Grants to grow vibrant green spaces and community gardens
Published Monday, 10 July, 2023 at 04:15 PM
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Leanne Linard
- Forty-two community groups and organisations will share in $900,000 in funding to help them transform neglected areas into green spaces.
- Grants of up to $50,000 were available to establish or expand community gardens, install composting and recycling infrastructure at community facilities or rehabilitate local green spaces.
The Palaszczuk Government is providing a funding boost to 42 community groups and organisations to help them transform neglected and unused areas into vibrant green spaces.
The groups will share in $900,000 in funding through the Community Sustainability Action grant program to help them repurpose neglected spaces into areas where the community can grow their own produce or create thriving ecosystems.
Grants of between $5000 and $50,000 were available to install composting and recycling infrastructure at community facilities, to restore and rehabilitate local green spaces, or to establish or expand suburban community gardens.
One of this year’s successful recipients is Permaculture Noosa which will receive $34,928 to refurbish sections of the Cooroy Community Gardens to improve its functionality for growing high-quality local food for the community.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Environment and Science Leanne Linard:
“We received an overwhelming number of applications to this funding round which shows just how passionate Queenslanders are about creating more green spaces, growing their own produce, and making a positive impact on the environment.
“Community gardens in particular are becoming more and more popular as people recognise the benefits they offer.
“These projects will not only transform forgotten spaces into vibrant green havens, but they will also provide important opportunities for communities to work together to provide fresh food and nutritious food for those in need, minimise food waste and create or improve vital habitat for their local native species.
“These grants build on the Palaszczuk Government’s long-term vision for Queensland to become a zero-waste society, as well as our commitment to invest in projects that will protect and improve our unique biodiversity and ecosystems.”
Quotes attributable to Mr Adam O’Toole, Grants Officer, Permaculture Noosa
“We are very thankful to the Queensland Government. This grant will allow us to lift the Cooroy Community Gardens to a new level of productivity and self-sufficiency.
“With this money, we will be able to significantly increase the amount and quality of fresh produce which can be produced on site.
“Our goal is to not only recycle all biomass back into new soil to support plant grown, but we will also manage a certain portion of local organic waste streams for composting, vermicomposting and biochar production.
“We try to integrate learning into all our activities. We are currently trialling a new concept, the ‘Learn – Work – Eat’ method as a way of sandwiching hard yakka between learning and eating.”
Further information:
Full list of recipients:
|
Organisation |
Location |
Description |
Funding |
|
Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre Inc |
Maroochydore |
This project aims to expand upon The Urban Farm by installing new water tanks, irrigation systems, a composting bay roof, and a new garden shed. |
$22,775 |
|
The Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane-St Francis College |
Milton |
This project aims to expand upon the Baroona Farm Garden by installing 52 sustainable garden beds, establishing gardening workshops and Open Days, and encouraging community use of the composting hub. |
$10,802 |
|
Friends of Tallebudgera Creek Conservation Park (sponsored by Watergum Community Inc) |
Palm Beach |
This project aims to restore an overrun section of coastal national park by recruiting volunteers, contractors, and community members to undertake weeding, rubbish and garden waste dumping and to map flora and fauna. |
$50,000 |
|
Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation Inc |
South Mission Beach |
This project aims to restore a partially cleared area of land into a native forest which will increase food and habitats for cassowaries and wildlife, reduce the impact of water run-off, reduce maintenance costs, and generate a visually aesthetic area for the general public. |
$9,989 |
|
Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group Inc |
Nambour |
This project aims to continue the restoration of sections of Petrie Creek by removing large woody weed trees and Celtis sinensis weeds and planting local native vegetation. |
$8,280 |
|
B4C-Bulimba Creek Catchment Co-ordinating Committee |
Murarrie |
This project aims to implement stage three of the Gibson Island Project by rehabilitating a stretch of riparian zone and facilitating volunteer working bees to maintain weed control and care of plants. |
$29,946 |
|
The Young Men's Christian Association of Brisbane |
Joyner |
This project aims to remove invasive weeds and non-native plants at YMCA Camp Bundalong. This project will expand the riparian corridor to provide a safer passage for animals, facilitate multiple community planting events, and provide hands-on learning opportunities for young people and the community. |
$7,500 |
|
Port Douglas Community Service Network Inc |
Port Douglas |
