Bike sheds will play a revamped role in the school life of young Victorians with the Bracks Government offering grants of $5000 to help schools design and build a bike shed, or convert an existing shed into a secure bike storage facility.
Member Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney, urged schools in the Colac-Otway and Corangamite Shires to apply for the grants, which opened today.
“To help schools create an environment that supports young riders, the Go for Your Life Bike Shed Seeding Grants will be made available to 40 primary and secondary institutions across Victoria,” Ms. Tierney said.
“Only about 20 per cent of school-age children currently use active modes of transport such as walking or riding to get to class, compared to 80 per cent in the 1970s.
“As part of the Bracks Government’s commitment increasing opportunities for Victorians to get healthy and active, $2.9 million has been committed over four years to encourage students to ride bikes, scooters, walk or skate to class.”
All Victorian Government primary or secondary schools are eligible to apply for the grants, which have been designed to complement the Ride2School program, which Bicycle Victoria is expanding with funding from the Bracks Government.
Both the Ride2School program and the Go for Your Life Bike Shed Seeding Grants are part of the State Government’s Go for your life campaign,
“This is yet another component of the Bracks Government’s successful Go for your life program, which encourages all Victorians to increase physical activity and eat healthy food,” Ms. Tierney said.
“Being active and involved in sport and recreation activity not only improves our health and wellbeing, it’s also a great way to stay active and involved in the local community.”
Applications for the Go for Your Life Bike Shed Seeding Grants close on Friday 25 May 2007.
To find out more about the grants, call the Department for Victorian Communities’ grants information line on 1300 366 356 (cost of a local call) on any weekday between 8.30am and 10.00pm (except public holidays).