Wednesday 18 November 2015

Farmers, land care groups and local councils were being encouraged to apply for part of a $9 million package to help care for the environment.

The State government has released new money, funded through the Royalties for Regions programme, to go to groups that help volunteers do environmental work.

Groups can now apply for the Community Capability Grants, worth a total of $9.2 million over the next three years.

Wheatbelt NRM’s chief executive officer Natarsha Woods has welcomed the move and said work was already underway to make the most of it.

“Already we’ve identified the feral animal control program Red Card for Rabbit and Foxes that needs ongoing support,” Natarsha Woods said.

This year the eradication program, which engaged landholders in a coordinated campaign to control feral animals, has culled more than 4000 foxes, 200 cats and 2600 rabbits.

“Funding for this program has been under question, but now we could have an avenue to help safe guard its future,” Natarsha Woods said.

“This kind of program would meet the criteria as the Community Capability Grants are targeting well organised, not-for-profit organisations.”

“One of the most exciting things about the Community Capability grants is that Local Governments are eligible to apply for funding to support their NRM Officers. 

We have evidence that where there is local professional support, land care groups have a better success rate with their projects, so the more NRM Officers we have in the Wheatbelt, the better”

Two funding options are available for larger projects from $10,000 to $1 million and smaller projects between $1000 and $10,000.

Applications close in January 2016 and May 2016 respectively.