Other Funding Sources

Living Here

Gladstone Regional Council is committed to fostering engaged, involved and proud communities.

In addition to our Community Investment Program the below funding sources are also available.

Supporting Regional Arts Development

The Gladstone Regional Council Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Gladstone Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.

Local arts and cultural groups and individuals can apply for funding for specific short-term projects.

For further information, visit www.gragm.qld.gov.au/radf or contact RADF Liaison Officer Annie Clarke on (07) 4976 6766.

Turtle Tank

Status: Closed (Round opened Tuesday 11 April 2023 - Closed Monday 22 May 2023)

Turtle Tank is back for its second year to give businesses and organisations in the Gladstone Region an opportunity to apply for funds towards an innovative idea that will boost tourism in our region.

Turtle Tank is an initiative of Gladstone Regional Council (GRC) and administered by Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Limited (GAPDL) to assist with the recovery of the region’s tourism industry from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, the fund will support innovative ideas, campaigns and initiatives in marine tourism, which benefit the region now and into the future.

The Turtle Tank fund is proudly sponsored by Gladstone Regional Council with $50,000 available to successful applicants. This year, successful applicants may be granted up to $20,000 for their marine tourism-focused initiative.

Projects that leverage off current events and or existing infrastructure in the Gladstone Region may receive preference. Applicant must complete an innovative three step application process.

Contact details

Turtle Tank is administered by GAPDL. For more information, contact GAPDL Tourism Manager Nicola Scurr on (07) 4972 4000 or via email on tourismmanager@gapdl.com.au

Applicant requirements

Applicants can be:

Not for Profit Organisations
Businesses/Commercial Operators based in the Gladstone Local Government Area (LGA)
Partnerships/Consortiums

Applicants must:

Be incorporated (not applicable for businesses)
Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
Be financially solvent
Have an operational bank account for the funds to be paid into.

Applicants must not be:

Religious Organisations
Political Organisations
Sporting Clubs
Educational Institutions
Local, State and Federal Government agencies.

Projects should be able to demonstrate they are innovative, sustainable, environmentally conscious and aligned to the GRC Visitor Economy Strategy and sub-strategies as well as the GAPDL Destination Tourism Plan. There is a preference for projects which leverage off current events and or existing infrastructure in the region.

Application process

Applications opened 11 April and closed 22 May 2023

Applicants will attend the online Tourism Innovation Fund Information Session via Microsoft Teams from 10am-10.30am, Thursday, 11 May 2023. 
Applicants will submit a written application outlining the concept of the initiative to the panel for assessment;
Successful written applicants will be invited to attend the Turtle Tank where applicants will be required to pitch their initiative to a panel of expert investors from Council and GAPDL.

Council have final sign off on successful submissions.

More information

2023 successful applicants

CGRI ARTmatters: $10,000
- Proposed project: Hosting a marine debris sculpture competition to engage the community through environmental awareness and artistic expression
Salty Life 1770: $10,000
- Proposed project: Providing unique, luxury pontoon boat hire experiences
Dive Spear and Sport @ 1770: $10,000
- Proposed project: Creating an educational program and reef experiences to support sustainable spearfishing in the Great Barrier Reef
Agnes Conservation Community Inc: $10,000
- Proposed project: Hosting cinematic quality nature and sustainability focused film experiences
Luis Angel: $5,000
- Proposed project: Developing a video promoting the region through the lens of marine ecology and conservation
Gladstone News: $5,000
- Proposed project: Developing travel features for the School, Easter and Christmas Holidays highlighting marine tourism-based providers in the region.

2022 successful applicants

Applicant	Tourism initiative
Katrina Elliott Photography & Design	Creation of an Arts and Culture Trails website
Kirsten’s Cottage	Addition of food safety approved preparation kitchen
StixPix Productions	Creative regional marketing using virtual reality
1770 Lagoons Central Apartment Resort	Annual 3-day aquatic light show & music event
Traveller’s Rest 1770	Marketing assets to promote Traveller’s Rest 1770 & Bush Tracks
Ward’s Brewery	Design and build a mobile bar