Council & Business
10 April, 2026
Council consider axing community grants, a local “lifeblood”, for minimal gain
Central Goldfields Shire Council have proposed cutting their annual community grants program despite volunteer-led group's need for funding.
Central Goldfields Shire Council have proposed cutting annual funding for local community groups despite many who rely on it.
Council’s Draft Budget 2026/27 suggests ending the Community Grants program which distributes around $40,000 amongst community organisations annually.
The program is an opportunity for largely volunteer-run groups to fund recreational, cultural, social, and economic initiatives that benefit the shire and its community.
While each group may only receive a few thousand dollars, that’s often beyond what they can expect to fundraise due to limited and ageing volunteers.
Councillor Grace La Vella recognised the funding’s importance last year.
“Community Grants aren’t always a lot of money, but they can make a big difference to these groups, clubs and small organisations,” she said.
“The Community Grants Program is our opportunity to encourage and support those who do so much — often with very little.”
Following the March council meeting, however, council are seeking feedback on their plan to cut the program to help save $11 million over four years.
That equals around $150,000 saved in grants given to the community across that time or just over one percent of the total savings needed.
“If we don’t make these cuts, the underlying deficit will continue to grow … and our cash position will not be sustainable,” council CEO Peter Harriot told the ABC.
Former councillor Chris Meddows-Taylor said it was “miserable” the grant program may be cut.
Long involved in local government, first becoming a councillor in 2005, Mr Meddows-Taylor said he soon created council’s grant program.
“It has always been enormously over subscribed since day one because there’s a need there,” he said.
In part that’s because the Central Goldfields Shire is amongst the most disadvantaged municipalities in the state.
The median weekly income of local families is just over half that of their state and national counterparts.
Council’s finances aren’t much better with an underlying deficit made worse by low revenue growth, rate capping and rising expenses.
“The reality is that council is unable to fund everything we would like to,” the draft budget states.
Mr Meddows-Taylor said council’s services are always stretched so volunteer groups pick up the slack.
“You depend on the community to roll up their sleeves, get involved, and fill in the gap paid services cannot deliver,” he said.
The community grant program helps them do just that.
The Central Goldfields Historic Machinery Society used $3000 from council’s community grant, alongside other grant opportunities, to complete a $20,000 project to connect power to their facility.
While the group holds an annual vintage machinery rally, due to few and ageing volunteers the group’s president John Hanley said the upgrade wouldn’t have been possible without outside support.
“It just makes you wonder why are you a volunteer if the local and state government don’t support your organisation,” he said.
Mr Hanley said council’s proposal was “shortsighted” fearing not only for his group but others based rurally in the shire.
“If councils are not going to support local volunteers keeping things going out in the sticks … how are they going to survive,” he said.
“These things are the death nail for small volunteer set ups.”
Talbot Arts and Historical Museum previously received $2249 through council’s grants to replace their photocopier.
Their president Leanne Boyle said being able to print and photo copy is essential for them to stay open.
“The old one we had was making so many noises … some poor person thought it was playing The Last Post,” she said.
“If we can’t print stuff off for people then we don’t get money in.”
On any given month, the museum’s four volunteers spend around 200 hours of their time to see a return of $100.
“Unless we got it through a grant it wouldn’t have been possible,” she said.
“Now with the cost of living there’s no way volunteers are going to be able to keep these places running without grant money.”
Ms Boyle said Talbot’s museum is both a custodian of local history and a tourist attraction that brings bus loads of people.
She reasoned council’s grants were an investment in local tourism.
“It might be money to help upgrade something but in effect it’s helping council out by bringing people to the area,” she said.
Maryborough’s Words in Winter festival annually brings tourists and guest speakers to the region.
It’s also partly funded by council’s grant program each year — $3000 for 2026 alone.
“I think cutting something that is the lifeblood of the community, that rewards volunteers and small groups who get on with things ... is absolutely ridiculous,” festival coordinator Janice Simpson said.
“We’d be struggling big time if we did not have a community grant.”
Ms Simpson said the outcomes of council’s community grant benefit the whole community.
“Volunteers are recognised Australia-wide as making an enormous contribution to the Australian economy,” she said.
“You don’t have to be active in community groups to benefit from them which is why council should fund them.”
Council’s draft budget is open for community feedback until 5 pm April 16.
The budget’s other proposed cost-saving includes reducing labour costs, improving efficiency, selling surplus land and closing three-quarters of the shire’s transfer stations.