Community Support Program

Application period

Applications for 2023-24 Community Support Program open 1 June 2023 and close 5pm 31 July 2023.

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 below.

Types of sponsorship available

We offer two main categories of sponsorship:
1. Events, Hydration and Choose Tap – up to $1,000
2. Financial support for water saving or sustainability projects – up to $3,000

• 1. 1. Events
        Not-for-profit community groups, management committees, volunteer groups, club or schools from within our service area may apply for up to $1,000 to financially support the running of local sustainable events, by reducing single use plastic and supporting a healthy community and lifestyle. The event MUST include tap water promotion, and must not have single use plastic water bottles available for sale or giveaways. You can also request our Hydration Station trailer for the event as part of your application.

        Hydration
        Permanent water stations (fountains) – Westernport Water may support the application for the purchase or installation of a permanent water fountain at your publicly accessible community area or facility. Funding will not exceed $3,000 for the purchase of a unit. Balance of funds is to be provided by the applicant.

        Choose Tap funding & merchandise
        – Hydration kits for sports clubs (reusable team water bottles and carriers)
        – Merchandise such as reusable Choose Tap water bottles (plastic or stainless steel)

        In-kind support
        – provision of technical expertise from within the organisation to assist with a specific short-term project or event.
        – advertising sign on our roadside Billboard
        – use of our portable Water Fountains and Hydration Station trailer for your event.*

     2. Financial support for water saving or sustainability projects
        Not-for-profit community groups, management committees, volunteer groups or schools can apply for financial support for a minor project up to $3,000.  Some projects examples include:
        – weed control
        – revegetation with indigenous plants
        – improving the health of local waterways
        – building a school vegetable garden or sustainable indigenous garden bed for teaching purposes
        – water saving projects including purchase or installation of water tanks, pumps, or irrigation devises
        – permanent water stations (fountains) – purchase or installation of a permanent water station at your publicly accessible community area or facility
        See a comprehensive lists of examples on our website and FAQ brochure.

     *Note: limits or conditions may apply.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply and receive community sponsorship from Westernport Water, your event, initiative or campaign will be assessed against set criteria and conditions.

Applications will be viewed favourably if they:

• positively promote Westernport Water’s products or services
• align with or support key themes – healthy people, healthy communities and healthy planet
• help engage or build strong community relationships
• provide 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)
• MUST be single use plastic water bottle free (If you are requesting event support)
• recognise Westernport Water as a Sponsor and/or Event Partner
• positively promote Westernport Water by aligning with the key themes listed above.

Westernport Water will NOT support sponsorships that:

• are for projects/initiatives outside our service region
• could attract adverse community criticism
• could attract high level COVID related risk/s
• request open-ended sponsorship
• have outstanding evaluation or acquittal reports from previous applications
• aim to deliver or replace core government services
• seek donations for fundraising teams or individuals for charity
• seek retrospective funding or budget deficits
• fund political campaigns or groups seeking support for personal interests
• fund events that discriminate adversely against any persons, organisations or group
• have a co-sponsor supplying bottled water to the project/event
• have a co-sponsor whose values don’t align with our values
• fund projects which conflict with Government Policy or objectives
• fund organisations supportive of or with visible links to tobacco, gaming, alcohol or drug-related issues
• fund proposals that do not align with the overall intent of the sponsorship objectives
• requests that do not comply with Westernport Water’s Sponsorship and Donation Policy
• do not comply with the Information Privacy Act 2000.

For more information, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions

Sponsorship acknowledgement

Successful recipients will be required to acknowledge Westernport Water’s sponsorship/support. 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 any print, television or radio exposure
• recognising Westernport Water as an Event Partner on the event’s website/web page at least two weeks prior to the event/program
• acknowledging Westernport Water as an Event Partner on at least one event-related social media channel (eg Facebook, Instagram or Twitter) at least one week prior to the event/program
• 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 in press and or public notices (if applicable)
• invitation for a Westernport Water representatives to attend the event or oversee project, and take photos for promotional use (if applicable)
• sharing three high resolution event/program-related images with Westernport Water within five business days of the event’s completion 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 2023-24 Community Support Program open 1 June 2023 and close 31 July 2023
• Westernport Water reserves the right to decline proposals that do and don’t meet the detailed 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
• funding MUST be spent in the 2023-24 financial year
• all recipients MUST provide a tax invoice or signed “statement by supplier” to obtain sponsorship funds
• successful applicants MUST complete an Acquittal Agreement Form within three months of the project being completed, and received no later than 2 June 2024.

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 2 June 2024, unless prior arrangements have been made.

Inability to meet the T&C’s 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: 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.

• Arts Society Phillip Island Region Inc.
• Cowes Yacht Club Inc
• Destination Phillip Island
• Kilcunda Community Association Incorporated
• Phillip Island & District Railway Modellers Inc.
• Phillip Island Fire Brigade
• Phillip Island Landcare Group
• Phillip Island Community Orchard
• Phillip Island Ukulele Group Incorporation
• PI Progress Association
• Powlett River Primary School
• Phillip Island Golf Club
• The Island Story Gatherers Inc.
• Totally Renewable Tenby
• Threatened Species Conservancy
• San Remo District Tourism & Business Inc.