Grassroots Grants funding doubled in 2022
Landscape-scale Noogoora Burr control in the North East Pastoral, a program to create qualifications to recognise Traditional skills, the planting of 200 shade trees in Coober Pedy, and the development of an Educational Native Bush Food Garden in the Gawler Ranges are among the programs funded by the SA Arid Lands (SAAL) Landscape Board in its 2022 Grassroots Grants program.
Nineteen projects will share in almost $200,000 in funding – boosted this year in response to damage caused by heavy rainfall. Flood-related projects are to receive $91,446 in funding, while remaining projects will receive $96,117. Successful applicants come from across the seven districts in the SA Arid Lands. In the North East Pastoral district 12 properties applied for funding to support landowners to tackle the declared weed Noogoora Burr with an aerial spraying campaign when conditions are right.
This was a competitive grant round that attracted 37 applications for projects valued at almost $290,000.
Projects to receive funding addressed the SA Arid Lands Landscape Board’s five strategic pillars of community capacity building, pest and weed control, biodiversity protection and monitoring along with land and water management.
SAAL Board Presiding Member Ross Sawers said the high number of applications received shows that Grassroots Grants are both welcome and needed in the region.
“The board’s decision was clearly appreciated by community when we offered additional funding to support the extra pest plant and animal control and soil erosion works as a result of the heavy downpours earlier this year,” he said.
“I was impressed with the applications received, and was particularly pleased to see the applications from the North East Pastoral that will undertake landscape-scale control of Noogoora Burr across numerous properties. Projects like these have a big impact,” he said.
“I look forward to seeing the difference our Grassroots Grants will make to improve our natural landscape, build the skills and capacity of young people and First Nations community members to care for country, as well as management strategies across conservation and pastoral properties.”
Work will soon begin on the projects, which will wrap up by June 30 next year.
This is the third round of Grassroots Grants to be offered by the SAAL Landscape Board. The program is offered across the State’s eight Landscape regions and provides more than $2million in funding annually across South Australia. .
The next round of applications will open in March 2023.
For more information about the successful applicants and the projects that will be undertaken, visit www.landscape.sa.gov.au/saal
