The money, which is set to be unveiled in the upcoming 2018/19 budget, will allow all Victorians over 16 to submit an idea which is backed by a local organisation, community group, school, local council, or other eligible group able to help deliver the project.

The funds will be spread across the 12 regional and metropolitan partnership regions, with each project able to attract funding up to $200,000. 

The project will kick off in May, with community members to be invited to vote for their favourite initiatives in July.  The final funding recipients will be announced in September.  Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford said the program was about finding a way to fund projects which “fall through the cracks”. 

“(This is for projects) that perhaps a local council won’t support, of they’re perhaps a bit small or a bit unusual to attract funding through all the other programs we already have,” Ms Pulford said.  “We aren’t going to tell anybody what these projects are, we want you to tell us what they are.

“This is about as direct as democracy gets.” 

While there are no restrictions on the types of projects which will be funded, they will need to be feasible and have land-owner consent.