Incorporated groups, associations and local government are being encouraged to apply for grants ranging from $300 to $20,000 under the Melbourne Water and Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority’s 2007 Community Grants program.
Grants are available for activities to improve the health of the region’s water and natural assets across the entire Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment thanks to a partnership between the PPWCMA and Melbourne Water.
Chief Executive Officer of the PPWCMA, David Buntine, said the partnership was formed in 2006 to provide these groups with a one-stop shop source of information about grant availability and criteria.
“Since then, over $1.3M has been awarded to community groups, landcare, local government and other organisations across the catchment to support the implementation of over 260 community projects,” Mr Buntine said.
Melbourne Water General Manager of Waterways, Chris Chesterfield, said this year a total of $1.76 Million is available in grants funding through the Port Phillip and Westernport CMA Community Grants and Melbourne Water’s Community Grants and Corridors of Green programs.
“Through this streamlined grants program, groups working to improve rivers and creeks, manage pests, weeds and salinity, protect or enhance native vegetation and provide habitat are given assistance to undertake projects.
“These grants recognise the efforts of volunteers across Melbourne, and help them in their work to improve biodiversity, parks, reserves, rivers, creeks, wetlands and their surroundings,” Mr Chesterfield said.
Detail of the available grants is as follows:
* 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.
Melbourne Water and the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority encourage organisations who may be interested in the grants to visit the websites: www.melbournewater.com.au and www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au or call 131 722. |