Eleven local projects, ranging from a health hub for children to a sensory community garden, will share in $25,000 in funding.

The funding will be allocated from council’s 2025-26 Community Grants Program, which received a total of 17 applications seeking almost $50,000 in funding.

Some requests not successful in this round of funding will be subject to further discussion by council, to see if funding or support can be offered in other ways.

The Community Grants Program is designed to fund projects by community groups and not-for-profit organisations that enhance livability in the Edward River region, meet cultural needs and aspirations, and importantly build and strengthen community prosperity.

Successful projects include:

• Care South - $2420 to support its Health Hub for Children.

• Pretty Pine Ground Committee - $3000 to help fund children’s entertainment and activities at the Father’s Day Markets & Expo.

• Intereach - $2270 to support a free community screening of the parenting film 'Seen', along with associated in-kind support enabling the use of the Town Hall for the event.

• Deniliquin Stadium - $3000 to purchase nets for its Pickleball courts.

• Deniliquin CWA Branch - $1500 to support its Spring Fling Event at the October 2025 race meet in Deniliquin.

• Deni MHAG - $3000 plus in-kind assistance to support its ‘Any Where, Any Time’ mental health community poster project.

• Rotary Club of Deniliquin - $3000 to create a sensory garden around the time capsule site near Edward River Library. Council will also assist with ongoing costs associated with the upkeep and maintenance of the new garden.

• Deniliquin Boat Club - $2109 to purchase ski safety equipment for Ski School.

• Deniliquin Film Society - $1500 to support a 12-month film screening program at the Deniliquin Town Hall.

• U3A Deniliquin - $1700 to support its next Stars on Stage community concert in the Town Hall.

• Deniliquin Pony Club - $1500 to help with the completion of flood recovery and redesign following flooding events.

Applications from the Deniliquin Rams Football Netball Club, Murray to Moyne Deniliquin Hospital Fundraiser committee, Pretty Pine Hall Committee and South West Music were not successful in this round.

Also unsuccessful was an application from the Deniliquin Soccer Club to purchase a new computer and printer.

Instead, council has resolved to look at a policy which would support community groups to obtain refurbished IT equipment.

Council has also agreed to revisit an application from Deniliquin South School’s P&C Committee at its next meeting.

The committee requested $3000 for a water bottle refill station in the playground.

Council will discuss whether funding for this project could come from council’s water fund, instead of the general fund from which the grants are drawn.

Mayor Ashley Hall said there was increased interest in the grants program this year, which he said may have been as a result of a streamlined online application process.

Applications were up 21 per cent on up on last year, and Cr Hall said it was inspiring to see an increasing and diverse range of applications and projects.

“All the projects have a shared goal of making the Edward River region an even better place to live,” he said.

“This program is about giving community organisations the resources they need to deliver initiatives that respond directly to local priorities and create meaningful outcomes for residents.

“It is great to see that receiving a small but meaningful grant can help local groups move their projects forward - projects that reach different parts of the community and deliver benefits that everyone can enjoy.”

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Sunday, 12th March 2023

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