cooran and the popular Noosa Strade Bianche Vintage Cycling Festival.
Event spokeswoman Lee Newton welcomed the Strade Bianche funding.
“It will mean we will have the capacity to have a greater number of community partnerships each year, with the long-term view to engaging as many small local groups as possible,” she said.
The many groups that use the Lawson Shed at Pomona and District Community House can look forward to better acoustics with a grant set to provide new wall panels and curtains.
Pomona and District Community House Coordinator Heather Manders said a wide range of groups would benefit from the improvements.
“We have a lot of people who come along for our cuppa and conversation mornings at the shed where our volunteers provide tea, coffee and homemade morning tea. We typically get 15 to 20 people come along to have a chat at those events,” she said.
“The shed is also used for art classes, French lessons, Rummikub, library story telling sessions, Pilates and our young men’s and young women’s groups on alternate fortnights, so it’s very well used.”
Mayor Clare Stewart said council was pleased to boost community grants funding in this year’s budget.
“Residents told us, during our budget consultation, they wanted more money for community initiatives, and council is pleased to deliver,” she said.
Cr Joe Jurisevic said Noosa was home to more than 300 community groups that all contributed greatly to the shire’s social capital.
“In this round there’s more than $10,000 for community events, just over $18,000 to answer community groups’ new equipment requests, $122,000 for infrastructure needs, and just under $10,000 for various other projects,” he said.
“Council is delighted to be able to invest in our community organisations and the important work they do.”
Cr Jurisevic said council’s grants team was on hand to offer community groups advice on eligibility criteria and the application process.
“As well as the council community grants program, our staff can also provide details on a host of other external funding opportunities,” he said.
For more information on council’s community grants program, visit noosa.qld.gov.au/community/grants/council-grants
