Council kicks in $188,000 for community events and projects

Published: 01 Nov 2021

The Mackay Chinese Association will be able to celebrate the Chinese New Year with their customary flair thanks to a $7500 council Community Grant approved this week.

The Community Grant is part of a wider funding round totalling about $188,000 that also includes Small Equipment Grants, Minor Assets Grants and Minor Infrastructure Grants.

The Chinese New Year event, to be held at the Bluewater Quay on February 12, 2022, will bring the popular traditional Chinese lion dancers (from Brisbane) back to our region.

It will also feature a face changing performance, Tai Chi and Kung Fu performances, fan dancing, traditional songs, New Year games and cultural food stalls.

Community Grants Committee chair Cr Laurence Bonaventura said he was pleased to see the Chinese community active in promoting and sharing their culture.

“It’s great that council is able to support this vibrant event with a Community Grant – and it’s just one of many,” Cr Bonaventura said.

“Council was also able to approve a $2000 grant for the Mackay Tournament Anglers to assist with running fishing competitions on our stocked barramundi dams,” he said.

“These local tournament anglers are extremely active in promoting our freshwater fisheries as world class angling destinations, so it’s excellent to be able to support their competitions that attract like-minded anglers to our region.

“This funding round has also allowed council to put financial support behind popular events like the Mackay Charity Zombie Walk ($3033) and Mackay Swimming Academy’s Great Barrier Reef Swimming Carnival ($5000).”

Cr Bonaventura said the lion’s share of the funding went to not-for-profit groups and clubs to support vital infrastructure and minor assets projects.

“The largest of these grants went to the Eungella Community Development Association,” he said.

“The Association received $28,260 to provide all-weather access to the rear of the Eungella Hall.

“That facility it a well-used community hub, hosting everything from music concerts to community meetings, and during the bushfires it became a kitchen and coordination centre for volunteers in the area.

“Mackay Show Association will use their $20,000 for fencing the main arena and the same amount was approved to help install an electric kiln at the Pioneer Valley Arts gallery.”

Also approved during this funding round were:

Small Equipment Grants

  • Sarina Pony Club Inc - $1500 for cavalleti blocks
  • Dragons Abreast Mackay - $999 for a new notebook computer
  • Mackay Cyclones Swimming Club Inc - $1500 for a large equipment cage
  • With One Voice - Mackay and Surrounds - $1500 for a refurbished photocopier/printer
  • QCWA - Seaforth Branch - $1500 for computer equipment

Community Grants

  • Victoria Park State School P&C Association - $4500 for an upright tuckshop freezer
  • Road Accident Action Group Inc - $2374 for posters for a Wide Loads project

Minor Assets Grants

  • Palmyra Drag Racing Club Inc - $10,894 for a multi-purpose track scraper
  • Mackay Society of Model Engineers - $11,000 for building lining and painting
  • Happy Paws Happy Hearts Foundation - $8695 to fit-out a newly training facility
  • Seaforth Men's Shed Inc - $7000 for a welder and sanding equipment
  • Eton Primary P&C Association - $7000 for a new mower
  • Mackay Hurricanes Cricket Club Inc - $1701 for computer equipment

Minor Infrastructure Grants

  • Mackay Wanderers Football Club - $8000 for top-dressing of the main fields
  • Phoenix Place Inc - $8000 for anti-slip treatment of external tiled flooring
  • Calen District State College P&C Association - $26,000 for the renovation of a communal food preparation and servicing area

Round two of council’s Community Grants and Small Equipment Grants (totalling $188,000) are now open.  Not-for-profit groups and clubs can apply here.