Victoria outlays $5.6 million for sustainability projects

The State Government of Victoria has allocated $5.6 million for 57 projects under the Local Sustainability Accord grants program.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith yesterday announced the grant recipients under the program he said “supports local communities to create local solutions for sustainability and environmental challenges”.

“The program encourages local governments to provide innovative and practical solutions to improve sustainability through projects that create jobs, educate and improve best practice guidelines for households, industry and government,” said Smith.

“Under the new Local Sustainability Accord grants program, 57 projects will be funded to empower local communities to develop strategic responses to sustainability issues and provide practical opportunities to improve our environment.”

Recipients had applied under one of three categories of funding:

• Regional Grants: Up to $600,000 to successful regional councils.
• Partnership Grants: Up to $250,000 for partnerships between councils, organisations and industry.
• Individual Grants: Up to $45,000 to individual councils.

Of the $5.6 million allocation, $3.9 million will go to 42 individual grants and 11 partnership grants out of the Sustainability Fund, and $1.7 million will go to four regional grants from the Regional Growth Fund.

Smith announced that the Victorian Government would soon launch a $20 million Community Green Fund program, which “will help community and volunteer groups to take practical local action and restore environmental black spots,” he said.

For more information about the Local Sustainability Accord grants program, visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/accord.