The Environment and Sustainability grant offers grants to assist incorporated groups and organisations to undertake environmental and sustainability projects on publicly accessible land within Golden Plains Shire.

Council's Community Strengthening Grants Program has been a valuable source of financial support for local events, projects and programs in Golden Plains Shire communities for 26 years.

Grants of up to $7,000 are available in three streams:

• Healthy Connected Community
• Community Inclusion
• Environment and Sustainability

Environment & Sustainability Key objectives include:

• Climate change adaptation & mitigation
• Biodiversity conservation
• Community education
• Emphasise stewardship and responsible behaviours toward natural resources

• Applicant must be a community group or organisation. 
• Community groups and organisations must be: - not for profit; and - incorporated or have an auspice arrangement. 
• Groups may submit multiple applications per round, but they must be for different projects and cannot be the same application over multiple streams. 
• Government organisations and agencies are not eligible to apply. However, kindergartens, Committees of Management, other community committees and local branches of larger organisations (e.g. CFA and SES) are eligible where significant community benefit can be demonstrated. 
• The project must be carried out within the Shire and benefit Golden Plains Shire communities and residents. 
• Primary and Secondary schools are eligible to apply as long as the project is not solely curriculum-based and can strongly demonstrate a partnership with another community organisation or have a joint use agreement in place guaranteeing community access. 
• Previous funded applicant must have no outstanding debts or overdue acquittals with Golden Plains Shire Council. 
• Applicant must have a level of public liability insurance appropriate to cover the project. This is where if increased insurance is required, it could form part of the application. 
• Applicant must provide quotes or evidence to support the budget for any individual expenditure over $250. 
• Applicant must match the requested funding through either cash and/or in-kind contributions. An in-kind contribution is a contribution of a good or a service other than money. It includes voluntary labour, donated goods and donated services/resources. The following rates should be used as a guide when calculating in-kind voluntary labour: 
  • Volunteer general labor: $30 per hour. 
  • Professional labor provided by a qualified tradesperson: $45 per hour or can demonstrate reasonable commercial rate.
• The number of times an applicant has previously received funding through the Community Strengthening Grants program will be considered during the assessment process. Council may choose not to fund a project by applicants who have previously received funding should the program be oversubscribed.
• For facilities’ improvements, the applicant must either be the owner of the land/building/facility or have the written consent from the owner. Consent evidence must be in writing and attached to the online application. 
• If the community facility is on Council-owned land/property, the applicant must discuss the project with a Golden Plains Shire Council officer prior to submitting the application.

• Phone: 03 5220 7111
• Email: communitygrants@gplains.vic.gov.au