EASIER GRANTS FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT
25 August 2006
Melbourne Water and the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA) have teamed up to make it easier for community groups and local government to access grants for environmental projects in the region.
Together they are inviting organisations to apply for new grants of between $300 and $20,000 to improve the health of the region's water and natural assets through a single application point.
"We wanted to make it easier for the hundreds of Landcare and other organisations in our region to access community grants," said David Buntine, the Chief Executive Officer of the PPWCMA.
"And we wanted to align the great work our community groups do with our environmental priorities so that we make the greatest impact," said Chris Chesterfield, Melbourne Water's General Manager of Waterways.
The environmental priorities for the region have been set out in the Regional Catchment Strategy and Regional River Health Strategy, which will be the basis of awarding the new grants.
The priorities for the grants include river and creek health, managing pests, weeds and salinity, protecting or creating native vegetation and endangered species, and building the capacity of the community through Landcare support and community education.
Applications are invited for three types of grants:
- Group Support Grants - a $300 grant for general administrative assistance to community groups involved in natural resource management;
- Group Promotion and Development Grants - up to $500 to increase participation, raise public awareness, undertake training and/or educate the community about local natural resource management programs; and
- Project Grants - up to $20,000 for on-the-ground projects that address natural resource management issues.
Applications close at 5pm on Friday 6 October 2006, with successful projects expected to be announced by the end of the year.
To provide further information on the process and to assist groups in preparing applications, a series of information sessions will be held:
| Date | Time | Location | Venue | Address | Melways Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 12th September | 10 - 12am | Melton | Dunvegan Cottage - at the Willows | Reserve Road & Nixon St, Melton | 337 C9 |
| 3 - 5pm | Doncaster | Manningham Function Centre | 699 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster | 33 F12 | |
| Thursday 14th September | 10 - 12am | 10 - 12am Seaford | Bruce Park Hall | Bruce Park Reserve, Margate Avenue, Frankston | 102 G7 |
| 3 - 5pm | Cowes | Cowes Heritage Centre | 89 Thompson Avenue, Cowes | 634 C4 | |
| Friday 15th September | 11-12:30pm | Merricks Creek | Coolart Homestead | Lord Somers Road, Somers | 193 H8 |
Anyone wishing to attend should register their interest by contacting Michael Hobbs at Melbourne Water on Tel: 9235 7252 or PPWCMA's Darren Bos on Tel: 9785 0182 by Friday, 8 September.
Applications and further information is also available via the websites: www.melbournewater.com.au and www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au.
"These new grants will help build a sustainable future for all of us," Mr Buntine said.