Environment grants to restore habitat and engage community

Posted January 22, 2020

Projects to restore habitat for threatened species and to create a “bush kindy” for pre-schoolers at Cygnet River on Kangaroo Island were among the 15 grants selected for communities across Mayo.

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has welcomed the Government’s final approval of the grant applications for her electorate under the Communities Environment Program.

Mayo had $150,000 to share for local on-ground projects as part of the $22.65 million national program. Applications closed in September 2019.

“I elected to establish an independent committee of local people with environmental expertise to help me assess the grant applications to put forward to the Government for final approval,” Rebehka said.

“The feedback from the committee was that they were presented with a range of high quality projects and they selected the projects that would produce the greatest environmental benefit while engaging with the local community at a grassroots level.”

“I commend all the groups who made applications under the Communities Environment Program.

“These grants are an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in our region and help communities with practical projects.”

The successful applicants announced in Mayo are:

• The Prospect Hill Bushland Group (under the umbrella of the Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Association) which received $19,800 to plant and nurture 3,000 trees along Bull Creek Range south of Meadows
• Hindmarsh Island Landcare Group which received $19,550 to continue revegetation of Alexandrina Council reserves and roadsides with 4,500 plants
• The National Trust of South Australia which received $17,374 to continue to revegetate Engelbrook Reserve in Bridgewater and construct habitat shelters for bandicoots and rakali
• The Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Association which received $17,300 to grow 2,500 native seedlings along Mount Barker Creek
• Conservation Volunteers Australia which received $16,000 to restore 8,000 habitat trees for endangered glossy black cockatoos at Wirrina near the Reservoir
• Sturt Upper Reaches Landcare Group which received $10,000 to strengthen environmental corridors linking Belair National Park and Woodcutters Road
• Nairne Landcare Group (under the umbrella of the Landcare Association of SA) which received $10,000 to establish a native garden at Byethorne Park in Nairne
• Trees for Life which received $9,750 for the protection and recovery of Southern Brown Bandicoots
• Clayton Bay Nursery which received $6,000 to plant and guard 2,000 plants along the Clayton Bay Foreshore Walking Trail
• South Coast Environment Centre which received $5,500 to establish a native plant community nursery at the Openlight Camp site at Victor Harbor
• Friends of Aldinga Scrub which received $4,600 to remove bridal creeper weed from the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park.
• Kangaroo Island Children's Services received $4,500 to introduce a bush kindy to their students
• The Nature Conservation Society of SA which received $4,000 to renew red gum and blue gum woodlands at Millbrook Reservoir
• Wistow Community Hall which received $3,000 to plant 20 native trees with species identification in the paddock carpark
• The Friends of Nuraggi which received $2,500 for native vegetation protection and the installation of walking stiles along Nurragi Conservation Reserve between Milang and the Victor Harbor railway.

The Communities Environment Program provides $150,000 in grant funding to each of Australia’s 151 electorates.

Grant applications can range from $2,500 to $20,000 per project and the majority of funding must be directed to on-ground activities within the electorate.