Community projects brought to life by Council funding

Solar panels, bird watching hides and a new inflatable rescue boat are just few of the community projects that will get a funding boost across the Western Bay.

All up 36 projects will take home funding from Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s ‘Community Matching Fund’ which sees $140,000 go directly into community groups’ hands.

Each year when the Community Matching Fund opens, Western Bay community groups share the projects close to their hearts, and apply for much-needed cash to get them over the line.

Rachael Davie, Group Manager Community and Strategy says the list of successful applicants is proof of how caring, resilient, and motivated our Western Bay groups are.

“To look at this list of community-led makes you proud to be part of the Western Bay. These heart warming projects will make a difference for so many people and our precious taiao (environment).

“It’s a huge honour for Council to help bring this mahi to life. Thank you to everyone who applied for the amazing work you do in service of others and our environment.”

To be eligible for funding applicants must ‘match’ Council’s financial contribution, but unlike many other funds, the Council’s fund values volunteer hours and in-kind support equally with cash donations.

Rachael says, “Whether you’re in the kitchen serving kai for your community, or out at working bees on the weekends – every hour counts, and we want to acknowledge that.”

Each year $40,000 of the fund is dedicated to environmentally focussed projects. This year it includes the Te Puke High School Environment Committee who are trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Their cash grant will help to purchase solar panels for the school and reduce their hot water bills.

Other funded projects in the $100,000 general bracket include assisting the Bird Group of Ōmokoroa Environmental Managers, to work with volunteers from Ōmokoroa’s MENZSHED and build bird hides at Cooney Reserve.

The Katikati Community Centre has been assisted to run more of their much loved year-round community breakfasts, and the Waihī Beach Lifeguard Services will receive funding towards a new inflatable rescue boat.

This is the seventh year of the Community Matching Fund and it’s as popular as ever. Once more, demand from community groups exceeded available funding – showing the value and need of the fund within our community.

All funding decisions were made by a panel of Council team members and Councillors, John Scrimgeour, Mark Dean and James Denyer representing each of the Western Bay’s three wards. The panel consider each application according to a set of criteria to ensure fair and objective results.

Here's the full list of fund recipients and project summaries for 2022.