Representatives from 16 groups from the shire’s towns had five minutes each to present their ideas to councillors and council staff on Tuesday in Mortlake. 

Moyne Shire mayor Mick Wolfe said the community capital works presentation evening enabled groups to explain projects they wanted council to fund in more detail. 

It also gave council representatives the chance to ask questions and clarify what the works would include, he said. 

“It’s a process we do every year whereby groups and individuals can present to council with funding requests and we can ask any questions,” Cr Wolfe said.

“From there it becomes part of the budget process in our allocation of funds in the annual budget.” 

He said the night attracted a wide and varied mix of groups from across the shire including the Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail who wanted help from council in applying for state government funding and Port Fairy’s Belfast Aquatics who want to install air conditioning at a cost of $120,000. 

Others included Ellerslie Hall representatives who need about $40,000 to have the building reclad and Hawkesdale which have several projects including footpaths, gardening and the installation of a septic tank at the town’s pool. 

Cr Wolfe said the meeting was also a chance for groups to see and hear what projects other townships were undertaking. 

“Sixteen groups presented and we got a good understanding of their projects so now we’ve got to sit down and work out what money we have got to fund and who we going to direct that to to assist them,” Cr Wolfe said. 

“We can ask for further information but the evening helps us determine what it is they want, why they need it and how much they’re chasing. 

“We might recognise that some of the projects become part of the Community Assistance Fund program which is separate to the main budget. We’ll categorise them and award funding from whatever pool, based on the merit of the applications.” 

The event also included guest speakers from the Koroit Bowls Club and the Warrnambool Model Aircraft Club who provided their tips on successful project planning. 

Cr Wolfe said budget discussions would begin in March and the budget would be put out for public comment in May. The budget is approved in June ahead of the beginning of the new financial year.

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