Grassroot volunteer groups and young people are among those who will benefit from three Andrews Labor Government environmental volunteering funds.
Eleven groups will share in almost $421,000 through the Volunteering Innovation Fund to reinvigorate volunteering on parks and other public land.
Successful projects include pioneering plans for native fauna breeding habitats in Heathcote and digitisation of the Alpine heritage listed huts for accessible virtual tours. In Maribyrnong Valley Parklands, food orchards and sensory gardens will be developed.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio also announced that Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park would receive the first annual $20,000 Ministers Award − made through the fund − for a project capturing the environmental and cultural history of the Park using murals and information boards.
The first Youth Volunteering for Nature Fund also launches today − offering Victorians aged 18-29 up to $1,500 each for ideas that respond to challenges facing the environment.
Successful recipients will also receive a 6-month mentorship with an expert, take part in skills workshops and learn about career pathways with Parks Victoria. Applications should focus on concepts that will protect and preserve Victoria's precious natural and cultural landscapes for future generations.
A pilot Volunteer Growth Fund will also award up to 100 existing groups up to $2,000 each to enhance their work and help them attract new volunteers.
Submissions for the Volunteering Innovation Fund and Youth Volunteering for Nature Fund open today. For more information on these projects, visit parks.vic.gov.au/get-into-nature/volunteering/volunteering-innovation-fund.
As stated by Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D'Ambrosio
"These projects are a wonderful example of innovative ways to increase the number and diversity of people volunteering in our great outdoors, including people participating for the first time."
"The Youth Volunteering for Nature Fund is a unique opportunity to engage youth in taking action for the future, not only for our state, but also for their themselves."
"We know that volunteering in Victoria's great outdoors provides a wide range of tangible environmental, social, economic and health benefits."
Volunteering Innovation Fund grant recipients:
- Biolinks Alliance, Spring Plains, Northern Victoria
- Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria, Dandenong, Lysterfield, Main Ridge and Red Hill
- Cairnlea Conservation Reserves Committee of Management, Cairnlea Conservation Reserve
- Connecting to Country Program, Dandenong
- Friends of Newlands Reserve and Edenhope Flora and Fauna Reserve Committee of Management, Boikerbert, Edenhope, Western Victoria
- Horseshoe Bend Community Garden Group, Maribyrnong Valley Parklands
- Merri Creek Management Committee, Merri Creek Park
- Southern Otway Landcare Network, Otways, Western Victoria
- Werribee Park Farm Community Hub, Werribee
- Westgate Biodiversity: Bili Nursery & Landcare, Westgate Park
- Victorian High Country Huts Association, Alpine, Howqua, Lake Eildon, Eastern Victoria
