Partnering with our community

Applications are now open for our annual grants program, helping local community groups, artists and children’s organisations build a stronger, healthier and socially connected Kingston.

Last year social welfare groups, schools, theatres and sporting clubs across the municipality shared in just over $1.62 million to continue their great work, and applications are now invited from groups and individuals seeking financial support.

We are proud to partner with the many local community groups providing high-quality and important services that help make our community a great place to live. Applications are now open for:

Annual Grants

Up to $10,000 for not-forprofit community groups and organisations for activities that contribute to the social, health and economic wellbeing of Kingston’s residents. Call 9581 4676 or email community@kingston.vic. gov.au for more information

Arts Grants

Up to $5,000 for individual artists, not-for-profit art groups and organisations to support arts projects, community arts projects, mentorships and/ or residencies. Call 9556 4440 or email arts@kingston.vic.gov. au for more information

Hard waste made easier

This year, we’ll be providing greater flexibility for households and working to reduce illegally dumped rubbish.

A change to our hard rubbish collection service begins in July, offering residents two free, on-call collections per financial year.

Local Makers and Creative Businesses Grant

Up to $4,000 for Kingston based makers and creative business owners to provide funding and business mentoring to support the showcasing and marketing of a product to the public within a creative and/ or professional business space within Kingston. Call 9556 4440 or email arts@kingston.vic.gov. au for more information

Children’s Week Grants

Not-for-profit community groups and organisations that plan to deliver a one-off event or activity that celebrates Children’s Week in October are eligible to apply for up to $1,000 to help create opportunities for families and children to participate together in activities in their local community. Call 9581 4885 or email partnerships@kingston.vic. gov.au for more information

Applications close midnight Thursday 30 March 2023.

For more information visit kingston.vic.gov.au/grants

Tackling textile waste

We’ve partnered with local business UPPAREL which gives pre-loved clothing a second life. Simply box your unwanted items, book your collection and leave your box at your front door.

Fit-for-wear items go to charities and damaged items are recycled. Kingston residents are eligible for a discounted collection fee. Visit upparel.com.au/cityofkingston business@kingston.vic.gov.au

Are you a local business doing great things in sustainability or recycling? We’d love to hear about it.

Learn more about waste and recycling in Kingston on our free podcast Trash Talk

This fully ‘on demand’ service is replacing the annual spring collection. You can dispose of e-waste, white goods, furniture and mattresses, among other approved household items. Illegally dumped rubbish costs ratepayers more than $200,000 annually and expanding our hard waste service will hopefully reduce illegal dumping and the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Subscribe for hard waste updates at kingston.vic.gov. au/hard-waste

Single-use plastics alert

The Victorian Government ban on the sale and supply of plastic straws, cutlery, plates, drink stirrers, cotton bud sticks and expanded polystyrene drink containers is now in force. See vic.gov.au/plastics

City of Kingston employees visit UPPAREL in Braeside.

CR CHRIS HILL

0437 913 851 chris.hill@kingston.vic.gov.au

Council remains in contact with the State Government and the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) and are awaiting a response to our letter requesting changes to the most recent plans for the Parkdale and Mentone crossing removals.

The proposed closure of the Latrobe Street level crossing has also caused a lot of community concern. How you move through the area and concerns about the impact on traffic flows in the Cheltenham and Mentone activity centres are key issues in the feedback we’ve received. We share the disquiet about the lack of engagement and have asked the LXRP to explain. We want genuine community consultation on the Latrobe Street proposal and would like alternative options to be fully investigated. We have also requested that as much information as possible be made available to the community. If you have any feedback on the government’s plans, we encourage you to contact the LXRP by emailing contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au

In other news, I was thrilled to recently attend the switch on of the historic Nylex clock on Nepean Highway, Mentone.

It was great we received such strong community support and advocacy from the Mordialloc & District Historical Society to get the clock running again.

I have a personal connection, as my dad worked at the Mentone site for a decade in the 60’s and 70’s.

It’s exciting to see the clock fully restored and I hope it sparks interest in the history of Nylex - a manufacturing icon in our local economy for over 60 years.