January 2025

2025 Grant Funding Rounds and how to plan

The GCBF will have three funding rounds in 2025.

Round 123: $35,000 Standard Grant – opening mid-January and closing 28 February

Round 124: $100,000 Super Round – opening mid-May and closing 30 June

Round 125: $35,000 Standard Grant – opening mid-September and closing 31 October

Be sure to mark your 2025 calendar and prepare your applications!

1. Agree on your new infrastructure or program at your next committee meeting
2. Engage Council if on Council land for permission to make these changes. Contact your Club Development Officer for an improvement works form or download here.
3. Obtain quotes
4.  Apply for the Grant
5.  If successful let your Club Development Officer know as we may be able to further support, you further. goclubs@cainrns.qld.gov.au
6.  Build or deliver your project

Acquit the grant as quickly as possible. Remember you cannot apply for another GCBF grant until another round has passed between after acquittal. IE If you apply for round 123 in March and acquit it in July. You will have to wait for the next round to pass (125) and then can apply for round 126. So, a delayed acquittal can tie up future funding.

Learn more from the Gambling Community Grants site.

Turf Maintenance Session coming in February

TURF MAINTENANCE SESSION – LEARN FROM THE BEST!

Steve Kerwitz is the driving force behind our 5-star venues like Barlow Park, Martin Barlow Park, The Esplanade, and more. Renowned for its exceptional quality, Barlow Park has been compared favourably to some of Australia's leading stadiums, including Suncorp Stadium and the MCG. 

Steve's expertise extends beyond sports fields, encompassing championship golf courses. Steve and his team are dedicated to pioneering innovative turf maintenance practices and provide invaluable support to our local clubs.  Don’t miss this session! 

We will also cover opportunities for grant funding for field maintenance and equipment.

DATE:  Tuesday 4^th Feb 2025

TIME:    5.30pm

LOCATION:  Barlow Park Corporate room

REGISTER HERE:  goclubs@cairns.qld.gov.au with your name, club, number of attendees and contact phone number.

Have your say for Go Clubs Workshops in 2025!

Please let us know what you think!  It will help us shape the support we provide in early 2025.

We have 13 options and open to more suggestions and would love to hear what you think, from how to create social media campaigns, grant funding workshops and venue and field maintenance.  

The survey takes less than one minute to complete. 

Disaster planning resources

 It’s that time of year again!  Our summer season is here, which can bring cyclones and/or flash floods.

Cyclones are part of living in the tropics.  Most cyclones occur between November and April, but cyclones have occurred outside these months.

While there is no way to predict the certainty of a cyclone hitting our region, it is everyone’s responsibility to take all necessary precautions in preparation.  Council urges you to undertake the necessary preparations now, in the event that a cyclone threat occurs.

Council has a comprehensive local disasters website, covering numerous emergency situations, available at www.cairns.qld.gov.au/disaster. 

We have provided a cyclone preparation brochure to advise how to prepare for a cyclone, what to do in the event of a cyclone and what to do after a cyclone.  You should review this document as soon as possible and ensure the premises and/or any occupants are ready.  

Please also share this with your clubs, members, volunteers, family, and friends.

Please Note:

• It is imperative that wherever possible, an extensive site clean-up is conducted before a cyclone watch develops into a warning.  This includes.
  • Any loose materials or items left in the open to be disposed of, tied down or stored away; and
  • Removal of dead, overhanging, loose branches or vegetation within the vicinity.
• We recommend that you familiarise yourself and your facility with the Storm Tide Evacuation Zones (red, orange and yellow) to establish which zone is applicable to you and to make yourself aware of the possibility of evacuation: (https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/community-environment/natural-disasters/storm-surge)  By clicking on the website link you can view the Storm Tide Evacuation Guide and Evacuation Maps.  These maps can be downloaded and placed somewhere visible around the facility.
• Council also has multi-lingual cyclone guides available on the website (https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/community-environment/natural-disasters/cyclone).

Flash flooding is also very likely in the region – it may occur across the area or only in some suburbs.  You can check flood (and hillslopes) zones using the Cairns Property Report Tool here: https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/experience-cairns/online-maps/flood-maps.  Any low-lying part of Cairns may be affected by flash flooding, depending on where rainfall occurs, proximity to creeks, rivers and drains or the timing of high tides.

Council recommends you make yourself familiar with the following emergency contacts and especially the hazard zones applicable to your location.  You can also register for https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/community-environment/natural-disasters/stay-informed so that you can receive information direct from the Cairns Local Disaster Coordination Centre via email or text message.

Cairns Regional Council:
www.cairns.qld.gov.au/disaster
For information before a cyclone
1300 692 247
For information during a cyclone
1300 396 102
Cairns Disaster Coordination Centre Facebook
www.facebook.com/CairnsDisasterCentre

Other Emergency Contacts:
Police / Ambulance / Fire 
000
State Emergency Services
132 500
Ergon Energy – Fallen Powerlines
131 670
Main Roads
131 940

For more information relating to Disasters, Cyclones or Emergencies please visit https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/community-environment/natural-disasters or contact the Disaster Management Unit on (07) 4044 3377.  Please remember to keep safe and take all reasonable steps to prepare yourself, your home and facility and think about what action you will need to take should a cyclone pay us a visit.

Household Emergency Kit | Cairns Regional Council
Household Emergency Plan | Cairns Regional Council

FREE NFP sites at the Tanks Markets 2025!

Are you involved in a not-for-profit organisation? Need to raise awareness? Have a fundraiser or sign on day?

Council provides the opportunity to assist community groups and organisations develop social cohesion and connection in the Cairns Region by offering complimentary stalls at the regular Tanks Markets and Carnival on Collins.

Complimentary stalls are offered to not-for-profit organisations with a limited number of stalls available at each Market.

A market stall can be used for fundraising/awareness – from membership drives and club registrations to raffles and merchandise sales.

The 2025 Tanks Market days are:

• § April 27
• § May 25
• § June 29
• § July 27

Need help with your grant application?

Our Go Clubs website provides all the information you need to prepare for and submit a successful grant application.