Applications are open in regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne for the Victorian Government’s $20 million Living Local Fund to support local community groups and councils to create better public spaces and improve streetscapes.
The fund is supporting a wide range of potential projects, from upgraded halls to art installations, lighting, equipment, community gardens to playgrounds and improving accessibility.
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale said it was a fabulous initiative all about supporting local communities to get the infrastructure and equipment they need to provide better and more inclusive facilities.
“A massive call out to all our community groups, clubs, organisations to get your application in for that locally led project you have talked about – whether it’s lighting you need, a kitchen upgrade, new playground even smaller items like fridges, stoves, laptops, audio visual equipment – the skies the limit,” she said.
The Living Local Fund is part of the government’s Our Regions and our Suburbs: Living Local Initiative and is designed to ensure local towns will have the infrastructure and equipment they need to continue to thrive.
Local councils and community organisations can apply for two types of grants.
Grants between $20,000 to $200,000 will be available for infrastructure projects, including new playgrounds and community gardens, art installations and community halls upgrades and grants between $2,000 to $20,000 will also be available for local councils and community organisations to undertake minor refurbishments, buy new equipment such as kitchen appliances, laptops and audio-visual equipment.
The fund is designed to support a wide range of locally led projects and equipment purchases for community organisations to improve liveability.
Projects in areas most impacted by the pandemic and projects that align with the government’s 20-Minute neighbourhood principles will be given priority.
The 20-Minute Neighbourhood principle aims to create local hubs where people can access services, like health facilities, parks and shops within a 20-minute walk from home.
The Living Local Fund grant applications are now open and close on Sunday, 14 August.
For more information, visit djpr.vic.gov.au/living-local
