In celebration of Coastcare Victoria’s 25th year, the Andrews Labor Government is providing more funds and larger grants to community groups in Werribee through the Coastcare Community Grants Program.

Member for Werribee Tim Pallas encouraged local groups to apply for the 2020 program, with grants up to $30,000 available for eligible projects to conserve, restore and rehabilitate Victoria’s coastal and marine environments.

The $495,000 program has two streams of funding this year that seek to support community adaptation and improve ecosystem resilience to climate change.

Projects under the stewardship and education stream focus on activities that conserve, rehabilitate, and restore coastal and marine ecosystems. This stream encourages activities that support community participation, engagement and education to enhance knowledge and understanding of coastal and marine management

A new volunteer resilience stream encourages community groups to consider ways to expand, diversify volunteer bases and create opportunities to engage youth and volunteers from different backgrounds, cultures, nationalities and abilities. This stream is seeking projects that will rethink volunteering to capitalise on the different ways people want to volunteer and improve volunteer recruitment and retention.

Applications for the grants close 5pm on Thursday 7 May.

For more information on the 2020 Coastcare Victoria Community Grants Program, including funding guidelines, visit delwp.vic.gov.au/Coastcare

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“We’re very excited to offer a new stream that focuses on strengthening groups and supports volunteers to capitalise on the expertise, passion and diversity in their communities.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“This year, our grants program has been doubled to $495,000, allowing us to support even more community groups. Projects can receive up to $30,000 in funding, which is double last year’s grants.”

“For 25 years, Coastcare Victoria has been a driving force behind looking after our iconic coastal and marine environment.”