Volunteers and community groups along Victoria’s south west will share in almost half a million dollars in funding from the Victorian Government to continue important protection and rehabilitation works.
Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said: “More funding and larger grants of up to $30,000 were available through this year’s Coastcare Victoria Community Grants Program to help realise projects that conserve, restore and rehabilitate coastal and marine environments.
“This funding will help community members and volunteer groups continue their important work to protect and preserve the state’s precious coastal environment,” Ms Tierney said.
Now in its 26th year, Coastcare Victoria is committed to preserving the coastline, promoting conservation and engaging volunteer participation.
The Coastcare Victoria Community Grants Program funds community projects in coastal areas to support community adaptation and improve ecosystem resilience to climate change.
This year’s grants program has funded four community groups in south west Victoria.
Grant recipients include:
- Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (Convincing Ground Restoration Project) – restoring the health of a Convincing Ground near Portland, including weed management, revegetation and cultural heritage investigations.
- Tangaroa Blue Foundation (Let’s Strain the Drains) – the first stormwater debris monitoring project in Warrnambool.
- South West Environmental Education Inc (Fawthrop Lagoon Restoration and Revegetation Project) – tackling environmental issues impacting on the Lagoon Project are and its estuarine environs with a community driven program of working bees and planting days.
- Australian Plants Society – Warrnambool & District Group (Plants of the Great South West Third Edition) – Production and printing of a third edition of the popular book “Plants of ghe Great South West” which contains photographs and full descriptions of plants in south west Victoria.
“Our electorate is lucky to have so many dedicated non-profit organisations and volunteers who are passionate about looking after our coastal environments for the benefit of their local communities.”
“Additional funding has allowed us to support the hard work of even more groups this year, ensuring our coast is protected and preserved for future generations.”
For a full list of grant recipients, visit: https://marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastcare