Applications are now open for community-led Green Army projects that support practical, grassroots environment and heritage conservation activities across Gippsland.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the Australian Government was providing additional opportunities in the 2014/15 financial year for community organisations, environment groups and local councils to apply for Green Army projects in their region.
“The Green Army gives our local Landcare and conservation groups a real boost by offering extra muscle to finish meaningful environmental projects, while also giving young people access to skills-based training,” Mr Chester said.
“We’ve already seen the first round of Green Army provide practical, hands-on help on projects that help improve our environment. Round two of the program is a chance to expand the benefits of this great program across Gippsland.
“Projects must run for 20-26 weeks and may be carried out across urban, regional and remote areas on public land, Indigenous-held lands, or private land where there is a clear community and environmental and heritage benefit.”
Green Army projects may involve restoring and protecting native habitat, weeding, revegetation, cleaning up waterways, creeks and rivers, fencing, gully remediation, preventing erosion, protecting and conserving heritage places and values, or monitoring and surveying on Indigenous and non-Indigenous lands.
Successful applicants will receive a team of up to nine Green Army participants, a team supervisor and project specific materials, such as seedlings, herbicide, mulch, matting and tree guards, in addition to the basic materials required to deliver a project.
Service providers, appointed by the Australian Government will work with project sponsors to deliver projects.
Applications for projects under this second round of the Programme are now open and will close on Tuesday, December 9 at 2pm AEDT.
To be eligible, projects must be ready to commence between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015.
Project guidelines for Round 2 and more information on the Green Army Programme is available at: www.environment.gov.au/green-army
