Community groups and rural landholders will receive a share of over $500,000 in funding as part of three ACT Government grant programs awarded today.
Minister for the Environment Rebecca Vassarotti said that these grants, which coincide with World Environment Day, will support local projects and help enhance our urban and rural landscapes.
"Canberrans love and care so much about the environment they live, work and play in. That's why I'm thrilled to announce this funding to so many small community groups. Supporting these projects is an excellent way to celebrate World Environment Day," Minister Vassarotti said.
"As part of the 2021-2022 ACT Environment Grants and Nature in the City Grants program, 17 groups will share over $300,000 to deliver a broad range of projects including landscape restoration, rehydrating soils, urban tree planting, threatened species protection, weed control, and citizen science.
"We have also provided 25 rural landholders a share of $200,000 as part of the Rural Resilience Grants. These grants will help them tackle weeds and pest animal incursions that have exploded after the end of dry conditions and current above average rainfall.
"Additionally, six farmers who were directly impacted by the 2020 Orroral Fire will receive $3,000 each to rehabilitate fire containment lines created on their farms to fight fires.
"This funding will not only benefit our farmers and improve farm productivity and management, but there will also be wider environmental benefits. Most ACT farms adjoin nature reserves, Namadgi National Park, river corridors and other environmental assets or host endangered species.
"The ACT has some of the highest valued environments and will once again benefit from community projects that address the enhancement of our urban landscape and our natural assets, woodlands, grasslands, vegetation and wildlife.
"These projects will again deliver on important priorities for nature conservation and urban sustainability in the ACT."
