Deadline: 30-Sep-21
The Golden Plains Shire is seeking applications for its Community Strengthening Environment and Sustainability Grants Program to support projects that improve the environment.
The Environment and Sustainability Grants Program offers grants to assist incorporated groups, organisations and individuals to undertake environmental and sustainability projects on public and private land within Golden Plains Shire.
Priority Areas
The priority areas are:
- Environmental Sustainability – this means that the way they live meets the needs of the present but also provides a quality environment for future generations.
- Resilience – sustained ability of a community to use available resources to respond to, withstand, and recover from adverse situations.
- Environment – refers to their physical and biological surroundings, both where they work and live and the way these affect how people feel.
- Waste – covers waste management activities that include reducing waste going to landfill, increasing recycling and composting, improving community knowledge on waste actions.
Funding Information
- Grants of up to $10,000 will be available.
What will they fund?
Council will consider applications from incorporated community groups and organisations for projects including but not limited to:
- Support the community to improve their environmentally sustainable practices and build their capacity to respond to environmental change.
- Increase the community’s connection with nature enabling them to draw from the benefits of improved physical and mental wellbeing.
- Educate and empower local farming industries and community groups to promote, support and implement environmentally sustainable practices in the agriculture sector.
- Protect, restore, and increase the health of their natural ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural habitats to ensure they survive and thrive.
- The ecological health of their waterways and wetlands and facilitate sustainable water use in the community.
- Reduce the impact of invasive species on agriculture, natural systems, and the community.
- Aboriginal cultural heritage land management through sensitive land management practices and community education and appreciation.
- Protect and enhance their parks and green spaces to ensure a network of land and water that supports recreation and sport, trails and paths, and nature conservation.
- Reduce waste sent to landfill and/or increase the community’s knowledge of waste management and reduction.
- Council will also accept applications that improve the energy and/or water efficiency of community facilities, including (but not limited to) halls, community centres, sporting facilities, kindergartens, libraries, scout halls, church buildings and men’s sheds.
- For projects focusing on reducing energy and water use at community facilities, preference will be given to projects which aim to reduce resource usage whilst also promoting behaviour change and awareness. For example, installation of a rainwater tank and water efficient taps, combined with signage which educates users on the need for water efficiency.
Eligibility Criteria
- Community groups and organisation’s must be incorporated and not for profit.
- Groups may submit multiple applications per financial year but may only submit one application per project.
- Government organisations and agencies are not eligible to apply, however kindergartens, Committees of Management, other community committees and local branches of larger organisations, e.g. CFA and SES, are eligible.
- Primary and Secondary schools are eligible to apply for projects, which are completed fully within Golden Plains Shire as long as the project is not solely curriculum based and can strongly demonstrate a partnership with another community organisation.
- Applicants must match the requested funding through either cash or in-kind (volunteer labour) contributions.
- The number of times an applicant has previously received funding through the Environment & Sustainability Grant stream will be considered during the assessment process. Council may choose not to fund a project by applicants who have previously received funding should the program be oversubscribed.
- For community facilities, applicants must either be the owner of the building/facility or have the written consent form the owner.
- If the community facility is Council-owned building, the applicant must discuss the project with a Golden Plains Shire Council officer prior to submitting the application.
For more information, visit https://www.goldenplains.vic.gov.au/residents/my-community/grants/community-strengthening-grants-program