The Oura Progress Association’s project to install new lighting and seating at the local skate park is among the nine successful recipients in the Recreational & Community Facilities category. Photo: Wagga Wagga City Council.
Wagga Wagga City Council has endorsed the funding of more than $234,000 that will be shared between 49 community-led programs.
As part of the 2025-26 Annual Grants Program, the council provided funding to applicants across 10 grant categories including Community Programs & Projects, Recreational & Community Facilities, Neighbourhood & Rural Villages, Rural Halls, Local Heritage, Events, Environment, Youth Programs & Projects, Small Business, and Arts, Culture & Creative Industries.
This year’s round of funding attracted 94 applicants, and Wagga Wagga Mayor Dallas Tout said the number of applicants were always increasing, particularly in the multicultural space.
“There’s an increasing number of community organisations, particularly in the space I’m in a lot, which is multicultural space,” he said.
“There’s a number of multicultural organisations now that are incorporated, so they don’t have to get anyone to auspice their grant. They’re able to apply in their own right.
“And you will have seen some of those and some successful applicants. So I think it’s an increasing education of knowledge that they’re there, and also existing people who have always put in annual grants and been successful for a number of years.
“So it’s across a whole range of different organisations and different individuals, when it comes to the heritage one that are applying.”
The program’s funding continued to prioritise areas within the Wagga Wagga local government area with high levels of social and community disadvantage.
“There were a lot of applications this year, so sadly, there was some unsuccessful applicants.
“That goes to show the popularity of the Annual Grants Program and what it could do to the community.
“I always call it the multiplier effect. With annual grants of $500, $1000, or $2000 that an organisation can match, it can mean a huge amount to them, or a facility or service that they can provide or build.
“And that’s the beauty of the Annual Grants Program, that multiplier effect that we may have given out nearly a quarter of a million dollars, but the benefit to the community is far, far more than that, and across a whole range of categories.”
Cr Tout said the funding granted was “predetermined” based on the budget that came through two weeks ago.
“That was already predetermined, so we have a set ceiling on the annual grants in a couple of the categories,” he said.
“There was some unspent funding, but that will be put aside. And if things come up in that category again through the year, then the consideration can be given by the councillors to use if there was excess in that particular category.
“So that way it’s going where it was originally meant to go.”
The successful applicants for 2025-26 covered a wide range of projects and initiatives, including a Mental Health and Wellbeing Expo, the provision of lights and seating at Oura Skate Park and a project supporting food relief efforts in Wagga Wagga through increased access to food supplies for local agencies.
“We are pleased to be able to provide this support to the 49 successful applicants, who will be delivering these programs and initiatives to the community,” Cr Tout said.
“We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition over the coming 12 months.”
The Annual Grants Program is part of council’s commitment to developing a vibrant, growing and sustainable community in line with the visions of the Wagga Wagga 2050 – Community Strategic Plan.
The full list of 2024/25 Annual Grants Program recipients can be found here.
