Melbourne Water has committed over half a million dollars to support environmental volunteer groups in the Port Phillip and Westernport catchments. 

The funding aims to bolster community efforts to protect and restore the natural environment throughout 2024.

Thirty organisations have been awarded grants of up to $20,000 each for on-ground landscape work. 

Additionally, seventy-eight more groups will receive $500 grants to cover administrative costs. 

The funding will be distributed this month to ensure timely project initiation and partnership development.

Among the recipients, Cardinia and West Gippsland Equine Landcare received $10,800 to assist rural equine property owners in identifying and managing pasture grasses, native grasses, and weeds, promoting healthy land management practices.

The Holly Project in Moorabool was awarded $10,400 to support public and private land managers in controlling invasive English Holly in the Central Highland Uplands bioregion.

The South Gippsland Landcare Network received the maximum grant of $20,000. This will fund a biodiversity enhancement project in the Strzelecki Ranges Bioregion, focusing on increasing species richness, reducing erosion, and improving water quality draining into Western Port. 

The grant will also support four planting days hosted by the Triholm-Poowong Landcare group to enhance community engagement and volunteer participation.

In 2023, Melbourne Water’s Victorian Landcare Grants supported 106 community events, which were attended by 4,810 volunteers. 

This year’s funding continues the tradition of empowering local groups to make tangible environmental improvements.

A full list of this year’s Victorian Landcare Grant recipients is accessible here.