Eleven community groups and organisations have shared $87,000 in funding through the Victorian Government Community Mini-Grants Program to raise community awareness of climate change impacts.
“Our climate is changing, and the effects are being felt across the state — that’s why we’re empowering communities to act now and adapt to the impacts,” Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Hume regional director Clare Kiely said.
The grants are funded by the $9.32 million Supporting Our Regions to Adapt program and are intended to help organisations get new and innovative ideas off the ground, such as events, sustainable food hubs and school programs.
“This is an example of how we’re supporting action on climate change by investing in local, community-led projects,” Ms Kiely said.
Successful grant recipients are:
- Zero Carbon Tatura and GV Community Energy: $8200 to inform the Tatura community about opportunities to improve energy efficiency in their homes.
- Yea Wetlands Discovery Centre Inc and 2030 Yea: $8900 to hold three community sessions to raise awareness and skills to lead positive climate change adaptation.
- Wangaratta Landcare and Sustainability Inc: $8850 to host a “community of influencers roundtable event”.
- Wodonga Urban Landcare Network Inc: $10,000 to develop a Climate Change Action Plan for the network through a series of community events.
- Murray Dairy: $10,000 to host a workshop for local dairy farmers to better understand climatic impacts and develop a key challenges report to inform the industry.
- Sustainable Upper Ovens Inc: $7275 to hold a climate change field day highlighting the challenges and opportunities for the community.
- Sustainable Upper Ovens Inc: $1745 to encourage hospitality businesses to transition to reusable containers rather than single-use plastics.
- Totally Renewable Beechworth: $7850 to support a community “Battery Fever” event to workshop the social considerations of community-scale battery storage.
- Sustainable King Valley Inc: $5700 to establish a Sustainable Food Hub in the Upper King Valley.
- Swamps, Rivers and Ranges: $9090 for a climate-focused forum supporting landholders and communities on land management, revegetation and biodiversity activities.
- Wooragee Primary School: $10,000 to highlight the benefits of becoming more sustainable and embed climate change adaptation in teaching plans.
