Community & Business
1 July, 2025
Four more years of Council assistance for community groups
Community groups, community halls, organisations and historical societies across have secured funding support for the next four financial years under Toowoomba Regional Council’s Core Community Support Program 2025-2029.
At a Council meeting last week, Councillors endorsed committing $221,033 to support 68 beneficiaries for the 2025/26 financial year, which is almost 20 per cent less than the previous financial year’s budget (2024/25).
For the remaining three years of the current Core Community Support Program schedule (until the end of 2028/29 financial year) Council has endorsed a total budget of $654,372.
These organisations will receive insurance support of $1,745.24 each year for four years towards including insurance including public liability, volunteer and professional cover.
TRC Owned Halls
Cambooya Public Hall Association Inc., Hodgson Vale Community Sports Club Inc., Westbrook Hall Committee Inc.
Non-TRC Owned Halls
Felton Hall Association Inc., Greenmount Returned Soldiers Memorial Hall Association Inc., Nobby Heritage and Development Association Inc. (Nobby School of Arts Hall), Pilton Soldiers’ Memorial Hall Inc., Wyreema Hall (operated by Wyreema Community Events Inc.)
Facilities spokesperson Cr James O’Shea said the program was vital to encouraging community wellbeing, promoting cultural expression, encouraging volunteerism and ensuring inclusivity within the Region.
The Core Community Support Program provides two types of financial assistance including insurance support for Historical Societies, Council owned and non-Council owned community halls, and consistent non-competitive payments made to community organisations such as Royal Show Societies, crime and safety initiatives, cultural and community assets.
“The community groups, halls, organisations and Historical Societies which receive support through this program are often at the centre of the community, providing connection and a key service for people in our Region,” Cr O’Shea said.
“Our community venues are especially important considering there aren’t many options of event locations in our Regional towns.
“I’m proud that Council can play a small part in continuing to support them.
“This program provides community groups a level of certainty regarding funding, which can help them plan for the future.”
Unlike the competitive TRC’s Grants Program, organisations included in the Core Community Support Program schedule are not required to make an application to receive funding.
However, they do need to comply with conditions outlined in the funding agreement, such as key performance indicators, otherwise eligibility for future Core Support is void.
The program was implemented in 2012 to coordinate and manage historical community support funding.
The Core Community Support Program Schedule has previously been reviewed biannually; however last week Council endorsed a change to see the schedule reviewed every four years, in alignment with the Term of Council.
