2021-07-06 Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                        6 JULY 2021


Background
2021/22 Round 1 Community Project Grants
The initial 2020/2021 round for both Community Project Grants was advertised in local media, e-
newsletters and through community networks with a closing date of 14 April 2021.

A total of 36 Community Project Grant applications were received requesting in total $392,035.65 to
go towards projects worth $988,314.20.

Applications were checked for eligibility against the relevant Noosa Council Grants Policy
(Community Grants Policy) and Guidelines. Applications were then reviewed, assessed and
commented on by specialist staff with appropriate expertise.

All applications and staff comments were then discussed and assessed by the grants assessment
panel. The assessment panel is recommending 17 Community Project applications receive
$162,005.00 funding from the Community Project Grants fund.

Community projects may include, but are not restricted to:
    Events - Community based festivals or events that bring residents together (beyond the
     applicant organisation’s membership base), including cultural, sports or community festivals.
    Projects/programs – Projects, purchases of equipment or programs that respond to a specific
     opportunity or need within the community. Ongoing projects or programs may be funded for a
     maximum of three times. Previous recipients of ongoing projects or programs that have been
     funded by Council must re-apply each year.
    Building work or infrastructure improvement projects that include new or replacement
     infrastructure or maintenance of existing infrastructure or reduction of greenhouse gas
     emissions. This may include but is not limited to energy efficient lighting, shade sails, storage
     facilities, new or upgraded amenities, water harvesting, fit-outs, solar systems etc.

As per the relevant Noosa Council Grants Policies, assessors and assessment panel members
recognised and declared any material or perceived conflicts of interest and did not debate nor were
involved in any discussions on matters relating to that application.

Three Year Sports Field Maintenance

In July 2015 Council implemented a three-year Sports Field Maintenance funding program for eligible
sporting organisations to assist them undertake ongoing maintenance of sporting fields that are open
to the public when not being used by those organisations. This was renewed with no change in
2018.

Council now has to consider whether or not to continue this program for a further three years. These
agreements are by invitation only rather than a through a competitive process as per the Community
Grants program.

The amount of funding is determined by a formula and organisations are required to provide an
annual acquittal of their grant.

Staff are recommending no change to the organisations receiving Sports Field Maintenance funding
in previous years and a CPI increase over the previous year’s funding levels.




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