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The Central Highlands Regional Council’s Community Grants Program aims to assist local community groups/organisations in making positive contributions to the quality of life in the local government area.

  • Funding categories

    Applications can be submitted in the following categories to the maximum indicated:

    • Community assistance – up to $5000
      • Organisations with a community focus, not providing organised sport and recreation activities.
      • The organisation’s constitutions main objective is to provide community benefit.
    • Sport and recreation assistance – up to $5000
      • Organisations providing organised sport and recreation activities.
      • The organisation’s constitution main objective is to provide organised sport and recreation activities.
    • Community improvement – up to $20,000
      • Organisations with a focus on completing aspirations of their community in alignment with Council Strategic documents.
      • This category is open to both community-focused organisations and sport and recreation organisations.
  • Upcoming rounds

    Grants are offered twice a year.

    Round Opening Date Closing Date Applicants notified Completed acquittal due
    Round 1, 2024 6 November 2023 5.00pm, 28 January 2025 March Six months
    Round 2, 2024 25 July 2024 midnight, Sunday 15 September 2024 Late October Six months
    Round 1, 2025 January 2025 midnight,
    Sunday 16 March 2025    		 Late April Six months

     

  • Eligibility

    Groups/ organisations applying for Central Highlands Regional Council Grants are required to:

    • Have the majority of members of the organisation/group reside in council’s local government area boundaries.
    • Operate predominately within council’s local government area boundaries.
    • Have acquitted any previous council grant satisfactorily.
    • Be free of debt with  council.
    • Be an incorporated ‘not-for-profit’ organisation or company limited by guarantee that has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as a charity, tax exempt fund or deductable gift recipient. Note: religious organisations are not eligible.
    • Unincorporated groups are eligible to apply, providing that their application is made through the appropriate incorporated body which supports the program, project or activity.
    • Have relevant public liability insurance cover, except when the grant relates only to works being undertaken by a suitably insured contractor.
    • Make the facility or resource available to community through membership or other means.
    • Demonstrate a clear need for financial support and show that other avenues of financial support have been explored (e.g. other grant funding).
    • Submit the organisation’s most current financial statement (as submitted to the Office of Fair Trading) or latest treasurer’s report including bank balances covering previous12 months.
    • Submit a detailed budget for the program, project and/or activity and two (2) quotes from registered businesses, for all items to be funded for the grant (including where possible at least sourced in council boundaries).
    • Provide in principle support from the landowner or trustee of the land prior to application submission
    • Provide in principle support from the landowner or trustee of the land prior to application submission.
    • Sought advice regarding building works and approval prior to application submission (if applicable).
    • Have a signed Tenure Agreement if one has been offered in excess of six months from the application date. (This criterion is applicable if you are operating from council land/building).
    • Be open for public membership.
  • How to apply

    IMPORTANT: Please read the grant guidelines and the form before applying.

    Council staff involved in the administration of the Community Grants Program are available to provide general guidance to assist with the preparation of your application. Please contact the Customer Service Centre on 1300 242 686.

    Community Grant Program Applications can be completed online https://chrc.smartygrants.com.au/

    Alternatively, you can complete a hard copy of the grant, please contact a Grants Officer for this option.

    Templates:

    Community Grants Program – Project Plan-Template 

    Community Grants Program-Strategic-Plan-Template

     

  • Success stories

    Emerald Basketball Association

    Emerald Car Club

    Springsure Junior Cricket Club

     

     

  • Previous applications

    Community Grants Round 2 - 2023

    List of successful grant applications.
    Organisation Project  Grant Category Grant amount $ (ex GST) 
    Blackwater North State School Parents and Citizens Association (auspice by Blackwater North State School) Portable and accessible stage for hall Community Improvement 20,000.00 
    Bluff Lions Club Inc Bluff cemetery gazebo Community Improvement 9,045.00 
    Capella Cricket Club Inc Cricket net safety improvements Sport & Recreation 5,000.00 
    Capella State School Parents and Citizens Association Ping pong table Sport & Recreation 4,388.45 
    Central Highlands Junior Rugby Union Pasifika Vybez event celebrating Pacific Island culture  Sport & Recreation 5,000.00 
    Dingo Rodeo Club Inc Equipment upgrade Sport & Recreation 5,000.00 
    Duaringa State School Parents and Citizens Association (auspice by Duaringa State School) Grandstand seating Community Improvement 19,900.00 
    Emerald Dance Centre Inc Refurbishment of building exterior Community Improvement 20,000.00 
    Emerald Town Band Inc Asbestos removal from clubhouse building Community Improvement 20,000.00 
    Peak Downs Pony Club Fencing for old racecourse land Community Improvement 20,000.00 
    Retreat Creek Campdraft Association Public address system Sport and Recreation 5,000.00 
    Springsure Gun Club Inc Clay target traps upgrade Community Improvement 20,000.00 
    Springsure Junior Cricket Club Concrete slab in front of cricket nets Sport and Recreation 5,000.00 
    Springsure Working Horse Association Seating for Bauhinia Park Community Improvement 7,811.48 
    Totals 166,144.93 
  • Assessment panel

    Grant applications are assessed by the Community Grants Assessment Panel, which includes council staff, councillors, and community representatives.

