Wednesday, 21 June 2017

Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing has congratulated Plastic Bag Free Bass Coast, Cape Paterson Residents and Ratepayers Association, Lakes Entrance Community Landcare, Friends of Mallacoota, Sandy Point Foreshore Committee of Management and Friends of the Prom on being awarded a Coastcare grant to help continue their voluntary work to protect and preserve the state’s precious coastal environment.

Plastic Bag Free Bass Coast, Cape Paterson Residents and Ratepayers Association Lakes Entrance Community Landcare, Friends of Mallacoota, Sandy Point Foreshore Committee of Management and Friends of the Prom are six of 29 community groups who received funding under the 2017 round of the $150,000 Coastcare Victoria Community Grants Program.

The recent 2017/18 Victorian Budget also includes $2 million to enable volunteer involvement, including boosting the Coastcare program and its Summer by the Sea and community grants components. The amount available for Coastcare grants will rise to almost $300,000 per year in 2017/18 and 2018/19.

The Coastcare grants support the conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of coastal and marine environments along Victoria’s 2,000km of coastline.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing:

“We are really lucky to have so many passionate and generous volunteers dedicated to looking after Gippsland’s coastal areas for the benefit of local communities and the huge numbers of visitors who come here to enjoy our region’s natural beauty and clean environments.

“The Andrews Labor Government is committed to supporting projects that will make significant and lasting improvements to our coastline, and engaging with communities on the value and importance of preserving our coastal environments.”