Hilltops Council was formed on May 12th, 2016. A decision was made to ensure that all former funding initiatives were continued for the first 12 months of the new Council. The former Harden Shire Council traditionally funded a Community Initiatives Program to deal with section 356 requests for donations. Each year, Council would make budgetary provisions to provide financial assistance to selected organisations which meet the criteria set out in the Donations Policy. This policy was developed to ensure that a transparent decision making process was in place to make determinations on requests for donations from Council. The Donations Policy supports financial assistance under the Community Initiatives Program and applications must have demonstrated the advantages to be gained by the Harden community.

The newly named Hilltops Council Community Initiatives Program received fourteen applications. On Wednesday, 7 December, 2016, the Harden Local Representative Committee met to assess the merits of each application and provide recommendations to Council on the breakdown of funding allocations. Accordong to Hilltops Council One application was deemed ineligible against the Donations Policy Criteria. Further decisions were made in regards to full or partial funding of requests and a total of $27,400.00 was recommended for distribution across the remaining 13 applications. Wednesday’s Hilltops Council meeting will contain a section where It is recommended that Council endorse the Harden Local Representation Committee allocations of funding to the following successful applicants;

1. Harden Murrumburrah Arts Council Incorporation – $2800.00 (Partial Funding), Advancing Harden Murrumburrah – Australia Day Breakfast 2017 – $500.00. Gentle Exercise Group – $1500.00. Harden Kite Festival Committee – $9000. Harden Tennis Club – $1100.00 (Partial Funding) Harden District Education Foundation – $2000.00 (Partial Funding) 7. Historical Society – Bulletins – $500.00. Harden Murrumburrah Historical Society & Murrumburrah Heritage Light Horse Troop – Anzac Centenary – $500.00. Murrumburrah Light Horse Troop – $500.00. Harden Polocrosse Club Inc. – $1500.00 (Partial Funding) Harden Rodeo Association – $5000.00. Harden Murrumburrah Rugby League Football Club – $500.00 13.Murrumburrah Harden Show Society – $2000.00