A celebration was hosted in Trentham for grant recipients of three community grant programs.  Representatives from Council, Councillors and various community groups were present at the event. A total of $80,111 has been distributed to groups across the Shire.

Six applications were received for the Sustainable Hepburn Grants Program in 2024. The applications represented a significant effort by organisations within the Shire to consider ways to reduce emissions and become more energy efficient. The Assessment panel recommended all six applications for funding through the program. The total amount funded through this program was almost $40,000.

Seven applications were received for the Biodiversity Grants Program. The applications represented a diverse range of activities focused on supporting and enhancing biodiversity in the Shire. For the first time, this year’s program featured a new 24-month category to allow for larger and longer term management of reserves and natural resources. The Assessment Panel recommended the five highest scoring applications for funding through the program.  The total amount funded through this program for both 12 and 24 month applications was over $27,000.

Thirteen applications were received for project funding through the Environment Group Grants Program. Applicants were invited to apply for the program and for the first time this year’s program extended beyond Landcare groups, to also include other organisations working in the environmental space. All 13 applications were recommended by the assessment panel for funding. A total of $13,000 was granted to environmental organisations this year.

Grant recipients were:

Biodiversity Grants Program

  • Hepburn Gardens for Wildlife awarded $4,780 for their 12-month project Better Gardens and Landscapes.
  • Wattle Flat- Pootila Landcare Group awarded $7,490 for the 24-month project to Linking Creswick to Wombat.
  • Shepherds Flat Landcare Group – awarded $4,634 for their12-month project Noxious Weed Management at the Larni Barramul Yaluk, Mullers Lane Reserve, Shepherds Flat
  • Friends of Kangaroo Creek Wheatsheaf, auspiced by Wombat Forestcare – awarded $8,000 for their 24-month project: Reinforcing collaborative blackberry control along Kangaroo Creek, wheatsheaf.
  • Friends of Cornish Hill awarded $2,464 for their 12-month project Redesign and replacement of large information board at Smith Creek Reserve, south-western end.

Sustainable Hepburn Grants

  • Trentham Sustainability Group – awarded $11,250 for their project Energy Resilient Trentham
  • Daylesford Community Child Care Centre – awarded $7,500 for their project Powering our children’s future.
  • Creswick Neighbourhood Centre – awarded $7,500 for their project A Cleaner, Greener, Comfortable for all CNC.
  • Trentham Golf Club – awarded $9,000 for their project Trentham Golf Club Solar PV extension.
  • Bullarto Hall Committee of Management – Awarded $2,993, for their project Solar to Bullarto Hall
  • Friends of Cornish Hill – Awarded $2,000 for their project Renewable Energy efficient small equipment purchase.

Environment Group Grants  ($1,000 each)

  • Shepherds Flat Landcare Group
  • Friends of Cornish Hill
  • Wattle Flat-Pootilla Landcare Group
  • Trentham Public Purpose Reserves Committee of Management
  • Wombat Forestcare
  • Rocky Lead Landcare Group
  • LVI-MT Bolton/Beckworth Landcare Group
  • Glenlyon Upper Loddon Landcare Group
  • Trentham District Landcare Group
  • Cornish Hill Committee of Management
  • Clunes Landcare and Waterways Group
  • Bald Hills-Creswick Landcare Group Inc
  • Great Dividing Trail Association.

 

This article is based on a media release from Hepburn Shire Council.