About $180,000 in community grants awarded
About $180,000 in community grants has been awarded to 26 local groups in Melbourne’s west for projects focused on culture, environmental care and community connection.
The funding comes through Greater Western Water’s Thriving Communities programme, which offers grants of up to $5,000 and $20,000 to community groups and organisations delivering projects for local communities.
Greater Western Water said this year’s programme drew a record number of applications focused on water education, waterway health and environmental sustainability.
General Manager Strategy and Partnerships Kessia Thomson said, “This year we are pleased to be supporting a large number of initiatives that promote grass roots programmes around water literacy, sustainability and environmental stewardship, and it was fantastic to see more groups than ever with applications focused on water education and caring for local waterways.”
Water and environment projects
Among the funded projects are Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Care Group’s The Creek and Bay Hands on Learning programme, which combines habitat restoration, Indigenous cultural education and environmental science programmes around Kororoit Creek and Port Phillip Bay, and the Sanctuary of Sentient Beings’ Sanctuary Rewilding & Living Habitat Restoration programme in Beremboke.
Other recipients include Footscray Community Arts for Lango Stage: Gathering on Country – Waterways, Culture and Community Integration along the Maribyrnong River, and Werribee River Association for Platypus Watch: Putting Perridak Back on Track – Phase 2.
Celebrate Diversity Inc. Received funding for a multilingual water conservation programme for culturally and linguistically diverse seniors across Wyndham. Wyndham Bright Young Leaders and Building Cultural Connections Australia were also funded for projects centred on water conservation and sustainability skills.
Thomson said, “We’re seeing more frequent dry conditions across our region, which makes it even more important to support local groups to help communities learn, connect and play their part in making every drop count.”
Since 2022, the Thriving Communities programme has supported more than 90 community-led projects.
