The Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group and the Friends of Mary Carroll Wetlands have both been successful in their bids for small grants from the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program to continue their restoration efforts.
Twenty-one community groups were recognised by the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program (SALP) over the weekend, with $280,000 awarded in small grants to fund 50 environmental restoration projects around Perth.
Now in its 26th year, SALP offers the opportunity for small community groups to access funding for on-site environmental works in the Swan, Canning and surrounding catchment regions.
This year’s successful projects cover a range of maintenance and revegetation work, including the rehabilitation of bushland and wetland habitats, the control of invasive plants and animal species, and efforts to improve the biodiversity of Perth’s natural areas.
The Program – a partnership between Alcoa of Australia, the Burswood Park Board and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and delivered by Perth NRM – has contributed more than $10 million to the community over its lifetime.
“Perth NRM are very pleased to once again be assisting community-led groups in their important work restoring our natural spaces through the SALP funding. The fantastic work of these volunteer groups leads to beneficial outcomes, not only for the environment, but also the broader community,” Perth NRM Chief Executive Officer Keith Pekin said.
The SALP funding provides these groups with resources to assist in the continuation or expansion of work at both existing sites and new areas. This annual opportunity is essential for many groups to enable them to plan and fund their important work, in partnership with their local governments.
Community volunteers play a significant role in environmental conservation work. In the last 26 years, across 1675 SALP-funded projects, volunteers have provided more than 248,000 hours of their time, with their labour valued at over $5.7 million.
“We’re incredibly proud of all that the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program has achieved over its 26 years. Since 2003 alone, SALP volunteers have planted about three million stems to restore over three thousand hectares of ecosystem across the Swan Canning catchment area,” Alcoa of Australia Acting Vice President Operations Tanya Simmonds said.
“SALP acknowledges the importance of volunteerism and the incredible impact that grassroots organisations have in our communities.”
Applications are now open for the 2025 Swan Alcoa Landcare Program. Groups with conservation projects are encouraged to apply by the deadline, 6pm on Tuesday 30 April 2024.
To learn more about the successful 2024 recipients and projects, and to apply for the 2025 Swan Alcoa Landcare Program funding, visit the Perth NRM news page: www.perthnrm.com/news
