Friday 30th April, 2021:

Landcare NSW welcomes $14 million for post-Black Summer bushfire recovery grants to support regeneration and community resilience

Federal Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, announced a landmark $14 million dollar funding program for Landcare-led bushfire recovery projects in New South Wales, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia this week.

Funded by the Australian Government, the Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants will support bushfire recovery projects in seven government-designated bushfire regions impacted by the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/2020, four of which are in NSW.

The funding will focus on activities supporting bushfire recovery for fire-affected plant and animal species, ecological communities, and natural assets – including Ramsar listed wetlands and World Heritage listed sites.

Landcare NSW CEO, Dr Adrian Zammit welcomed the funding, saying the grants would support the large-scale regeneration efforts required to restore landscapes, improve biodiversity and support community resilience.

“The devastation to our environment does not stop at state borders. Collaborative funding is crucial for our communities and native landscapes to recover after the catastrophic Black Summer Bushfires. In NSW alone, the fires burnt 6.2 percent of the state and more than one billion animals were estimated to have been killed or displaced in the fires.

“No matter where we are based, from the rainforests of northern NSW and South-East Queensland to the alpine regions of ACT, NSW and Victoria with the support of this funding we can begin to rebuild,” Dr Zammit said.

Eligible Landcare groups, environment networks, and community groups will have access to grant funding up to $50,000, and as larger partnerships and projects up to $300,000.

The $14 million bushfire grants program will be delivered by a ground-breaking alliance between the National Landcare Network and Landcare Australia, and the state Landcare peak bodies. The Program will be co-delivered, and will coordinate a wide range of high-impact on-ground community and environmental projects over the next 12 months for community landcare.      

Call for submission of grant applications will be announced in May.

For further information about projects and grants, visit www.landcareledbushfiregrants.org.au

For media enquiries:

Samantha Stratton P:0487 767 955  E: sstratton@landcarensw.org.au

Jodie Lovell E: jlovell@landcarensw.org.au

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