Government Grant Sponsors
Commonwealth Government
Caring For Our Country
Is the Governments’ new natural resource management program and is designed as an integrated package with one clear goal, a business approach to investment, clearly articulated outcomes and priorities and improved accountability.
Caring for Our Country commenced on 1 July 2008 and will deliver the Commonwealth’s existing natural resource management programs, the Natural Heritage Trust, the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, the National Landcare Program, the Environmental Stewardship Program and the Working on Country indigenous land and environmental program.
Link to Caring For Our Country website
Prior to 1 July 2008 Lake Macquarie Landcare received Commonwealth funding through the following programs:
Natural Heritage Trust
The Natural heritage Trust was set up by the Australian Government in 1997 to help restore and conserve Australia’s environment and natural resources. The Trust provides funding for environmental activities at a community level, a regional level, and a national level and state level. The Natural Heritage Trust provided substantial funds towards the position of Landcare Resource officer from 1999 to 2002, as well as funds toward a major Lake Macquarie Landcare project.
Envirofund
The Australian Government Envirofund was established in 2002 as the local action component of the Natural heritage Trust program. Lake Macquarie Landcare and Lake Macquarie Landcare groups have secured substantial funds for a variety of projects across the city since 2002.
Community Water Grants
The Community Water Grants program funded projects involving local communities that will result in wise water use. Five Lake Macquarie Landcare groups were successful in securing substantial funds from the Community Water Grants program.
NSW Government
Environmental Trust
The Environmental Trust is an independent statutory body established by the NSW Government to support exceptional environmental projects. Three Lake Macquarie Landcare groups have received substantial funds for exceptional projects from the Environmental Trust program in the last two years.
Catchment Management Authority
Five individual projects coordinated by Lake Macquarie Landcare have received funding from the CMA. The CMA also provide funding for the Community Support Program – an important partnership between the HCRCMA, LMCC and LMLN.
Natural Resources Advisory Council
The Natural Resources Advisory Council of NSW (NRAC) is an independent body reporting to the Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water. NRAC, through their ‘Forging Partnerships’ program, sponsored the Landcare in Schools program through Lake Macquarie Landcare from 2006 to 2008.
Community Building Partnerships Programm
Lake Macquarie Landcare has secured funding of $25,000 under the State Governments 2010 Community Building Partnership Program towards the Landcare Resource Centre Energy Efficiency Project at Teralba. The funding will provide for the supply and installation of Solar Panels and Water Tanks at the Landcare Resource Centre.
Land & Property Management Authority
Funding of $5,000 towards the eradication of weeds at Illawong Park, Swansea Heads in 2009.
Local Government
Lake Macquarie City Council
In accordance with the continuing growth of the Lake Macquarie Landcare community, and in recognition of the invaluable service to the city’s environment (local Landcare groups contribute over $3.6 million per year in volunteer hours based on $30 per hour) Lake Macquarie City Council provides $500,000 to support Lake Macquarie Landcare each year.
LMCC Education Grants
Lake Macquarie Landcare groups, Landcare Schools, and Lake Macquarie Landcare Inc have been successful in securing funds for environmental education projects through the Lake Macquarie City Council program since 2002.