Successful applicants were granted donations based on the type of project, its benefit to the community, and available funds.

Mayor Colin Price said donating money to community groups was an established process.

“I always feel a little uneasy about rate payer’s money going to donations, but there is a community expectation and it is an established process,” he said.

Council General manager Hein Basson said council has a commitment to annually donate funds for Community Groups.

“I think the community has accepted that we donate and approve these donations to those organisations that benefit the community,” he said.

“Also it foster’s community building in the Glen Innes Severn Local Government Area.

“The range of groups that applied for community donations varied greatly and it is exciting to be able to support so many different projects and council commends all the groups for the excellent work they do in the community.”

The only unsuccessful application for donations was from GLENRAC.

Council said funds were not granted as the committee believed that GLENRAC is able to source funds from other bodies.

GLENRAC Spokesperson Kylie Falconer said they are disappointed to not be awarded a grant from council.

“We are disappointed because we were looking to run training and educations programs that would benefit the whole community,” she said.

“And contrary to the council’s statement, we haven’t identified another funding opportunity to source those funds.”

Council resolved that the Director of Corporate and Community Services write to GLENRAC to explain the reasons why it did not receive a donation.