Victorian Landcare Grants confirmed across Melbourne Water-managed catchments
Congratulations to the 2023 Victorian Landcare Grant recipients across the Melbourne Water-managed Port Phillip and Westernport regions.
Environmental volunteer groups and networks are sharing in $3.98 million in funding for projects to protect Victoria’s natural environment. The grants will fund 245 on-ground and educational projects focused on biodiversity protection and provide additional financial support to more than 269 environmental volunteer groups.
These grants will support Landcare and environmental volunteering groups and networks for on-ground works, education and capacity building projects that protect and restore our land and natural environment.
Melbourne Water, as a catchment management authority (CMA), is responsible for delivering land, water and biodiversity programs that enhance and protect the environment and support thriving communities in the Port Phillip and Westernport catchments.
Thanks to the Victorian Government funding and our responsibilities as a CMA, Melbourne Water will help deliver 32 project grants totalling over $550,000 and a further 79 support grants sharing in almost $40,000 in funding across its CMA catchments over the next year.
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View project grants (Port Phillip and Westernport region)
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Recipient Project title Balcombe and Moorduc Landcare Group Bringing the Balcombe to Moorooduc Biolink to Life Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group Grassy Woodland Restoration Citation Slope Mt Martha 2023 Balnarring Foreshore & Parks Reserve Community conservation on The Spit Bass Coast Landcare Network Westernport Catchment Kids - Detecting, restoring, and protecting the catchment Bass Valley Landcare Group Protecting and Restoring Bass Valley's Biodiversity: A Community-Led Initiative Blairgowrie Friends of Mornington Peninsula National Park Restoration of the Koonya Grassy Bowl and Moonah Woodlands: a community, school and volunteer partnership Brisbane Ranges Landcare Group The Restoration of Stony Creek, Staughton Vale Cairnlea Conservation Reserves Committee of Management Cairnlea Conservation Reserve Committee of Management Cannibal Creek Landcare Group Inc Walkers Rd Drain /Lovers Lane: revegetation, weed control and community engagement Christmas Hills Landcare Group Woody weeds out of Christmas Hills - improving habitat quality on private land Community Weed Alliance of the Dandenongs Restore biodiversity in Olinda Bushland Reserve and Casells Ck Emu Plains Racecourse and Recreation Reserve Committee of Management Committee Emu Plains Reserve: Restoration, regeneration and Community Education Stage 2 First Friends of Dandenong Creek Inc Returning the Ferns to Dandenong Creek French Island Landcare Group Restoring Native Habitat and Enhancing Biodiversity on French Island Friends of Darebin Creek Inc., Darebin Creek Acquisition of tools for maintenance, restoration and planting works Friends of Emerald Lake Park Inc. Emerald Lake Park Vegetation Management Project Friends of Flinders Coastline Flinders Coastal Habitat Restoration Linking with Double/Spring Creek Wildlife Corridor Friends Of Leadbeater's Possum Inc Lowland Leadbeater's Possum needs a friend: Protecting their habitat so they can survive Friends of Sassafras Creek Inc Restoring Rainforest at the Secret Garden to support threatened species Friends of Sherbrooke Forest Inc Restoration of Kallista Bushland Reserve Merricks Coolart Catchment Landcare Group Balnarring to the Bay Biolink Moorabool Landcare Network Adding value to Grow West with nest boxes Mornington Peninsula Equine Landcare Mornington Peninsula Equine Landcare Information Without Borders Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation Cerberus to Red Hill South Biolink Project (year 3/2023) Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network The Devilbend-Hastings Biolink - The final piece of the puzzle Nepean Conservation Group Creating Biolinks for Blairgowrie’s Bridgewater Bay habitat corridor: Mornington Peninsula National Park Phillip Island Landcare Group Phillip Island Community Revegetation – connecting and restoring remnant vegetation across the Island Red Hill South Landcare Group Red Hill South Biolink Extension 2 Shoreham Foreshore Reserve Committee of Management Shoreham Foreshore Reserve Healthy Coastline Project Werribee River Association Restoring Werribee River Park Whittlesea Community Connections Nugal Biik Junior and Mini Rangers Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation Healing Sunbury Rings
Landcare grant projects include a $20,000 allocation for the French Island Landcare Group helping to restore native habitat, $19,886 for the Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum to enhance the possum’s habitat and ensure its survival, and $19,500 for the Cannibal Creek Landcare Group and its restoration and revegetation of Lovers Lane in Garfield.
“Melbourne Water is proud of the important work we do with local community groups to protect and enhance waterways and landscapes across our catchments so they can be enjoyed today and for generations to come,” Heidi Ryan Acting Executive General Manager Customer, Community and External Affairs said.
Fortunate to receive ongoing Victorian Government funding, over the last year local community volunteers and friends of the Cannibal Creek Landcare Group have planted over 10,000 indigenous plants across the Lovers Lane landscape. A recent planting event saw the Water Minster Harriet Shing visit the site in support of their impressive work.
The delivery of the 2023 Victorian Landcare Grants will build on the success of Victorian Landcare Grants delivered by community in 2022, including native plantings, weed control, pest control and installation of fencing to protect wildlife habitat. In 2022, Victorian Landcare Grants also supported 414 community events, such as community tree plantings and training workshops, that were attended by more than 6,000 volunteers.
The Victorian Landcare Grants support Biodiversity 2037, the Victorian Government’s long-term plan to protect Victoria’s environment.
A full list of this year’s Victorian Landcare Grant recipients can be found at https://www.environment.vic.gov.au/grants/victorian-landcare-grants
Header image: Water Minister Harriet Shing with Cardinia Shire Council deputy mayor Cr Jack Kowarzik and the Cannibal Creek Landcare Group team.
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