SRG has it funding cut by 33 per cent

The incoming Southbank Residents’ Group committee will have to work with 33 per cent less funding, as the City of Melbourne’s community grant is downsized from $3000 in 2013 to $2000 in 2014.

The cut puts pressure on the group which only has the grant and membership fees as its sources of income.

City of Melbourne councillor Richard Foster said that the council believed resident associations such as the SRG made important contributions to civic participation and connection, but the cut had come from an assessment of community grants by an independent panel.

“The independent panel who made the grant assessments wanted to be consistent with other recommendations made for similar organisations and project outcomes,” Cr Foster explained.

“To give maximum effect to the available funding, council agreed with a panel recommendation that all resident associations should receive $1500 in base funding for the 2013 calendar year to cover core administrative costs,” Cr Foster added.

The extra funding the SRG would receive is allocated when groups were able to demonstrate that their projects improved community connections and participation beyond their members.

Cr Foster also pointed out that the council would further analyse its funding for residents groups.

“The City of Melbourne will be developing a more detailed policy position and approach to funding of residents associations that will be incorporated in future community grant guidelines,” Cr Foster explained.