Community Grants Program
Volunteer community groups play an important role in protecting and improving local rivers and creeks.
Since 1999, we have distributed more than $1.2 million in grants to help community groups improve Melbourne's rivers and creeks and their surroundings.
The Community Grants program has improved almost 42 kilometres of rivers and creeks through the planting of about 310,000 indigenous plants. In 2007/08, Melbourne Water provided $385,000 to 95 community groups.
- Who can apply?
- When can you apply?
- What sort of grants are available?
- What's your role?
- Where do you sign up? The application process...
- More information
Who can apply?
Any incorporated community group, landcare group, committee of management or other volunteer group undertaking riparian or waterway management activities on public land in the Port Phillip or Westernport region.
When can you apply?
The application process usually opens some time in August and closes during the month of October.
What sort of grants are available?
Group Support Grant
- A total of $300 in funding (exclusive of GST) is available to provide general administrative assistance to the community group.
Group Promotion and Development Grant
- Up to $500 in funding (exclusive of GST) is available to groups to increase participation, raise public awareness, undertake training (to improve group capacity) and educate the community about programs. Examples of activities that are appropriate for this funding include newsletter production, tours of waterway improvement demonstration sites or training events.
Project Grant
- A maximum of $20,000 in funding (exclusive of GST) is available to projects addressing river and creek health. Funding can be used for a range of project related activities including weed control and management, riparian fencing, indigenous plantings and frontage management plans.
- Groups seeking funding support for land (not waterway) management may be eligible through the Port Philip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority's Community Grants Program.
What's your role?
To qualify for funding under the Community Grants Program, a number of conditions must be met, including:
- Matching funding: Applications must include at least one-to-one matching contributions from the applicant or project partners. This can be an in-kind or monetary contribution.
- Project Report: A report must be prepared and forwarded to the responsible agency within 30 days of completion of the project. For more details see our grants website.
Where do you sign up? The application process...
Application forms and funding guidelines, including tips on how to fill out your application, are available on our community grants website.
More information
For more information about Melbourne Water and our grants programs:
- Visit our Community grants website
- Contact us online or call the River Health Incentives Program Team on (03) 9235 2231.
- River Reflections: the newsletter for Melbourne Water's river health grants program, is now available.
- Creek Connections: is Melbourne Water's education and training newsletter for individuals and community groups.
Downloads
- River Reflections Oct 2008 (PDF, 405kb)
- River Reflections June 2007 (PDF, 626kb)
- Creek Connections - July 2008 (PDF, 904kb)
You will need Adobe Acrobat to access the above PDF documents. 