Funds available to support community flood recovery efforts

Published on 09 June 2023

Gannawarra Shire-based community groups are eligible to apply for funding to support projects that will assist the Gannawarra’s recovery from the October-December 2022 floods.

Applications are now open for the Gannawarra Community Flood Recovery Grants Program, with $40,000 available to support a variety of small activities that promote social connectedness, and mental health and wellbeing across flood impacted communities.

“Council is pleased to be offering this new grants program, which will provide up to $3,000 for not-for-profit community groups based in the Gannawarra to support Gannawarra Shire communities and residents impacted by the flood event,” Mayor Charlie Gillingham said.

“Providing funding to support community-led recovery programs and events will help to unite communities as we continue our recovery from our second major flood event in 11 years.”

The program will support numerous community-led activities, including:

• Projects that maintain and build on social links within communities and promote social inclusion and equity;
• Community events that bring people together to support social connectedness;
• Projects that promote healthy communities and improved mental health and wellbeing;
• Community gardens and other projects that improve food security;
• Projects that support children, young people, and their families;
• Art projects, particularly those that build new skills across the community;
• Projects that support safer communities, including responding to future emergency situations and prevention of family violence;
• Projects that restore and build local economies;
• Workshops and training that build the capacity of community to develop localised solutions to climate change;
• Small landscaping projects that bring people together to improve the local environment;
• Projects that promote the Five Ways to Wellbeing – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give; and
• Other projects that create sustainable long-term outcomes to build resilience of the Gannawarra community to withstand future change.

“Community groups and organisations are encouraged to look at the program guidelines, which are available at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/grants, and determine whether their project ideas fit within the funding criteria,” Mayor Gillingham said.

“Projects that are successful in obtaining funding will be required to have clear outcomes for residents and communities impacted by the flood event and must be completed on or before 31 March 2024.”

Applications, which close on Monday, 31 July, can be submitted online at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/grants

For more details, please visit www.gsc.vic.gov.au/grants, phone (03) 5450 9333 or email grants@gsc.vic.gov.au