‘Nickel-and-dime’ support for community groups: Council’s funding approach under fire

Council’s has been accused of “self-congratulatory praise” for its Community Partnership Funding Program and met with sharp criticism from a Montville community leader and former mayoral candidate.

The Community Facilities program stream, which allocated $603,809 across 91 not-for-profit groups for operational costs, has been labelled as insufficient by Montville Village Association President, Wayne Parcell PSM, who argues that the funding falls far short of what is needed to sustain essential community services.

Mr Parcell attended the August 29 Sunshine Coast Council meeting. Mr Parcell acknowledged the $9000 annual grant his association will receive for the next three years, but he was quick to point out that this amount is less than a third of the minimum needed to effectively support the community.

“The Montville Village Association is grateful, but it’s disheartening to see the council pat itself on the back while offering what amounts to just four cents per week per resident for vital community services,” he said.

The Montville Village Association plays a pivotal role in the community, maintaining the village hall, delivering monthly markets, and serving as the social hub for Montville and its surrounding areas. Despite this, the funding provided is only a fraction of what is required to cover the operational costs of these services, which Parcell describes as “the heart and soul” of the community.

Mr Parcell, who attended the council meeting, did not hold back his frustration. “The back-slapping self-congratulations of the council about how cheaply essential community services are being delivered by not-for-profit organisations was appalling,” he said. “This nickel-and-dime approach by council delivers less than four cents per week to each of the more than 300,000 people who benefit from community services. Just two dollars per person per year for services that the council claims are essential – this is a sad reflection on the truth about the value council places on volunteers and community support.”

His concerns extend beyond Montville, to all not-for-profit groups and community halls in the region. These facilities, which Mr Parcell calls “the gorgeous small halls that are dotted through our regional communities,” are struggling to keep up with rising insurance and operational costs. These halls, which host local markets, weddings, birthday parties, and community meetings, are facing financial strain, and Mr Parcell believes the council’s tokenistic grant allocations are to blame.

“Council is shirking its responsibilities with these tokenistic grant allocations,” he said. “Council is ignoring the demise of our small halls and communities while gloating about grandiose Olympics facilities that are announced and fully funded at the coast. It didn’t take long for the sun of the new council administration to set on the west of the Bruce Highway, did it?”

Mr Parcell’s impassioned critique serves as a reminder that while the council celebrates its financial contributions, the reality for many community organisations is far more challenging. 

Wayne Parcell says organisations need more funding given the services they provide.