A dozen local projects will share in $56,774 through the Rural City of Wangaratta's 2025/26 Community Sponsorship Program.

Council awarded the funds to Wangaratta Symphony Orchestra Inc, Centre Against Violence, North East Multicultural Association, Gateway Health,

Free Spirits Farm Sanctuary, Open Door Neighbourhood House, Upper King Valley Community Centre Incorporated, Ovens & King Football Netball League,

King River and District Fishing Club, King Valley CWA of Victoria Branch, Oxley Shire Hall Committee (Community Asset Committee), and Whitfield Recreation Reserve Asset Committee.

Mayor Irene Grant said the sponsorship grants allow community groups to carry out the work without having to worry about where they get the money from.

However, Wangaratta resident Claire Russell asked council at its monthly meeting last week why grants were awarded to organisations that have access to federal and state funding.

"Why would we not be spreading our community money to really local?" she asked.

"For example, CAV receive significant funding, and we have such a small amount of money.

"Even schools, they receive state government funding, I don’t understand that.

"I question the eligibility criteria."

Mayor Grant said in the case of the school receiving funding, "they actually did a very much community focused activity and that was the reason why they received funding".

Council's director of community and infrastructure, Marcus Goonan, explained that eligibility criteria was quite clearly set out, and regardless of the organisation it needs to be a program that supports the community outside the scope of usual business.

"Probably the most disappointing piece about the sponsorships that we have in front of us at the moment is we actually had more money to give, but unfortunately the response, and sponsorships that came in didn’t meet the criteria or were not particularly well put together," he said.

"Therefore we ended up awarding less money than what we actually had."

Mr Goonan said they would like to continue working with the community to make sure that some of these other submissions can get up to that standard and are eligible.

"Then we can support them moving forward," he said.