Gilgandra Shire Council – Drought Communities Programme

This program aims to deliver support to targeted drought-affected regions of Australia by funding local community infrastructure and other drought relief projects.

The intended outcomes of the program are to:
- Increase employment in regions by providing work for locals and/or farmers and farm labourers/staff/contractors whose employment opportunities have been affected by drought.
- Improve levels of economic activity in regions.
- Increase productivity in regions.
- Enable better retention of businesses, services and facilities.

Minimum grants of $25,000 per application is available.

A total funding pool of $1 million is available.

Eligible applicants include community organisations applying for infrastructure projects, events, activities or initiatives deemed eligible under the Guidelines.

Eligible activities must directly relate to the project and can include:
- Repairs, maintenance, upgrading or building new community facilities.
- Repairs, maintenance, upgrades, construction and fit-out of community spaces.
- Employing local contractors to undertake repairs and maintenance holding events.
- Undertaking other drought relief activities (including water carting for human consumption).

Other drought relief activities that benefit the community may be approved.

Please refer to the Guidelines for complete list of eligible activities and expenditure.

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Payment of salaries for existing staff or contractors, although projects may be carried out by existing workforces.
- Computer software or hardware that is not an integral part of the funded capital project.
- A Council’s core or business-as-usual operations, which Council rates and other government funding usually funds.
- Purchases of land, buildings, vehicles or mobile capital equipment (e.g. trucks and earthmoving equipment).
- Undertaking studies or investigations.
- The development of private or commercial ventures, including licensed areas of registered clubs.
- Costs for community vouchers or cash handouts.