The Victorian Landcare Grants support environmental volunteer groups and networks to protect and restore land and the environment.
The grants are funded by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, and delivered through Victoria’s ten catchment management authorities (CMAs). Melbourne Water now administers the program for the Port Phillip and Westernport region, following the integration of the CMA in 2022.
Overview
View the 2024 Victorian Landcare Grants Now Open announcement.
Through the 2024 Victorian Landcare Grants, $3.55 million is available for Landcare and other environmental volunteer groups and networks that are working to protect and restore land and the environment.
Funding
Across Victoria’s 10 CMA regions, a total of $3.55 million is available for project and support grants. This includes $514,750 allocated to Melbourne Water’s region.
You can apply for both grant types, but if you are successful in receiving a project grant you will not receive a support grant.
Project grants
Up to $20,000 may be provided to eligible groups and networks for:
- on-ground works
- capacity building activities
- community education and engagement that protects or improves natural assets, such as:
- native vegetation
- native fauna
- waterways
- wetlands
- soils.
Projects must be completed and reported on by 30 November 2025.
You can submit more than one application.
Support grants
Up to $500 may be provided to eligible groups and networks to help with administration and running costs, such as:
- insurance
- incorporation and operational needs
- meetings and events
- newsletters, websites and other communications.
Eligibility
The grants are open to Victorian environmental volunteer groups to support their important work helping protect the health of our land, waterways and biodiversity.
Eligible groups include:
- Landcare groups and networks
- Friends groups
- Conservation Management Networks
- Committees of Management
- Coastcare groups
- Aboriginal groups and organisations working on Country.
The grants aim to:
- fund projects that address local, regional and state land and environment priorities, and promote innovation through experimental trials and pilot programs
- sustain Landcare and other environmental volunteer groups and networks, particularly those whose continuing existence will benefit from this support.
For further details on eligibility and how to apply, download the guidelines on this page.
Timeline
- Applications open: Tuesday 19 March 2024
- Applications close: 5 pm Tuesday 30 April 2024
- Recipients notified: September 2024
- Projects completed: 30 November 2025
Guidelines
Contact us
For more information or to discuss a potential application, please contact Barry Kennedy, Regional Landcare Coordinator:
Previous funding
The 2023 grants program funded 32 projects in the Melbourne Water region.
Snapshot of funded projects
- Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation recruitment campaign inviting private property owners to help preserve koala habitat.
- The Wurundjeri woi Wurrung Aboriginal Heritage Corporation is engaged in the environmental restoration of the Sunbury Rings heritage site.
- Friends of Leadbeaters Possum Inc. support to one of Victoria’s faunal emblems.
Learn more about strategies supporting the Victorian Landcare Grants in the Melbourne Water Region:
2023 grant recipients
Applications for the 2023 grants program closed on Tuesday 16 May 2023.
Congratulations to the 481 successful recipients of grants across Victoria, which funded 245 projects focused on biodiversity protection and support more than 269 environmental volunteer groups.
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