Victoria and West Gippsland’s Landcare volunteers are receiving more support thanks to this year’s Victorian Landcare Grants and Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants.  

Minister for the Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio today announced the recipients of $3.6 million for the grants to support volunteers and young Victorians in caring for the state’s natural environment.  

The grants will fund 327 on-ground and educational projects focused on biodiversity protection and provide additional financial support to more than 280 environmental volunteer groups. These grants will fund a diverse range of hands-on projects and educational activities, helping young Victorians learn more about Victoria’s biodiversity and protecting native plants, insects and wildlife.  

CEO of WGCMA, Martin Fuller said: “I am delighted that West Gippsland Landcare groups received $318,250 for 19 projects and 28 support grants. 

“Landcare groups and valued volunteers make an enormous contribution to West Gippsland’s environment and we are proud of these new and ongoing initiatives.” 

Successful projects extend from Maffra to Wonthaggi and range from restoring habitat for the endangered Lace Monitor and Koala, to putting the fish back in Fish Creek, linking landscapes around Maffra and a blitz on bushland weeds in Wonthaggi’s unique reserves. 

Junior Landcare grant projects in the region include a Biodiversity Boardwalk at the Bass Coast Specialist School. 

The West Gippsland Dung Beetle Project will be delivered by Latrobe Catchment Landcare in partnership with Maffra District Landcare to engage and involve community to increase their capacity to monitor and protect existing dung beetle populations. Together, they will set up a beetle exchange program which involves swapping beetle species that are abundant in one location but uncommon in another. 

The Community Conservation in the Tarwin Valley initiative will see Nerrena/Tarwin Valley Landcare group taking a different approach in promoting Landcare and engaging new landcarers. This project also includes developing four case studies and running six events to build one kilometre of fencing and revegetate 4.2 hectares of native vegetation.  

“We are very grateful to get the funds,” says group secretary Jill Vella. 

“We are going to explore storytelling to learn how to get our message across through case studies of renewal and engagement.” 

Group president, Sue Miles noted that the project had been developed via surveys that indicated a need for more community engagement.  

“We are very much grass roots – working with landholders is at the centre of what we do. This grant allows us to also capture our story and the imaginations of the younger generations – which is where we need to be,” said Sue. 

Minister for the Environment and Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio said: “Since it started more than 30 years ago, Landcare has made a great contribution to Victoria’s environment and we’re helping them continue to deliver this important work.”  

The Victorian Landcare Grants and Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants support the implementation of Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037, the Victorian Government’s long-term plan to protect the state’s environment.  

These grants are part of the Andrews Labor Government’s long-term plan to protect the environment, which has invested over $560 million in protecting the state’s biodiversity and the environment since 2014.  

A full list of the all grant recipients can be found here.