The region's natural environment benefits from grant funding

Community groups and landowners will benefit from a total of more than $102,000 through Scenic Rim Regional Council’s 2020-21 Environmental Grants Program.

Funding has been approved for 16 projects by community groups and landowners whose efforts will support Council’s conservation strategies by enhancing, protecting and restoring the Scenic Rim’s natural environment as well as raising community awareness of the region’s natural values.

Mayor Greg Christensen said many of the projects funded through Council’s 2020-21 Environmental Grants Program focused on the restoration of Scenic Rim waterways, which support a wide variety of plant and animal species and are vital in maintaining the region’s biodiversity.

“Council is committed to working in partnership with the community to preserve and enhance the Scenic Rim’s unique natural environment,” he said.

“Working together to care for the environment is a key theme of the Scenic Rim Regional Council Biodiversity Strategy and Council’s Environmental Grants Program provides valuable assistance to the community in ensuring the sustainability of our region.”

Cr Christensen said keen community interest in maintaining the region’s environmental values was reflected in the number of applications for grants in the 2020-21 program.

Council received 23 applications totalling more than $198,000, which far exceeded its budget allocation for environmental grants 2020-21.

“Our Environmental Grants Program represents an investment by Council in conserving and enhancing some of our region's most valuable natural assets, our spectacular scenery and healthy environment," Cr Christensen said.

“To maximise the benefit of these grants across the region and ensure high numbers of worthwhile projects can be supported, the assessment panel recommended that some successful applicants receive partial funding.

“Unfortunately, as grant requests far exceeded available funding, not all projects were able to be supported and Council officers will continue to work with applicants to understand where their projects could be improved so that they may be considered for future funding opportunities.

“Where possible, unsuccessful requests under the Environmental Grants Program will be supported through other initiatives, including the One Million Trees Program.”

The full list of successful applicants under the 2020-21 Environmental Grants Program is as follows:

Image caption: Tamborine Mountain Landcare is one of the successful recipients from Council's 2020-21 Environmental Grants Program