The Andrews Labor Government will provide $250,000 worth of grants to help volunteer groups working to protect and preserve Victoria’s coastline.

Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio announced the successful Coastcare Community Grant recipients at the Victorian Coastal Awards last night.

Grants of up to $10,000 for one-year and $15,000 for two-year projects will be made available to 26 community projects.

Projects supported in this year’s round of funding include:

• Friends of the Prom – sea spurge removal and restoring hooded plover habitat at Squeaky Beach
• Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland Incorporated – Moogji Coastal Works Project 2018-2019
• Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network – Thunder Point Coastal Reserve Community Conservation Project
• Mt Eliza Association for Environmental Care – weed control and re-vegetation at Rangelagh Beach Foreshore Reserve.

The awards showcase the dedication of coastal communities in managing and protecting the state’s coastal areas, and honour achievements in improving the physical environment, research and monitoring and community education.

For a full list of successful recipients, visit delwp.vic.gov.au/coastcare.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“Victoria’s volunteers and community groups are at the frontline in protecting our coastal environments – that’s why we’re backing them with these grants.”

“Victoria’s Coastal Awards celebrate some of those outstanding efforts and I congratulate all of the recipients on what they have achieved.”

Quotes attributable to Dr Anthony Boxshall, Chair of the Victorian Coastal Council

“The community is a key part of protecting our coasts. The awards recognise and celebrate the great contributions of volunteers and coastal communities to the health and wellbeing of our coastal and marine environments.”

“It is important to raise awareness and understanding about the pressures on our coastal and marine environments, and the ways that communities can take action to protect these areas.”