2026-2027 COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM - COMMUNITY PROJECT AND SIGNATURE COMMUNITY EVENT GRANTS - SUMMARY · Report

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                                 9 JUNE 2026


B. Approve the allocation of the remaining 2026/27 Community Project Grants budget to Quick
   Response grants and emergent grant requirements that may arise throughout the year, subject
   to sufficient funds being allocated in Council’s adopted 2026/27 Community Grants Program
   budget.


REPORT
Background
Noosa Council's Community Grants program assists in delivering Council’s strategic goals and
objectives. The funding is intended to help community organisations meet community needs, build
community skills and resilience, support community connection and develop and maintain
community infrastructure. The grants program is administered through an equitable and transparent
process whereby funds are awarded to projects which best meet the relevant criteria and represent
value for ratepayer money.

Community Project Grants
The Community Project Grants are being offered in one major round (Round #24) for 2026-27. The
grant opportunity was advertised in local media, e-newsletters and through community networks as
well as grant information sessions. The round opened on 9 February 2026 and closed on the 23
March 2026.

Community grant 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 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.
Infrastructure
•   Building work or infrastructure improvement projects that include new or replacement
    infrastructure or maintenance of existing infrastructure. 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.
Equipment
•   Purchases of equipment that respond to a specific opportunity or need within the community.
A total of 45 applications were received in Round 24 with total funds requested of $626,319.
Applications were initially checked for mandatory eligibility against the Noosa Council Grants Policy
(Community Grants Policy) and Guidelines. Applications which met the mandatory eligibility criteria
were then reviewed and assessed by staff with a broad range of skills, knowledge and expertise
against the following criteria:
•   Demonstrated need for the project
•   Benefit to the community organisation
•   Benefit to the wider community
•   Alignment with Council’s strategic plans, goals and identified key initiatives/priorities
•   Contributions, financial or in-kind, toward the project
•   Organisational capacity and capability to deliver the project within the grant timeframes

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                               9 JUNE 2026


Finally, the applications were considered by the community grants moderation panel to develop the
list of applications recommended for funding and the corresponding recommended funding amounts.

As per the relevant Noosa Council Grant Policies, assessors and moderator 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.

Following the assessment process, 25 projects are being recommended for funding with a total
recommended value of $285,466.82. The table below outlines the number of grants that were
received, the number of grants recommended by the moderation panel, the budget and the value
recommended by the moderation panel for 2026-27 Round of the Community Grants Program.

                                                          Grants          Amount
                    Grants           Total amount
Grant Program                                             Recommended for Recommended for
                    Received         requested
                                                          Funding         Funding
Community
                    42               $626,319             25                   $258,466.82
Projects

Three-Year Signature Community Event Grants
Council provides financial support for up to three years to not-for-profit community organisations who
have an established track record delivering community led events that:
•   Support high profile events that celebrate significant community occasions
•   Deliver significant benefits to the Noosa community
•   Demonstrate value for money and contribute to Noosa’s identity
•   Align with Council’s strategic goals and key initiatives, as outlined in Noosa Council Corporate
    Plan 2023-2028 and Noosa Social Strategy and any other relevant Council plans and strategies
•   Strengthen and complement Noosa’s event offerings
Three out of round Signature Community Event Grant applications were received. Council officers
assessed these applications and compared them with those endorsed in June 2025. The
applications were then reviewed by a moderation panel, which considered the assessors’
recommendations and confirmed the proposed funding outcomes.

All applications scored highly and are recommended to receive a Signature Community Event
Funding Agreement from 2026/27 to 2027/28, aligning with the remainder of the current program.


                                                 Grants
                                                                 Amount Recommended
Grant Program               Submissions Received Recommended for
                                                                 for Funding
                                                 Funding
Signature Community
                            3                         3                    $27,000.00
Events


Recipients of Three-Year Signature Community Event Grants are ineligible for Three-Year
Maintenance Agreements and Three-Year Alliance Agreements.

As per the relevant Noosa Council Grant Policies, assessors and moderator 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.

