Woollahra endorses planning for heritage grants stream, but funding timing remains undecided Woollahra Council has endorsed preparing a possible Heritage Grants stream for consideration in December 2027, with no grant allocation or eligibility rules approved in the resolution. Council: Woollahra Municipal Council Meeting: 26 October 2026, 6:30 PM Recorded status: approved Source status: Draft minutes; recorded wording may change when confirmed. BRIEF Woollahra Council has endorsed preparing a possible dedicated Heritage Grants stream for consideration in December 2027, according to its unconfirmed minutes. Staff are authorised to draft eligibility rules, funding arrangements and assessment procedures, while the resolution also calls for external funding opportunities to be pursued. It allocates no grants and does not set a funding amount or guarantee the scheme will proceed. KEY FACTS - Council resolution 696/2026 endorsed the proposed inclusion of a dedicated Heritage Grants funding stream for consideration in the Grants Policy update due in December 2027. - Staff were authorised to prepare draft guidelines, eligibility criteria, funding arrangements and assessment procedures. - Council resolved to pursue external grant funding opportunities to supplement any future Council funding for the stream. - The resolution passed without debate, with the recorded vote listed as 11-0. - No grant allocation or applicant funding was approved in the resolution. ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD - The resolution concerns preparation and later consideration of a funding stream, rather than grants being awarded to applicants. - The resolution leaves the funding amount, eligibility rules and assessment process to later work and policy consideration. - December 2027 is the scheduled Grants Policy update date, not an established date for grants to become available. QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING - What funding amount, if any, will be proposed in the December 2027 Grants Policy update? - What heritage works, property types and applicant groups will the draft eligibility criteria cover? - Which external grant programs will be pursued, and on what timetable? RECORDED NEXT STEPS - Staff are authorised to prepare draft Heritage Grants stream guidelines, eligibility criteria, funding arrangements and assessment procedures to inform the December 2027 Grants Policy update. - Pursue external grant funding opportunities to supplement any future Council funding for the stream. - Consider the proposed inclusion of the stream in the Grants Policy update due in December 2027; adoption and funding availability are not established by this resolution. SOURCE PASSAGES The record is labelled unconfirmed and identifies an Ordinary Council meeting held on 26 October 2026. "Ordinary Council Monday, 26 October 2026 6:30 PM Minutes Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council 26 October 2026 Page | 2 Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes of the Meeting of Ordinary Council held at the Council Chambers, 536 New South Head Road, Double Bay, on 26 October 2026 at 6:30 PM." (Document title and meeting particulars) The quoted text calls for endorsement of the proposed inclusion of a dedicated Heritage Grants funding stream for consideration in the next scheduled Grants Policy update, due December 2027. "Note the findings of the investigations into the establishment of a Woollahra Heritage Grants Scheme. B. Endorse the proposed inclusion of a dedicated Heritage Grants funding stream for consideration in the next scheduled update of Council's Grants Policy, due December 2027." (Resolution 696/2026, parts A–B) The quoted text calls for authorising staff to prepare draft Heritage Grants stream guidelines, eligibility criteria, funding arrangements and assessment procedures to inform the December 2027 Grants Policy update. "C. Authorise staff to prepare draft Heritage Grants stream guidelines, eligibility criteria, funding arrangements and assessment procedures to inform the December 2027 Grants Policy update." (Resolution 696/2026, part C) The quoted text calls for external grant funding opportunities to be pursued to supplement any future Council funding for the stream. "D. Pursue external grant funding opportunities to supplement any future Council funding for the stream. Note:In accordance with Council's Code of Meeting Practice a Division of votes is recorded on this matter." (Resolution 696/2026, part D) The item concerning the proposed establishment of a Woollahra Heritage Grants Scheme was resolved without debate as resolution 696/2026. "Proposed establishment of a Woollahra Heritage Grants Scheme Note: This item was resolved without debate. (Councillor Jarvis/Councillor Torsten) 696/2026 Resolved: THAT Council: A." (Item 13.1.3 heading and resolution particulars) The recorded division lists 11 councillors for the motion and none against, with a stated tally of 11-0. "For the MotionAgainst the Motion Councillor Ardouin, Councillor Dixson, Councillor Jarvis, Councillor Mitchell, Councillor Parmegiani, Councillor Price, Councillor Regan, Councillor Robertson, Councillor Silcocks, Councillor Torsten, Councillor Woodgate None 11/0 Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council 26 October 2026 Page | 19 13.2." (Item 13.1.3 recorded division) Resolution 696/2026 provides for consideration of a proposed funding stream, preparation of draft arrangements and pursuit of external funding; it does not allocate grants or adopt eligibility rules. "Proposed establishment of a Woollahra Heritage Grants Scheme Note: This item was resolved without debate. (Councillor Jarvis/Councillor Torsten) 696/2026 Resolved: THAT Council: A. Note the findings of the investigations into the establishment of a Woollahra Heritage Grants Scheme. B. Endorse the proposed inclusion of a dedicated Heritage Grants funding stream for consideration in the next scheduled update of Council's Grants Policy, due December 2027. C. Authorise staff to prepare draft Heritage Grants stream guidelines, eligibility criteria, funding arrangements and assessment procedures to inform the December 2027 Grants Policy update. D. Pursue external grant funding opportunities to supplement any future Council funding for the stream. Note:In accordance with Council's Code of Meeting Practice a Division of votes is recorded on this matter." (Item 13.1.3, resolution 696/2026, parts A–D) SOURCES https://woollahra.resolve.red/web/Player.aspx?id=2887 https://minutesradar.com/news/woollahra-infocouncil-ordinary-council-meeting-26-october-2026-26-oct-2026-6-30-pm-minutes-woollahra-endorses-planning-for-heritage-grants-52cc04198f/ Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.