Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Almost $280,000 has been allocated to ten projects aimed at improving the health of the iconic Gippsland Lakes.

Member for Eastern Victoria Region Harriet Shing today announced the successful community grant projects.

Community grants were awarded to projects that tackle some of the high priority areas and issues facing the Gippsland Lakes.

This includes maintaining and restoring habitat for native species, reducing sediment and nutrient loads to the Gippsland Lakes, protecting native animals and improving understanding of plants and animals of the Gippsland Lakes.

Grants have been allocated to

• Romawi Landcare Group for the Forge Creek Restoration project
• Heyfield Wetlands Trust for their Stormwater Management project
• Nungurner Community and Coast Action Group for the Nungurner Foreshore Protection project
• Marine Mammal Foundation for the Lakes Champions project
• East Gippsland Landcare Network for their revegetation project ‘A little green around the blue’
• Birdlife Australia for their Australian Pelicans Citizen Science project
• Friends of Beware Reef for their Marine Life in the Lakes project
• Nagle College Landcare Group for the Nagle College Rainforest project
• Birdlife Australia for their project studying the movements of Australasian Bittern
• Lakes Entrance Action and Development Association for the Lakes Entrance Dolphin Discovery Centre project.

These grants form part of the broader Gippsland Lakes program – $12.5 million in funding provided by the Victorian State Government over five years.

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing

“It’s an absolute pleasure to announce the successful recipients of these grants as well as meet some of the members of these community groups.”

“These projects will have direct impact on improving the health of the Gippsland Lakes.”

“It is fantastic to see a mix of both new projects and the extension of current successful projects being announced today.”