Community groups and organisations across the inner-west will share in almost $500,000 to bring their ideas to life.

A broad range of 22 new projects will benefit through the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund’s second round of grants.

The $10 million fund is an initiative of the Victorian Government through the West Gate Tunnel Project. It ensures the benefits of the project to the local community start now – bringing people together and improving neighbourhoods near where it is being built.

The grants of up to $100,000 have been awarded for festivals, events, displays and arts and music initiatives  run by not-for-profit community groups and organisations, to benefit the Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong City Council areas.

Recipients in the latest round of grants include Africause Inc for an African arts and culture festival, West Footscray Neighbourhood House for a new Maribyrnong toy library, and Maribyrnong Edible Garden Inc for an upgrade to its orchard.

Western Bulldogs Community Foundation will use its funding to hold a youth expo, while the VU Music Agency will produce a series of songs with First Nations artists.

The grants follow on from earlier rounds of partnerships and grants that have now seen almost $7.5 million distributed for 69 programs benefiting the community across the inner-west.

When complete the West Gate Tunnel Project will transform travel in Melbourne’s west. It will deliver a vital alternative to the West Gate Bridge, providing a much needed second river crossing, and remove more than 9000 trucks from residential streets.

Journeys will be safer and more reliable with travel times between Melbourne’s west and the city slashed by up to 20 minutes.

There will also be 14 kilometres of new and upgraded walking and cycling paths, and close to 9 hectares of new parks and wetlands.

The West Gate Tunnel Project will be complete in 2025.

Quotes attributable to Member for Footscray Katie Hall

We’re already seeing dozens of community ideas becoming reality thanks to the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund, and can’t wait to see the next 22 projects take shape.

It’s a fantastic way for the west to tap into the benefits of the West Gate Tunnel Project sooner rather than later.