Alexandrina Council has awarded $125,7000 worth of community grants to 45 clubs, organisations, artists and businesses to help protect local heritage, improve the local environment, support business and tourism initiatives and build community wellbeing and resilience.

The funds were allocated in four separate competitive grant categories as part of the council’s 2025-2026 Grants Program and were approved by councillors at the October general meeting.

The program opened on 28 July and closed on 8 September  with Council Grant Assessment Panels receiving 63 applications to consider against listed criteria.

The Small Grants Program opened for applications on 20 October and will remain open until all funds are allocated.

“Our grants program helps our community deliver our shared vision to make Alexandrina Liveable. Green. Connected.’,” says Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes.

“These grants also assist our endeavours to meet the objectives of our A2040 Strategic Delivery Plan.

“Projects range from assisting the Langhorne Creek vigneron community provide cellar door customer service training to helping local community halls with capital projects as well as revegetation initiatives, assistance for much-loved community events and funding to preserve local history.

“We have an innovative, creative and passionate community in Alexandrina and our grants program gives our people some support to do what they do best, which is delivering much needed projects for our residents.”

The council approved the allocation of $20,000 from the 2025/26 Business Initiatives Grant budget to support the awarding of nine grants to the following applicants:

• Strathalbyn Tourism Association $2,500 – improve technical skills and enhance digital presence.

• Grommets Play Cafe $2,500 - building social media presence to raise community awareness.

• Middleton Tavern $1,050 - developing a portfolio of images

• Away at Ancell $2,500 - Mini Moments at Ancell Acres.

• kuti shack $2,500 - Brand identity, marketing, social media.

• Langhorne Creek Grape and Wine Inc. $2,500 - cellar door customer service training.

• Follett's Lake Breeze Pty Ltd $2,300 - digital assets for website and digital library.

• Bremerton Wines $2,500 - Bremerton Video portfolio.

• Advanced Seeds Australia Pty $1,650- Dog Lake Farm Veggie Baskets.

The council approved the allocation of $18,200 from the 2025/26 Community Environment Grant budget to support the awarding of seven grants to the following applicants:

• Mount Compass Area School $3,000 - Mount Compass Area School Swamp Monitoring.

• Kumarangk Hindmarsh Island Landcare Group Inc $4,000 - progressing Reserve 8 Restoration.

• Friends of Nurragi Association Inc $2,200 - enhancing Native Vegetation in the Nurragi Conservation Reserve.

• Freemans Knob Coastcare $2,000 - Freemans Knob Coastcare 2026 Planting.

• Radio Goolwa - Alex FM $1,500 - increase of canopy cover and planting and water Conservation.

• Captain Sturt Revegetators $4,000 - continuing the Captain Sturt Parade waterfront Restoration.

• Port Elliot Community Garden $1,500 - Port Elliot Community Garden - build seven new low garden beds.

The council approved the allocation of $20,000 from the 2025/26 Community Wellbeing Grant budget to support the awarding of five grants to the following applicants within the 'Vibrant and Artistic' stream:

• Goolwa Community Centre $3,671 - Flying the Flag for the Goolwa Community Centre.

• Aleksandra Antic $5,000 - Intertidal Zone.

• Wes Maselli $5,000 - mentoring and development: Punorama.

• Luisa Stocco $3,500 - Memory of Trees.

• Rebecca Elson $2,829 - Art of Family Mindfulness Series.

The council approved the allocation of $50,000 from the 2025/26 Community Wellbeing Grant budget to support the awarding of 17 grants to the following applicants within the 'Active and Healthy', 'Connected and Inclusive' and 'Places and Spaces' streams:

• Goolwa Bowling Club Incorporated $5,000 - Safe and Welcoming Clubrooms.

• Woodchester (Richardson) Hall $5,000 - Woodchester (Richardson) Hall - toilet facility/parents room upgrade.

• The Milang Vintage Machinery Club Inc. $2,500 - The Yesterdays Power Rally.

• Port Elliot Community Garden $5,000 - Tool Shed.

• Yundi War Memorial Hall $2,500 - Heating and Cooling Yundi War Memorial Hall.

• Strathalbyn Tennis Club $3,475 - North Parade Internal Fence Windbreaker.

• The Goolwa Girl Guide and Scout Hall Management Committee Inc. $2,500 - Heat and Cool Hall.

• Clayton Bay Community Association Community Garden $2,500 - Increased Production in the CBCA Community Garden through installation of water wise wicking beds.

• New Year’s Eve Fireworks Off The Bridge 2025-2026 $2,500 – costs of running New Year’s Eve Fireworks Off The Bridge.

• Armfield Wooden Boats Inc $1,900 - Water, lights and mower project.

• Goolwa Children's Centre $2,100 - Reclaiming her Voice.

• Clayton Bay Community Association Inc $2,000 - Clayton Bay progression towards Dark Skies International Accreditation.

• Ashbourne War Memorial Centre Inc. $2,000 - Smart Cleaning Upgrade to Support Inclusive Use of Ashbourne Hall.

• Belvidere Memorial Hall Inc. $3,870 - re-roofing entrance area.

• Port Elliot Tennis Club $3,000 - Maintenance of tennis courts and shelter for social tennis members.

• Goolwa Aquatic Club $2,500 – Aquafest 2026.

• Coorong Dragons Incorporated $1,655 - Dragon Boat Light Weight Paddles.

The council approved the allocation of $17,500 from the 2025/26 Heritage Grant budget to support the awarding of seven grants to the following applicants:

• Lyndall Anderson $2,500 - Stonework at ‘Lorraine's’.

• Katie Stevens $2,500 - Installation of fence at 1A Hooper Road, Strathalbyn.

• Peter Moeck $2,500 - Conservation Practice.

• Craig Williamson $2,500- Repair and Restore Facade of Strathalbyn Workers Cottage.

• The Potts Vintage Collection Inc. $2,500 - Digitising our Catalogued Archive.

• Bleasdale Vineyards Pty Ltd $2,500 - Bleasdale 1892 Cellar Museum Conservation of Stone and Brickwork.

• Armfield Wooden Boats Inc $2,500 - Shelter for Gladys.

For further details about the grant programs and the selected applicants, visit the Alexandrina Council website.