    The term for community representatives on the assessment panel hold a term for two years. The current panel term runs through to April 2026.

    The panel reviews all grant applications to provide a recommendation to council on which projects should be funded.

     

     

Applications can be submitted in the following categories to the maximum indicated:

  • Community assistance – up to $5000
    • Organisations with a community focus, not providing organised sport and recreation activities.
    • The organisation’s constitutions main objective is to provide community benefit.
  • Sport and recreation assistance – up to $5000
    • Organisations providing organised sport and recreation activities.
    • The organisation’s constitution main objective is to provide organised sport and recreation activities.
  • Community improvement – up to $20,000
    • Organisations with a focus on completing aspirations of their community in alignment with Council Strategic documents.
    • This category is open to both community-focused organisations and sport and recreation organisations.

Grants are offered twice a year.

Round Opening Date Closing Date Applicants notified Completed acquittal due
Round 1, 2024 6 November 2023 5.00pm, 28 January 2025 March Six months
Round 2, 2024 25 July 2024 midnight, Sunday 15 September 2024 Late October Six months
Round 1, 2025 January 2025 midnight,
Sunday 16 March 2025		 Late April Six months

 

Groups/ organisations applying for Central Highlands Regional Council Grants are required to:

  • Have the majority of members of the organisation/group reside in council’s local government area boundaries.
  • Operate predominately within council’s local government area boundaries.
  • Have acquitted any previous council grant satisfactorily.
  • Be free of debt with  council.
  • Be an incorporated ‘not-for-profit’ organisation or company limited by guarantee that has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as a charity, tax exempt fund or deductable gift recipient. Note: religious organisations are not eligible.
  • Unincorporated groups are eligible to apply, providing that their application is made through the appropriate incorporated body which supports the program, project or activity.
  • Have relevant public liability insurance cover, except when the grant relates only to works being undertaken by a suitably insured contractor.
  • Make the facility or resource available to community through membership or other means.
  • Demonstrate a clear need for financial support and show that other avenues of financial support have been explored (e.g. other grant funding).
  • Submit the organisation’s most current financial statement (as submitted to the Office of Fair Trading) or latest treasurer’s report including bank balances covering previous12 months.
  • Submit a detailed budget for the program, project and/or activity and two (2) quotes from registered businesses, for all items to be funded for the grant (including where possible at least sourced in council boundaries).
  • Provide in principle support from the landowner or trustee of the land prior to application submission
  • Provide in principle support from the landowner or trustee of the land prior to application submission.
  • Sought advice regarding building works and approval prior to application submission (if applicable).
  • Have a signed Tenure Agreement if one has been offered in excess of six months from the application date. (This criterion is applicable if you are operating from council land/building).
  • Be open for public membership.

IMPORTANT: Please read the grant guidelines and the form before applying.

Council staff involved in the administration of the Community Grants Program are available to provide general guidance to assist with the preparation of your application. Please contact the Customer Service Centre on 1300 242 686.

Community Grant Program Applications can be completed online https://chrc.smartygrants.com.au/

Alternatively, you can complete a hard copy of the grant, please contact a Grants Officer for this option.

Templates:

Community Grants Program – Project Plan-Template 

Community Grants Program-Strategic-Plan-Template

 

Emerald Basketball Association

Emerald Car Club

Springsure Junior Cricket Club

 

 

Community Grants Round 2 - 2023

List of successful grant applications.
Organisation Project  Grant Category Grant amount $ (ex GST) 
Blackwater North State School Parents and Citizens Association (auspice by Blackwater North State School) Portable and accessible stage for hall Community Improvement 20,000.00 
Bluff Lions Club Inc Bluff cemetery gazebo Community Improvement 9,045.00 
Capella Cricket Club Inc Cricket net safety improvements Sport & Recreation 5,000.00 
Capella State School Parents and Citizens Association Ping pong table Sport & Recreation 4,388.45 
Central Highlands Junior Rugby Union Pasifika Vybez event celebrating Pacific Island culture  Sport & Recreation 5,000.00 
Dingo Rodeo Club Inc Equipment upgrade Sport & Recreation 5,000.00 
Duaringa State School Parents and Citizens Association (auspice by Duaringa State School) Grandstand seating Community Improvement 19,900.00 
Emerald Dance Centre Inc Refurbishment of building exterior Community Improvement 20,000.00 
Emerald Town Band Inc Asbestos removal from clubhouse building Community Improvement 20,000.00 
Peak Downs Pony Club Fencing for old racecourse land Community Improvement 20,000.00 
Retreat Creek Campdraft Association Public address system Sport and Recreation 5,000.00 
Springsure Gun Club Inc Clay target traps upgrade Community Improvement 20,000.00 
Springsure Junior Cricket Club Concrete slab in front of cricket nets Sport and Recreation 5,000.00 
Springsure Working Horse Association Seating for Bauhinia Park Community Improvement 7,811.48 
Totals 166,144.93 

Grant applications are assessed by the Community Grants Assessment Panel, which includes council staff, councillors, and community representatives.

The term for community representatives on the assessment panel hold a term for two years. The current panel term runs through to April 2026.

The panel reviews all grant applications to provide a recommendation to council on which projects should be funded.

 

 

Community grant forms & guidelines

Guidelines for all applicants

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