Title: Coastcare Victoria community grants now open
More than $1M of funding is now available to coastal communities to carry out coastal conservation projects in Victoria over the next two years. The Coastcare Victoria Community Grant program is being delivered by Victoria's Department of Sustainability and Environment Coast Action/Coastcare program, with support from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country NRM investment program. The program provides a significant boost to coastal community groups wishing to contribute to the protection and rehabilitation of Victoria's key coastal natural assets.
Community groups can now apply for funding to deliver projects that protect and enhance the ecological integrity of Victoria’s coastal natural assets.
Eligible groups will include:
Coast Action, Coastcare and Landcare groups and networks
‘Friends of’ and naturalist groups,
Non-government community organisations
Community service organisations and clubs
Education institutions
Other incorporated community organisations,
Non-incorporated community bodies working in partnership with sponsor organisations (eg. a coastal land manager)
Grants are available in the following three categories: Coastcare Victoria Small Grants up to $5,000 are available to fund local coastal conservation projects delivered by community groups. Coastcare Victoria Indigenous Grants up to $20,000 will be available to develop new coastal management partnerships which include indigenous communities, and which develop and share 'traditional ecological knowledge' (TEK) on the coast. Coastcare Victoria Medium-scale Grants up to $50,000 will be available to fund strategic projects that improve or protect the ecological integrity of key Victorian coastal natural assets. These projects should deliver significant and lasting on-ground outcomes by addressing known threats to coastal ecosystems of high conservation values and Matters of National Environmental Significance. Threats may include habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species including 'Weeds of National Significance' and human use impacts. An 'investment scope' has been developed to assist the prioritisation of investment at key coastal natural assets. Groups have until November 30 2009 to apply for Round 1 of the Medium-scale Grants. Groups may apply for small-scale grants and indigenous grants at any time until March 2011.
All information, including Grant Guidelines, Application Forms and the Medium-scale Investment Scope is now available at www.dse.vic.gov.au/coasts or may be obtained by directly contacting your local Coast Action/Coastcare facilitator, located at DSE offices in Warrnambool, Anglesea, Geelong, Box Hill, Yarram and Bairnsdale.
Groups are strongly encouraged to discuss proposals with their local Coast Action/Coastcare facilitator before submitting applications.