Application period

Applications for 2026-27 Community Support Program open 14 May 2028 and close 5pm 11 June 2026.

We will consider applications that align with our commitment to support a more sustainable community, are associated with the three key themes and at least one of the following six categories outlined in our Terms and Conditions document.

To ensure your application has the best chance, please address all required information, paying particular care to make your application relevant to the themes and categories, and ensure you meet the eligibility criteria in the menu below.

There are FOUR sponsorship packages to choose from.

Each package aims to promote drinking tap water; water conservation; sustainable environmental outcomes; or will build important community partnerships.

Choose which package suits your needs:

1. Water refill stations (fountains)

Aim: to financially support the purchase of permanent water refill stations (fountains) at local non-profit clubs and schools/kinders.

Amount: up to $7,000

Options include:

–  In ground fountain / bottle refill station

–  Wall mounted fountain / bottle refill station.

* If the purchase price of the fountain costs more, balance is payable by organisation.
*Installation and ongoing costs must be covered by the organisation which manages the location. (This is usually negotiated with the relevant local council or a committee of management prior to application.)

2. Small water efficiency projects / programs

Aim: to financially support sustainable local projects or educational programs involving water efficiency.

Amount: up to $5,000

Project or education program examples include:

–  purchase or installation of water saving products including:

• water tanks
• water pumps
• water saving toilets or showers
• irrigation systems.

– water and wastewater literacy and education

– water conservation projects, e.g. building a school vegetable garden or sustainable indigenous garden bed for teaching purposes

– cultural heritage/Aboriginal water values

3. Sports hydration

Aim: to financially support local sports clubs to purchase one of the following Choose Tap branded hydration items:

Option 1: Game hydration kits

Water bottle carriers with Choose Tap branded reusable water bottles.

A variety of options exist to meet the needs of different types of sporting clubs (e.g. soft foldable carriers, wire cage carriers, plastic carriers that can be broken down in to smaller pieces for storage, and various bottle types).

Amount: up to $500

Option 2: Water cooler dispenser(s)

Large 55L water cooler dispenser jugs for easy refills at your next game.

Amount: up to $500

4. Event package

Aim: to financially support the running of local sustainable events, by reducing single use plastic and supporting a healthy community and lifestyle.

The event package includes:

–  $500 cash sponsorship

–  hire of our Hydration Station trailer or portable fountains

–  50 x reusable water bottles

–  A sign printed and displayed on our roadside Billboard (1-2 weeks)

The event MUST include tap water promotion, and MUST NOT have single use plastic water bottles available for sale or as giveaways.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive sponsorship from Westernport Water, your event, initiative or campaign must meet set criteria.

Your application will be viewed favourably if it:

• positively promotes Westernport Water’s products or services (water and wastewater)
• involves water efficiency
• helps build strong community relationships
• provides shared community benefit through partnerships.

To be eligible for the Community Support Program your application MUST meet the following criteria:

• be located or held within Westernport Water’s service area. View our service area map on our website
• provide evidence of not-for-profit registration or registered charity  (e.g. incorporated community group, management committee, sporting club, volunteer group or school. For-profit businesses cannot receive sponsorship funding)
• MUST be single use plastic water bottle free (If you are requesting event support)
• publicly recognise Westernport Water as a Sponsor and/or Event Partner
• positively promote Westernport Water by aligning with the key themes (Healthy & Hydrated people, communities and planet).

Westernport Water will NOT support sponsorships that:

• are for projects/initiatives outside our service region
• have a co-sponsor supplying bottled water to the project/event. Events MUST be single use plastic water bottle free
• have a co-sponsor whose values don’t align with our values
• could attract adverse community criticism
• request open-ended sponsorship
• have outstanding evaluation or acquittal reports from previous applications
• aim to deliver or replace core government services
• seek donations for individuals or fundraising teams for charity
• seek retrospective funding or budget deficits
• fund political campaigns
• fund groups seeking support for personal interests
• fund events that discriminate adversely against any persons, organisations or group
• fund projects which conflict with Government Policy or objectives
• have visible links to tobacco, gaming, alcohol or drug-related issues, including co-sponsors from these industries
• fund proposals that do not align with the overall intent of the sponsorship objectives
• fund proposals that do not align with the overall intent of the sponsorship objectives in our Sponsorship and Donation Policy
• do not comply with the Information Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.

