Local communities share $10 million funding for bushfire wildlife and habitat recovery

March 9, 2021

The Federal Government is supporting local communities impacted by last year’s bushfires with $10 million in grants for wildlife and habitat recovery through hands on projects.

Individual grants range from $5000 to $150,000, and will back dedicated volunteers, Indigenous organisations, Landcare, wildlife sanctuaries and community groups to deliver important on-ground actions including setting up bee hotels, creating community nurseries, cultural burning and installing nest boxes.

Part of the Government’s $200 million bushfire recovery for wildlife and habitat package, the grants will fund 88 projects across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said that bushfire recovery for wildlife and habitat package was a key component of the more than $2 billion in assistance through the National Bushfire Recovery Fund.

Minister Littleproud noted “we know that it will take a diverse range of projects to assist with the recovery of our unique flora and fauna devastated by last summer’s fires.

“Already we have seen substantial recovery but there is still a longer road ahead.”

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley added “this will fund projects that boost the recovery of our native plants and animals through revegetation, protect vulnerable species from disease and pests, provide shelter and reduce erosion impacts.

“This is people getting out into the bush, getting on their hands and knees to remove weeds, climbing trees to install nesting boxes and erecting barriers to keep out feral predators.

“Threatened native animal species as iconic as the Platypus, Koala, Glossy Black Cockatoo and the Coastal Emu, as well as native plant species like the Omeo Gum, Mountain Ash, Tiny Wattle and Christmas Bells, will benefit from these projects.”

The competitive grants process was run through Business Grants Hub with applications submitted by incorporated and not for profit organisations, Indigenous organisations, local government authorities, traditional owners and/or community groups and volunteers.

The full list of successful projects is available at environment.gov.au/biodiversity/bushfire-recovery/open-grant-program

Image: The Cobargo Wildlife Sanctuary Project in NSW awarded $148,468. This project will assist in the removal of non-native trees that have been burnt and are a safety threat, removal of burnt fencing, weeding and removal of large areas of burnt forest that have not regenerated. Image courtesy of Australian Wildlife Protection Council

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