South West events and community groups receive more than $500,000 in ratepayer-backed funding

The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River has dished out $534,000 in community grants to groups and events as part of its biannual funding scheme.

Funding went to some of the biggest names on the events calendar, as well as to environmental and wine groups, sustainable businesses and community-run festivals.

The shire reviewed its community, economic, environmental and events funding policy after it merged different funding streams in January 2021.

The review showed the previous year’s applications totalled $1.344 million, of which about $934,000 was allocated. This amount was expected to grow as awareness of the policy increased.

Shire president Paula Cristoffanini defended the plan to deliver more than $1m in grants this financial year despite increasing rates last month to meet costs.

Cr Cristoffanini said the money was a vital funding stream for numerous worthy projects.

“I see the shire’s grants program as building capacity and investing in our community,” she told the Times.

“Our community obtains excellent returns from this funding which creates opportunities for its members to be engaged in services which we could not buy otherwise.

“The program supports positive partnerships between the shire and our many community and not-for-profit groups that provide so much for everyone in Augusta-Margaret River.”

Edible Gardens Festival organiser Trevor Paddenburg said the $12,000 would enable the event to operate annually.

More than 450 people visited 11 different gardens during last year’s festival.

“The Edible Gardens Festival is an annual educational event that connects community and empowers people with knowledge and inspiration to grow their own food,” Mr Paddenburg said.

“We believe it’s such an amazing event for our community, giving locals the chance to learn more about everything from growing your own fruit and vegetables to saving water, composting, reducing waste, living more sustainably and reducing our impact on the earth.”

Categories for funding included major events, hiring the Margaret River Heart, community development and events, environmental management, community halls and community organisation operating funding, and money for the sustainable economy.

Some of the grants required fund-matching and all recipients have to file an acquittal report with the shire.

GRANT FUNDING

Major events

CinefestOz $22,000

Strings Attached WA Guitar Festival $12,100

Fine Vines festival $9900

Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival $16,500

Cabin Fever $11,000

Cape to Cape Mountain Bike Race $11,000

Kiteboarding Australia Wave Nationals $8250

Lunar Circus $8250

Margaret River Region Open Studios $13,750

Rapid Ascent Ultramarathon $11,000

Community development and events

Edible Gardens Festival $12,194

Woven Cowaramup/Weaving Stories of Boodja $10,995

Artzability $14,747

Margaret River Agricultural Show $15,000

Nature Conservation Margaret River workshops and sundowners $8800

Margaret River Recreational Surfers ocean safety training $8298

Augusta Golf Club WA Sand Greens Championship $12,305

Ocean Mind youth mental health wellness surf program $10,432

Surfside Church Carols in the Park $7000

Arts Margaret River/The Stars Descend performance $11,385

Easy Grants

Margaret River Concert Band Spring concert $2000

Augusta Community Resource Centre/Save Our Country Kids barbecue $2000

Environmental management fund

Nature Conservation Margaret River $39,544

Nature Conservation Margaret River/Our Patch education program $14,025 (three-year commitment)

Lower Blackwood LCDC $49,999

Nature Conservation Margaret River Western ringtail possum education $21,852

Sustainable economy

Margaret River Wine Association $11,000

Margaret River Chamber of Commerce $11,000

Sunny in Margs composting service $1540

Sustainable economy small grants

Vino Investments sustainable winegrowing certification $1100

La Kooki sustainable winegrowing certification $1100

Community organisation operating grants

Augusta Community Development Association $5000

Creative Corner $34,000

Radio Margaret River $21,000

Undalup Association $49,000