Published on Monday, 8 May 2023 at 10:22:00 AM
Local community groups and schools wanting to launch environmental projects and education programs in Vincent can now apply for grants of up to $2000.
Applications are open for the environmental grants program, which assists and encourages schools and community groups to undertake environmental projects within Vincent.
The projects must demonstrate at least one of the objectives of Vincent’s Sustainable Environment Strategy 2019-2024.
Key objectives include empowering the community to live in an environmentally sustainable manner, reducing the use of non-renewable energy, ensuring efficient water management, enhancing floral and faunal biodiversity and reducing waste and use of resources.
“These grants are an ideal way to help promote environmental issues and environmentally-friendly practices in Vincent,” said Mayor Emma Cole.
“Local community groups and schools can use them to help kick-start their projects, education programs and events.
“I encourage our community to bring forward their ideas for more greening and local environmental opportunities and apply for these grants.”
Since 2015, Vincent has supported more than 50 local environmental projects.
Last year, local town team Transition Town Vincent (TTV) received a $2000 grant for its Food Forest, which is a collection of productive trees and plants that help each other thrive.
The forest will be created at Britannia Reserve, adjacent to Litis Stadium.
TTV’s Chris Cutress said a group of interested locals and not-for-profit organisation PermacultureWest have started planning the layout of the forest and what plants to include.
“The aim of the Food Forest is to establish an inviting and communal space, where conversations and education can be held with residents on the benefits of sustainably growing food within a suburban environment,” he said.
“The emphasis of the forest is to plant long-lived and tall-growing food plants at the outset, and we prefer plants that will require minimal maintenance and water over the long-run.
“We have also been careful to maintain full access to the public to the area, with no fences or other barriers so people can move through the area.
“Our aim is to have the plants in the ground by early winter to take advantage of the winter rainfall.”
Some plants that TTV are looking to include are those that will grow tall such as macadamia nut, fig, olive, pomegranate and grapefruit as these will provide shade and structure for smaller plants to be planted in future years.
Tropical food plants such as custard apple, longan and mango, and areas to plant flowers and shrubs are also being considered.
Grant applications close at 5pm on 12 May.
For more information and how to apply, visit the grant page.
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