Terms, conditions & criteria

All ideas must be in accordance with the following terms and conditions:

  • The idea must demonstrate a strong community benefit.
  • The idea must be for a once-off community program, project or initiative that can be delivered by Council between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. NOTE: Ideas for physical infrastructure on Council owned or managed land, assets or property will not be considered.
  • Each idea must be able to be implemented for $50,000 or less by Council.
  • A proposed total of $600,000 is for the delivery of all projects (subject to the 2023/24 Council budget adoption).
  • The ideas must be Council-led and delivered, with no direct allocation of funds given to individuals, community groups, clubs, organisations, or commercial business.
  • A restriction to the number of ideas per theme and/or service unit may be introduced at any stage.
  • Once submitted, the idea becomes a Council-led project and will be delivered in accordance with Council values, process and within the available resources.
  • Council will investigate the following while assessing each idea:
  • the feasibility of the project idea,
  • the detail included in the project idea budget, and
  • legislative constraints and technical constraints which might affect the success of the project idea
  • Where there are multiple submissions for the same idea, Council reserves the right to determine which submission will be put forward for consideration.
  • If multiple/like submissions for the same idea are received and there is no formal community group/sporting association attached, we will group these submissions and review them as one package.
  • Council reserves the right to refuse the delivery of any idea or project.
  • Only Hobsons Bay City Council residents are eligible to submit ideas.
  • Hobsons Bay City Council employees and Councillors or their immediate families are ineligible to submit an idea. Immediate family includes spouses, parents, and children only.

2023/24: Guidelines & FAQs

Council invites the community to pitch an idea or project to be included in Council's 2023-24 Budget.

1. HOW TO PITCH YOUR IDEA

  1. Read and follow the Terms and Conditions
  1. Read the Guidelines
  1. Submit your idea on Participate Hobsons Bay, Council’s online engagement platform – https://participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/

Submissions close at 11.59pm, 23 January 2023

2. FOR ASSISTANCE TO PITCH YOUR IDEA

There are three ways to access assistance to make your application

  1. Read Section 6: ‘Tips for your application’ of this document
  2. Call to speak with a Council Officer 1300 179 944
  3. Contact the Community Engagement Team at communityengagement@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au

3. HOW WILL IDEAS BE ASSESSED?

The internal assessment process will include:

Was the idea received by 11.59pm, 23 January 2024 via Participate Hobsons Bay at https://participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/

  • Yes – proceed to the next question.
  • No – the idea will not be supported, thank you for your application.

Is the idea better suited for a grant program currently managed by Council?

Can the idea be Council-led and delivered, with no direct allocation of funds given to community groups, clubs, organisations, or commercial business?

  • Yes – proceed to the next question.
  • No – the idea will not be supported, thank you for your application.

Is the idea a once-off community program, project, or initiative that can be delivered by Council, between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024?

  • Yes – proceed to the next question.
  • No – the idea will not be supported, thank you for your application.

Will the idea cost $50,000 or under to implement?

  1. Yes – proceed to the next question.
  2. No – the idea will not be supported, thank you for your application.

How does the idea score against the following criteria?

Criteria

Score

To what extent does the idea demonstrate a strong benefit to the community?

(up to 10)

To what extent is the idea deliverable during the 2023/24 financial year with consideration to the estimated cost and available resources?

Yes/No

4. HOW WILL IDEAS BE SELECTED TO PROCEED TO STAGE 2 FOR THE COMMUNITY TO VOTE?

  • Ideas that have reached assessment will receive a score out of 10 points.
  • Ideas that receive a score of 6 or over will proceed to the next round.

5. HOW MANY PROJECTS WILL BE FUNDED?

Hobsons Bay City Council has allocated $600,000 for “Pitch your project” as part of the 2023/24 annual budget.

6. TIPS FOR YOUR APPLICATION

Demonstrating strong community need

Each applicant must demonstrate how their idea meets a strong community need. A simple way of thinking about this is:

  • What is the problem or opportunity?
  • How does it affect or impact the community?
  • What difference would your idea make?

NOTE: Ideas for physical infrastructure on Council owned or managed land, assets or property will not be considered.

For information on Council’s current community services and programs, click here.

For more information about grants available at Council and other local providers, click here.

For further details on how Council works towards creating a healthy, equitable and thriving community, please refer to the following documents:

A Fair Hobsons Bay for All 2019-23

Reconciliation Action Plan 2019-21

For details on sustainable events, community environmental groups and grants, click here.

For further details on how Council sustainable initiatives and actions, click here.

For information on further Council plans, programs and services:

  • COVID support program, click here.

For further details on how Council is working towards creating a vibrant place and economy, please refer to the following documents: