The Allan Labor Government is working to improve air quality in Melbourne's west with new grants available that will help create healthier, more liveable communities.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos announced another round of Air Quality Improvement Precinct grants - this round has been expanded to support local government, schools, community groups and research institutions, local industry and businesses to reduce air pollution across Melbourne's west.
The grants are open in the LGAs of Melton, Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Port Phillip, Hobsons Bay and Wyndham.
The $1 million dollar program will help communities in the west tackle air pollution - supporting cleaner technologies, better infrastructure and local solutions to reduce emissions from smoke, dust and other sources.
The program builds on two previous grant rounds which focused support on local business in the west to reduce pollution output.
The Air Quality Improvement Precincts and expanded round of grants is part of the Labor Government's Victoria's Air Quality Strategy - the state's first overarching plan to address air pollution.
The new grants builds on the government's climate change framework, which will contribute to improving air quality as Victoria moves towards renewable energy and increased update of zero emissions vehicles.
The Labor Government is working with the community and industry to get large trucks off local streets through introducing No-truck Zones and removing 9,000 trucks a day from local roads through the West Gate Tunnel project.
For more information on the grants, including the precinct boundary and how to apply, visit environment.vic.gov.au/grants/AQIP-grants-2025.
As stated by Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos
"Extending the program means we can now also support schools, local councils and community groups, together with local business and industry to deliver initiatives that support improved air quality in Melbourne's west."
"Whether installing dust sensors or planting vegetation barriers to block and capture dust, we encourage all kinds of innovative mitigations to ensure we improve air quality in our pollution hot spots."
As stated by Minister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne
"We are getting thousands of trucks off local roads, supporting the infrastructure to move more freight on rail and have leased the old Melbourne market site to the Port of Melbourne to increase the Port's capacity which will reduce traffic through Melbourne's west."
