THE Shire of Northam has locked in three years of funding for some of its biggest community events, giving organisers greater certainty ahead of future planning cycles.
At its April 22 ordinary council meeting, councillors approved a range of annual grants to support events across Northam, Wundowie and Bakers Hill, in the realms of agriculture, arts, commemorations and community celebrations.
More than 10 events and organisations were included in the funding package.
Multi-year funding allows organisers to plan venues, bookings and sponsorship earlier.
Among the largest allocations is up to $25,000 a year for the Wundowie Iron Festival.
According to the Wundowie Progress Association, Wundowie was the birthplace of WA’s iron ore industry and the iron festival looked to celebrate its heritage.
This funding was paired alongside up to $15,000 annually for the Northam Agricultural Society to deliver the shire’s signature farmers show.
Festive and community events were also strongly supported, with funding up to $15,000 set aside for Carols in the Park, up to $7500 for the Bakers Hill Community Christmas Fair and Australia Day celebrations in both Wundowie and Bakers Hill.
Support for ANZAC Day services was included through funding for the Northam RSL sub-branch, while the arts sector will benefit from up to $6000 of continued backing for the Northam Art Prize and Killick Art Awards, alongside a large-cast production by the Northam Theatre Group.
The Killick Art Awards had a funding reduction from $3000 to $2000 on the request of the Avon Valley Arts Society so that the Northam Art Prize could be prioritised.
The agreements, endorsed unanimously by council, will run from the 2026–27 financial year and aim to provide stability for organisers managing large-scale, volunteer-driven events.
By committing funding over multiple years, the shire is looking to reduce uncertainty for groups that rely on annual grants to plan ahead, secure sponsorship and coordinate volunteers.
The decision follows recommendations from the community grants assessment committee, which reviewed applications earlier this month.
While individual allocations varied in size, the funding package aimed to support long-established events and smaller community initiatives.
