Natural Environment Grants fund community projects that protect biodiversity and increase participation in conservation and/or education activities.

The Natural Environment Grants fund projects that:

• protect and enhance biodiversity, in particular threatened flora and fauna;
• support effective and collaborative pest plant and animal management (in accordance with Council’s Pest Plant and Animal Management Strategy 2020 - 2023);
• build and strengthen partnerships to protect biodiversity and manage pest plants and animals; and/or
• improve community understanding of local biodiversity and how to protect it.

Funds available

Grants of up to $8,000 are available in each round of this program. Applicants must contribute a minimum of 30% (cash or in-kind) towards the total project cost. Two rounds of Natural Environment Grants are offered each year, with applications open for the months of March and September.

Who can apply?

• Groups that operate in or contribute to the Surf Coast Shire community. 
• Incorporated not-for profit groups, or unincorporated groups who apply through an appropriate not-for-profit incorporated body that supports the application and is willing to accept responsibility for the funding (i.e. auspice agreement). 
• Groups that operate as part of a larger governing body, where this grant is outside the scope of what is funded by the governing body, e.g. Churches, Cemetery Trusts, SES, CFA. 
• Not-for-profit community groups and sporting clubs that lease Council owned buildings within the Surf Coast Shire. 
• Schools, if the activity is not part of the standard school curriculum.
• Individuals under an auspice agreement

Who cannot apply?

• Groups that don’t meet the eligibility requirements specified in these Guidelines. 
• Individuals who are not applying on behalf of an eligible group.
• Groups that have received Surf Coast Shire Council funding for the same activity within the same financial year. 
• Groups that have an overdue Acquittal Report for previous funding received from Council. 
• Committees of Surf Coast Shire Council, including Advisory Committees, Committees of Management or Sub Committees. 
• Individuals or private landholders who are not part of a coordinated project run through an appropriate group. 
• Individual businesses who are not part of a coordinated project run through an appropriate group. 
• Elected members and employees of Council must not be involved in the development of an application and are not eligible to sign or be listed on any grant.

• Phone: 5261 0600
• Email: thannan@surfcoast.vic.gov.au