City of Mount Gambier has endorsed the distribution of $150,650 in funding and $37,546.80 in in-kind support for round one of the 2025/2026 Grants and Sponsorships Program, following a formal resolution at the Council Meeting held on Tuesday 16 September 2025.
The Grants and Sponsorships Program provides financial and in-kind assistance to eligible groups for community events, infrastructure upgrades, arts initiatives, and recreation projects that align with Council's Strategic Plan.
For the 2025/2026 financial year, Council allocated a total budget of $456,800 in cash and $143,384 in in-kind support. Of this, $291,885 in cash and $95,516 in-kind were pre-allocated to major events and initiatives.
"Some of the events that received a pre-allocation include the Australian Sprint Car Championship, Fringe Berrin, Generations in Jazz, Adelaide Guitar Festival, Pioneers Basketball, Apollo Soccer Club and Substance Misuse Limestone Coast," City of Mount Gambier Manager Economy, Strategy and Engagement Biddie Shearing said.
Council received 30 applications for round one, across five funding streams:
- Community Events Grant
- Corporate Sponsorship
- Community Strengthening Grant, and
- Sport and Recreation Capital Works.
Applications were assessed during two panel meetings using a structured evaluation matrix, with consideration given to economic impact, community benefit, and long-term sustainability.
"With $164,915 cash and $47,868 in-kind remaining budget available, it was a very difficult decision for the Grants and Sponsorship Assessment Panel, which included elected members and senior staff."
"Not all applications could be fully funded due to oversubscription, the total requested was $399,067.86 cash and $38,409.98 in-kind."
Grants and Sponsorship Program round one
Community Event Grant allocations
- South Gambier Football Club - Mount Gambier Rodeo: $6,650 cash + $2,164 in-kind
- Lakes Rotary Club of Mount Gambier - Blue Lake Fun Run: $5,000 cash + $6,200 in-kind
- Mount Gambier Harness Racing Inc - Pacing Gold Cup: $1,000 cash
- Australian International Pedal Prix Inc - Pedal Prix: $10,500 cash + $749.80 in-kind
- Blue Lake BMX Club - State BMX Series - $1,000 cash + $529 in-kind
- Mount Gambier Ministers Association - Blue Lake Carols - $5,000 cash + $633 in-kind
- Mount Gambier Show Society - Spring Show: $3,000 cash + $722.80 in-kind
- South East Automobile Club - Legends of the Lake Hill Climb: $12,993 in-kind
- OZFish Unlimited - Fish Wise Festival - $2,000 cash + $1,000 in-kind
- Basketball Mount Gambier Inc - Junior Basketball Tournament - $2,000 cash
- Mount Gambier Disc Golf - 2025 Eruption: $5,000 cash + $1,580 in-kind
- Rotary Club of Mount Gambier West - Party in the Park - $6,300 cash + $891.70 in-kind
- Southern Saints Netball Club - The Border Challenge -$5,000 cash
- The Nurtured Village Hampers Limestone Coast - Flourish - $1,000 cash
- Mount Gambier Community RSL Club - ANZAC Day Services & Parade: $4,700 cash + $3,450 in-kind
Corporate Sponsorship allocations
- Limestone Coast Festivals & Events Inc - Fantasy Medieval Fair - $15,000 cash + $5,609 in-kind
- Mount Gambier Community Events Management Inc - New Year's Eve: $20,000 cash + $4,024.50 in-kind.
Community Strengthening Grant allocations
- Mount Gambier City Band - City Band Hall - $5,000 cash
- Karenni Community of South Australia - Youth Camp: $2,500 cash
- The Nurtured Village - The Village Flow - $5,000 cash
- Stand Like Stone - Digital Transformation - $10,000 cash.
Sport and Recreation Capital Works allocations
- South Gambier Football Club - Clubroom Airconditioning - $5,000 cash
- Mount Gambier Golf Club - First Tee Cart Path Refurbishment - $10,000 cash
- Italo Australia Club Inc - Pitch Irrigation Development - $15,000 cash
