Community groups get a kick-start from grants program
Community, volunteer and school groups stretching from Burra in the east to the lower Yorke Peninsula, Port Pirie in the west and Telowie in the north have been successful in the latest round of Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Managment Board / National Landcare Program Community Grants.
Projects with a natural resources focus are benefitting from the funding and Northern and Yorke NRM Parternships, Evaluation, Review and Improvement Officer John Peet says the projects are many and varied.
“The first round of Community Grants funding has been hugely successful, with 17 grant applicants awarded a total of $120,000 for projects ranging from education, weed control and revegetation to nitrogen management in soil, bush tucker gardens and beach landscape restoration,” he says.
“The Community Grants program targets larger-scale projects, with funding of up to $10,000 on offer to community groups, volunteer groups and schools, and up to $20,000 available to local government.”
Successful applicants include Caltowie Corridors of Green Landcare Group ($6000); West Yorke Peninsula Habitat Group ($9090); SA Conservation Research Divers ($10,000); Friends of Telowie Gorge ($8950); Port Clinton Progress Association ($9000); Trees for Life ($9495); Tarcowie Landcare Group ($3326); Wakefield Regional Council ($12,799); Ardrossan Progress Association ($9000); Subaru 4WD Club of SA ($2000); Hart Field-Site Group ($9990); Johnburgh Landcare Group ($4700); Pt Pirie Youth Service Network ($6000); YP Alkaline Soils Group ($7000); Southern YP Landcare Group ($5000); Friends of Burra Parks ($5000); and Flinders View Primary School ($2650).
The Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board considered applications in the categories of Farmer First; Cities and Towns; Sustainable Development; New Impact on the Landscape; Soil; Community Voice; Next Generation; Pest and Weeds; and Water.
“We were extremely pleased with great response to the program and the range of funding applications,” Mr Peet says.
“The NRM Board recognises that the community know first hand what needs to be done in their area and we’re thrilled to be able to support them with their projects.
“As well as the immediate impact of these projects, in the long term a better understanding of natural resources management and increased awareness of the issues of our region will benefit natural resources.”
