Council backs 23 local projects through grants program

Published on 28 October 2026

Twenty-three community projects across the Gympie region will share almost $130,000 in Round 1 of Gympie Regional Council’s 2026/27 Community Grants Program.

Endorsed at Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday 28 October 2026, the funding will support a range of grassroots initiatives, from upgrading community facilities and protecting the environment to delivering local events and arts and cultural projects.

Gympie Mayor Glen Hartwig said the Community Grants Program continued to deliver significant benefits for communities across the region.

“Our region is fortunate to have so many dedicated community groups and volunteers who work hard to make their communities better places to live, and these grants help bring their ideas to life,” Mayor Hartwig said.

“We only have to look at the recent Gympie Gold Rush Festival, which Council proudly supported through this program, to see the difference supporting community-led initiatives can make.

“The festival was a fantastic celebration of our region’s rich history and heritage, but just as importantly, it brought people together and highlighted the vital role community events play in building connections and strengthening our sense of community.

“That’s exactly what our Community Grants Program is about supporting local groups to deliver projects and initiatives that make a positive difference to the communities we live in.”

Mayor Hartwig said the latest round of Council's Community Grants Program included a diverse range of projects that would make a positive difference to the community.

“This latest round of Council’s Community Grants Program is supporting some fantastic initiatives, from helping the Rotary Club of Gympie deliver its Heritage Makers Fair and supporting safety upgrades at the Gympie Queens Park Tennis Club, to assisting the Australian Native Animals Rescue and Rehabilitation Association’s wildlife education project for schools and the wider community," Mayor Hartwig said.

“I congratulate all of the successful recipients and look forward to seeing these projects come to life over the coming months.”

Applications for Round 2 of the 2026/27 Community Grants Program will open on 1 February 2027.

For more information, visit Grants and Funding | Gympie Regional Council

ENDS

2026/27 Round 1 Community Grants Program Recipients:

Community Development category

- Blackall Range Care Group Ltd – Cooloola Coast Community Aged Care Expo – $5,000

- Gold City Darts Association Inc – Digital Darts Tournament Management Project – $1,498

- Cooloola Christian Radio Assoc Inc - 91five – Youth Media Equipment – $3,000

Community Facilities category

- Gympie Pistol Club Inc – Improve Disability Access – $4,950

- Gympie Queens Park Tennis Club Inc – Safety Upgrades – $10,000

- Cooloola Coast Kart Club Inc – Out Grid Electrical, Lighting and Cooling Upgrade – $8,670

- Veteran Hall Social Committee Inc – Hall Shed Works Engineer (Part1 - B) – $2,900

- Long Flat Hall Committee Inc – Long Flat Hall Comfort and Connection Project – $6,633

- Cooloola Coastcare – Coastcare Mobile - Portable Sound System – $2,316

- Gympie United Football Club Inc – Clubhouse Seating – $8,500

- Lions Club of Tin Can Bay Inc – Critical Appliances Upgrade – $6,253

Environment Project category

- Koala Action Gympie Region Inc – Koalas in the Park - World Environment Community Day – $5,670

- Australian Native Animals Rescue and Rehabilitation Assoc Inc – Community and School Wildlife Awareness Education Project – $3,390

Biosecurity Projects

- North Deep Creek Sustainable Biocontrol Syndicate – $2,478

- Common Ground – $2,500

- Dagun Invasive Species Control – $2,500

- Amamoor Feral Control – $2,370

- Deep Creek Riparian Weed Management Syndicate – $2,500

Creative Projects category (RADF)

- Joolie Gibbs – 22.96 Reflective Community Workshops and New Video – $5,863

- Raoul Slater – Portraits of Wildlife Carers with Vintage Photographic Process – $5,168

- Loose Knit Productions Inc. – Plays in the Pub – $7,524

Event - Major category

- Levi Hanna Forever Fishing Foundation – Levi Hanna Forever Fishing Classic 2027 – $5,000

- Rotary Club of Gympie – Heritage Makers Fair – $24,965

ENDS