- Published:
- Wednesday 21 June 2023
The Andrews Labor Government is backing Victoria’s coastal community groups with over $350,000 of new funding through the Coastcare Community Grants.
Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt today announced the 40 successful applications for the 2023 grants program, which will provide support to marine and coastal volunteers, while improving the state’s resilience to climate change.
Local groups on the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast, will receive a funding boost to look after the threatened Red-capped Plovers, boost butterfly conservation, deliver weed management, and improve coastal heathlands.
In the west of Victoria, funding will support revegetation and conservation in Apollo Bay, Portland, the Lower Glenelg River and help establish an arboretum at Point Nelson.
Around Port Phillip Bay, grants will support weed management in wetlands and coast revegetation works at Safety Beach, Crib Point, Merricks Beach, Rye, Mt Eliza, Point Cook, Flinders, Grantvile and other sites.
In Gippsland, funding will deliver protection works at Sandy Point, Picnic Bay, boost public education to protect Hooded Plovers and help manage Sea Spurge near Wonthaggi.
The Coastcare Community Grants will also support a project that is empowering Aboriginal women develop and spread knowledge of the importance of seaweed within their communities.
In its 29th year, the Coastcare Victoria program continues to provide support to coastal community groups and volunteers through regional facilitators, the Community Grants program, Summer by the Sea and other capacity building programs.
Funding for the 2023 Coastcare Victoria Community Grants is provided by the $16.9 million VicCoasts program.
For more information, including a full list of recipients, visit marineandcoasts.vic.gov.au/coastal-programs/coastcare-victoria/coastcare-victoria-community-grants.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt
“The Coastcare Grants Program will help our community groups drive positive change across our state’s precious coastal and marine areas.”
“The Andrews Labor Government is proud to support the dedicated efforts of volunteer groups working to look after our state’s iconic coastal and marine environment. Together, we are building reliance and planning for change in our coastal environments.”