The shelter, which provides care for injured and abandoned wildlife, was recommended in a report to Hepburn Council to receive funding of $4000 for a concrete water tank.

However, a last minute amendment by Cr Rod May saw the funding dropped with $3840 given instead to the Hepburn Relocalisation Group "to engage consultants for projects including a fresh food survey, water and carbon workshop for farmers".

The funding was part of the council's inaugural Sustainable Community Grant Program.

Shelter spokeswoman Gayle Chappell said the shelter had been led to believe it would receive the grant after a call from council communications officer Sue Moses hoping to take photos to promote the funding.

"Then we heard yesterday (Thursday) that we were not going to receive any funding," she said.

"It's very disappointing."

Ms Chappell said the shelter was always struggling to find funding and while the council provided plenty of "verbal support" it was reluctant to part with money.

"I know there are people in council who support us, and we don't want to put anyone offside, but I don't think many of the new councillors realise what we do," she said.

"We can't even get a rate reduction - the legislation means they can accommodate football clubs but not wildlife shelters.

"We have put projects to them like how to live with wildlife for new residents and how to improve fencing for farmers but they are not interested.

"We provide a fairly essential community service and the council has a responsibility to wildlife and the community."

Other groups which received funding included the Hepburn Renewable Energy Association, Hepburn Shire U3A and Trentham Sustainability Group.

The Hepburn Renewable Energy Association received $1941 to conduct a series of workshops on sustainable energy, waste, water and transport, Hepburn U3A received $2883 to buy utility tracking meters to track and monitor community carbon emissions in small neighbourhoods and

Trentham Sustainability Group received $3840 to promote plastic carry bag eradication and replacement with environmentally friendly bags.