Apply now! Grants available for environmental and cultural heritage projects

Landholders and community groups can now apply to receive funding for projects that protect and improve natural and cultural resources through several grants programs offered by Central West Local Land Services.

The grants are a great opportunity to fund projects, on-farm works and natural farm assets, workshops, events, site enhancements or training with projects to be delivered in full by 30 April 2023.

Kyra Roach, Team Leader Natural Resource Management, said landholders in priority areas of the region may be eligible to receive incentive funding through the Healthy Landscape Incentives program.

“Through on-ground works, we’re aiming to protect and enhance the habitat of threatened species such as the Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot plus woodland hollow-dwellers such as the Barking Owl and Squirrel Glider,” Ms Roach said.

“Box Gum Grassy Woodlands and Fuzzy Box Woodlands will also be targeted to improve the condition and restore important remnants of the threatened ecological communities.

“Incentive funding will also be available for landholders along the Lachlan River and tributaries to rehabilitate and enhance riparian health through activities such as fencing and weed control.”

Meanwhile, the Central West Small Grants are offering between $1,000 and $5,000 for projects that empower local communities to adapt to adversity and protect or preserve cultural heritage.

These grants are being offered to community groups for projects that improve community resilience particularly through partnerships and community participation.

This year, the annual Resilient Communities small grant will be returning and a new Connection to Country small grant will also be available for Aboriginal community groups.

“We are looking to support projects that focus on practice change such as training or partnering with stakeholders to implement improved natural resource management practices,” Ms Roach said.

“Projects by groups which involve rehabilitation, restoration or enhancement of native vegetation, threatened species habitat or areas of threatened ecological communities will also be a priority for the grants.

“We’re proud to also be offering the Connection to Country small grant for the first time to support projects that protect or preserve cultural heritage and build knowledge of traditional land management practices.

“This could include activities such as cultural burns, training to help identify sites of cultural heritage and school education programs.”

Funding for these grants is proudly made available by the Natural Resource Management Services - Healthy Landscapes program, NSW Government’s Environmental Trust and through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Applications close on Friday, 7 October 2022. 

Further information on the grants and how to apply is available at www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/central-west/financial-assistance, or you can call your closest Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299.