07 Mar 2018 Yea Chronicle, Yea VIC (General News) THE federal and state governments are making a combined $7 million in grants available to community and landcare groups to restore local environments and protect the Eiiture of Victorias biodiversity. The Victorian Government recently announced $2 million for Community & Volunteer Action Grants under the Biodiversity On-ground Action Initiative to help communities protect and expand habitats for the states native plants and annuals. Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes said grants up to S 5 0.000 are available to help communities continue the valuable work they^re already doing and expressions of interest are also being encouraged from groups interested in developing then crowdfunding, social media and marketing skills through free workshops in the form of crowdfunding grants. Grants up to $2000 will be made available to successful applicants to develop crowdfimding campaigns that raise funds for threatened species and biodiversity projects in Victoria. Ms Symes said the state government will also match any of these crowdfhnding campaigns that successfully reach then* target up to S25:000. Upper Goulbum Landcare Network (UGLN) Landcare Coordinator Chris Cobem said the state government grants are quite broad, providing UGLNs Landcare groups with a great opportunity. Often with grants there are certain criteria and they can be narrow, sometimes i t s a certain endangered species but these are quite broad. Im sure it will be competitive but its a great opportunity.' he said Some of the projects UGLN groups are looking to receive funding for include the King Parrot Fox Control Program, which not only helps catch foxes but also teaches people how to control them through workshops, and the Triangle Blackberry Action Group, which has landowners in the Triangle area participating in blackberry control projects and needs to employ a project officer to continue its work. Landcare funding has been a bit light on in the last few years, this grant from the state government came up in the last few years and it was a bit restrictive but now its quite varied so its a good opportunity and we^re going to make the most of it, Mr Cobem said. Meanwhile, the federal government have opened applications for $5 million in grants under the National Landcare Program Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg said he encourages groups to apply for the grants of up to $50,000 before applications close on Monday, March 19. I encourage community, landcare, environmental and other natural resource management groups to take advantage of this opportunity, tackle local issues and contribute to protecting our extraordinary environment, Mr Frydenberg said He said activities can range from invasive pest and weed management, revegetauon, erosion control and threatened species conservation to community engagement and Indigenous land and sea planning Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud said the grants would harness community support in dealing with invasive pests and weeds. Not all pests and weeds are found on farmland, public lands can be a breeding ground for them.' Minister Littleproud said ^ e want to control the problem at the source and stop the spread to neighbouring farmland/Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.