At last week’s Ordinary Council Meeting, Council voted unanimously to apply for more funding for the planned Deledio Recreation Reserve Pavilion project.
The Federal Government is providing $200 million through the Play Our Way Fund (POWF) program which will run over three years from 2024–2027.
This program will provide funding for local solutions and improvements that address participation barriers faced by women and girls by providing safe, inclusive, quality, and sustainable facilities, equipment and initiatives, to help women and girls to remain involved in sport and physical activity for life.
Council’s diligent Officers have identified the Deledio Recreation Reserve Pavilion as well suited to this fund, due to project readiness and having been identified as a long-standing priority in the Dunolly and District Community Plan, Deledio Recreation Reserve Masterplan, and the Priority Projects Plan.
The fund offers grant funding between $50K to $1M to develop or upgrade sporting facilities which support women and girls’ participation in sport and active living.
For rural and remote communities such as Dunolly, the maximum amount of grant funding which can be applied for is increased to $2M.
No co-contribution is required. However, contribution is encouraged to strengthen the application, so council is proposing to contribute $500,000 through future cash borrowings.
The fund is a two-step competitive grant program, with expressions of interest due by the 29 April 2024.
A big shout out to all the community groups who sharpened their pencils once again, to provide letters of support for this second application. It really does make a difference and shows the community is behind the project 100%.
This is exciting news for the Dunolly community, as it means we now have two live grant applications for Deledio.
If we’re successful with both, then the dream of a new pavilion may well be within reach.
Mayor Cr Liesbeth Long, Flynn Ward