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                               9 JUNE 2026


Link to Corporate Plan
Theme No. 2 - Liveability
Liveability encompasses housing, facilities and services, transport, health and wellbeing to enable
an inclusive, connected and vibrant community.
Objective 2.3 - Nurture arts and culture to enrich the identity and vibrancy of communities, highlight
local talent, celebrate First Nations culture and encourage creative participation and expression.
Objective 2.5 - Ensure community facilities and services are inclusive, accessible and meet the
evolving needs and interests of residents across the shire.
Objective 2.6 - Facilitate strong, vibrant, inclusive communities where people have a sense of
belonging and are active participants in a rich community life.
Objective 2.7 - Fund and deliver sustainable assets and facilities and associated services
responding to the changing needs of the community and the challenges and opportunities of the
future.
Objective 2.8 - Provide opportunities to enhance the health, wellbeing and safety of our
communities.




Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting, 19 June 2025, Item 11.3.1
That Council:
A. Note the report by the Community Connection Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated
16 June 2025 outlining the summary of the 2025-26 Community Project Grants, Three-Year
Community Alliance Agreements and Three-Year Signature Community Event Grants; and
B. Fund the Quick Response Grants and Individual Sports Development Grants categories from the
remaining 2025/26 Community Project Grants budget subject to sufficient funds being allocated in
Council’s adopted 2025/26 Community Grants Program budget

Ordinary Meeting Minutes 23 January 2025, Item 8.3
That Council note the report by the Community Connection Manager to the General Committee on
the 20 January 2025 and approve the revised Community Grants Policy provided at Attachment 1 to
the report.


Finance
The proposed 2026/27 budget includes a total allocation of $931,658.18 for Community Project
Grants, Community Alliance, Three Year Maintenance Agreements, Signature Community Events,
Community Quick Response and Individual Sports Development Grants, subject to the budget being
adopted as presented.

2026-27 Community Project Grants
Category                                    Value of Grants Proposed
Events                                                       $32,500.00
Equipment                                                    $16,754.40
Infrastructure                                              $147,296.32
Project / Program                                            $61,916.10
TOTAL                                                       $258,466.82

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                              9 JUNE 2026



2026-2028 Multi Year Grants
Category                                    Value of Grants Proposed
Signature Community Events                                  $27,000.00
TOTAL                                                       $27,000.00


26/27 Community Grants Program Budget
26/27 Draft Budget for
                                                           $931,658.18
Community Grants Program
Alliance, Maintenance, Three-year
Signature Grants, Individual                               $543,798.14
Sports (already awarded)
Recommended Community
                                                           $258,466.82
Project Grants
Recommended Signature
                                                            $27,000.00
Community Events
26/27 Balance Remaining*                                   $102,393.22

All outcomes and decisions from this meeting assume there is no change to the draft budget and
that it will be adopted by Council with sufficient available funds for the grant program.

*A balance of $102,393.22 is proposed for 2026/27, which is recommended for Quick Response and
emergent grant requirements that may arise throughout the year. This amount may vary if any funded
grant projects do not proceed as intended.


Risk & Opportunities
Community groups have the opportunity to leverage Council grant funding from other external grant
sources.
All grants go through an acquittal process whereby the applicant reports on the funded project’s
delivery for approval.


Human Rights
Human Rights Compatibility Statement
In developing this Report, the subject matter has been considered in accordance with the
requirements of the Queensland Human Rights Act 2019. It is considered that the subject matter
does not conflict with any human rights and supports a human rights approach to decision making
by Council. Council representatives will endeavour to act and make decisions under this report in a
manner that is compatible with human rights. This report should be read in conjunction with Council’s
Human Rights Policy.


Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
•   Free information sessions and one-on-one meetings with potential applicants were held across
    the Shire for eligible not-for-profit community organisations to learn about the Council grants
    program

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                                       9 JUNE 2026


•       Tourism Noosa
•       State Government, Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Internal Consultation
Departments consulted:
        Office of the CEO, Mayor &             Community Services               Corporate Services
                Councillors
    x    Mayor & Councillors             x   Director                        Director
    x    Chief Executive Officer         x   Community Connection        x   Financial Services
         Executive Officers              x   Sport & Active Lifestyles       Fleet
         Community Engagement            x   Arts & Culture                  Revenue Services
         People & Culture                    Customer Experience             ICT
         Governance                                                          Procurement

                                                                             Commercial Property

         Strategy & Environment              Development & Regulation        Infrastructure Services
         Director                            Director                        Director
         Strategy & Sustainability           Development Assessment          Infrastructure Planning, Design
                                                                             and Delivery
    x    Economic Development        &       Local Laws                      Civil and Asset operations
         Destination Management
         Environmental Services              Environmental Health            Waste
         Innovation & Digital Hub        x   Building & Plumbing             Building & Facilities
                                         x   Property / Permits              Disaster Management