For more information, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Sponsorship acknowledgement

Recipients will be required to publicly acknowledge Westernport Water’s sponsorship. The acknowledgement MUST comply with Westernport Water’s Brand and Style Guide and clearly indicate the support for the sponsored activity.

This includes:

• media acknowledgment in local newspapers, television or radio exposure
• recognising Westernport Water as an Event Partner on the event’s website at least two weeks prior to the event/program
• acknowledging Westernport Water as an Event Partner on the events social media channel at least one week prior to the event/program, and again on the day of the event (minimum)
• inclusion of the Westernport Water logo on posters and any printed marketing materials
• signage on site reflecting Westernport Water’s support as an Event Partner (pull-up banners and flags can be borrowed for event duration)
• acknowledgment on day of event by MC (if applicable)
• post event acknowledgment of sponsorship in local newspapers, and social media
• invitation for a Westernport Water representatives to attend the event or oversee project, and take photos for promotional use (if applicable)
• sharing at least three high resolution event/program-related images with Westernport Water staff or logo/signage, with authorisation to use these images for promotional purposes
• Westernport Water MUST sight and approve all marketing material where the corporate identity will appear.

Conditions

•  applications MUST be submitted online using the Community Support Program Application Form
• applications for 2026-27 Community Support Program
  • open Thursday 14 May 2026
  • close Thursday 18 June 2026
• Westernport Water reserves the right to decline proposals that do and don’t meet the criteria, and to terminate agreements if they fail to meet the agreed
  commitments.
• successful applicants will receive a letter inviting them to enter into a sponsorship agreement by completing a Funding Agreement Form, which MUST be
  completed before funding is released
• funding MUST be spent in the 2026-27 financial year before 1 May 2027.
• all recipients MUST provide a tax invoice to obtain sponsorship funds
• successful applicants MUST complete an Acquittal Form within three months of the project being completed, and received no later than 4 May 2027.

Failure to comply with T&C’s

Westernport Water reserves the right to terminate the Sponsorship Agreement or seek repayment of any funding if:

• the recipient fails to meet the obligations outlined in the T&C’s
• it believes that the applicant has spent funding on items not associated with its original application and allocated purpose or has otherwise misappropriated the funds
• the applicant has NOT completed the Acquittal Form. Failure to return an Acquittal Form will result in applicants being ineligible for sponsorship in subsequent years until a completed Acquittal Form is provided
•  funds are not expended by 1 May 2026, unless prior arrangements have been made.

Inability to meet the Terms & Conditions of the Sponsorship Agreement will render applicants ineligible for sponsorship in the future

Supporting attachments

Where required, supporting documentation helps us to assess your application and can be used to demonstrate that your project has broad community support or identified as a key priority by stakeholders.

They might include:

• project quotes or plans
• letters of support: These should be provided if they are relevant to the application i.e. project partner or a group that will directly benefit from the project or are providing funds and/or in-kind support
• photos or newspapers cuttings from previous activities (if available)
• business or development plans, feasibility studies, masterplans, community plans, etc.
• constitution, articles of association or memorandum.

2025-26 CSP Recipients

Westernport Water is proud to announce that $31,500 was distributed to 13 local not-for-profit community groups for our 2025-26 Community Support Program.

Congratulations to the following successful applicants, who will receive part or full sponsorship for their projects and events for the 2025-26 financial year:

Drinking fountains (up to $7K):

• Bass Valley Early Learning Centre
• Cowes Primary School
• Corinella Bowls Club
• Grantville Recreation Reserve.

Small water efficiency projects:

• Phillip Island Village School: Drip irrigation for School Kitchen Garden.

Schools package:

• Bass Coast College – San Remo: Australian Native Edible Garden program.

Sports hydration:

• Phillip Island Football Netball Club: U14 & U16 girls football teams.

Events package:

• San Remo District Tourism & Business Inc: 2025 TIDAL Seafood Festival
• Kilcunda Community Association Inc: 2026 Kilcunda Lobster Festival
• PI Progress Assoc: Carols by the Bay
• Arts Society Phillip Island Region Inc: 2026 Easter Weekend Art Show
• Cowes Yacht Club: Around French Island National Catamaran Challenge 2026
• 2026 Channel Challenge.