This project aims to refurbish a community garden in the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre by constructing a green house and installing a water tank. |
$9,722 |
|
Currumbin Community Recreation and Lifestyle Inc. |
Currumbin Valley |
This project aims to improve the community garden facilities that have recently been established to help supply vegetables to the Oz Harvest Charity. Through installing ten new raised wicking beds, this project aims to increase the production of leafy greens by 50%, and enable greater access and participation in the community garden, particularly for those who are elderly or have a disability. |
$5,000 |
|
Pioneer Catchment & Landcare Group Inc. |
Marian |
This project aims to launch the Pioneer River Conservation in Action Group, and restore the riparian zone at Lloyd Park to its natural beauty by controlling overrun weeds, planting native species, and re-establishing vegetation through community working days. |
$35,589 |
|
Bric Housing |
Fortitude Valley |
This project aims to strengthen neighbourhood bonds and community living within the Bric Housing social housing units through the establishment of a community garden. Project activities include, revitalising a community meeting area, reducing litter, and enabling conversations around harvesting bush tucker/vegetables. |
$20,338 |
|
Stratford and Freshwater Community Association |
Stratford |
This project aims to refurbish a community garden by installing a garden shed, purchasing new gardening equipment, refilling six garden beds and four wicking beds, distributing mulch, installing microbat cages, and promoting the community garden online and at local events. |
$6,233 |
|
Redland Community Centre Inc |
Wynnum |
This project aims to establish a series of community-based raised garden beds to grow herbs and vegetables to be used as part of the meals delivered from Wynnum Community Place. The project also aims to facilitate community networking and the sharing of information around gardening. |
$6,623 |
|
The Scout Association of Australia Queensland Branch Inc - Samford Scout Group |
Samford Village |
This project aims to build and install nest boxes to assist in biodiversity conservation by creating habitats for local hollow native animal species. This project will engage young people through youth workshops in which participants will learn about wildlife education, the construction of nest boxes, and the monitoring of the nest boxes in conjunction with an app and improve the local environment for wildlife and the community. |
$5,334 |
|
Kuranda Envirocare Inc |
Kuranda |
This project aims to build upon the success of the Kuranda Village nature trail by developing a Kuranda nature trail app, installing strategically placed cigarette bollards, undertaking weed control, and planting native trees to deliver positive environmental outcomes and improve community engagement. |
$24,605 |
|
Starting Strong Inc |
Witheren |
This project aims to create and provide a native 'bush tucker' trail and edible garden with a 'farm to plate' concept for the local community. |
$6,717 |
|
North Townsville Community Hub Inc. |
Deeragun |
This project aims to expand the North Townsville Community Garden by utilising existing, unused, areas of land to install raised garden beds and shading and create worm farms. |
$40,000 |
|
Mooloolah River Waterwatch & Landcare Inc. |
Glenview |
This project aims to regenerate a portion of unused, overrun, and formerly mined land/wetland into a user-friendly community space through controlling weeds, planting native trees/shrubs, creating walkways, and installing benches and tables for community use. |
$49,929 |
|
Beachmere Community Garden Inc. |
Beachmere |
This project aims to finish the construction of the Beachmere Community Garden through purchasing plants, pots, and hanging baskets, as well as installing a secure mesh enclosure to store plants and gardening equipment. |
$20,962 |
|
Providence Community Group Incorporated |
South Ripley |
This project aims to expand the Ripley Valley Community Garden by implementing a community planting day and installing 16 accessibility-friendly garden beds. This project aims to further facilitate education around gardening and sustainability practices. |
$11,559 |
|
Treeforce Assn Inc |
Yorkeys Knob |
This project aims to expand the revegetation zone of the Cattana Wetlands by involving the community in implementing weed control, planting 4000 native rainforest trees, and maintaining their growth over the 36-month period of funding. |
$50,000 |
|
Whitsunday Catchment Landcare Inc. |
Cannonvale |
This project aims to rehabilitate a piece of foreshore at Coral Esplanade by implementing weeding, mulching, revegetation (including planting 800 local native plants), and irrigation. |
$40,810 |
|
Holloways Beach Community Garden Inc |
Holloways Beach |
This project aims to install irrigation at the Holloways Beach Community Garden to increase the amount of produce. The project further aims to improve weed control through the application of mulch to garden areas and the use of equipment to control weeds in grassed areas. |
$11,773 |
|
Palmwoods Progress Association Inc. |
Palmwoods |
This project aims to improve the existing Community Garden by rejuvenating the space to provide sustainable food for the local community, along with providing more efficient and safer equipment for community garden members. This project also aims to maintain and improve corridors of native plants for local wildlife and for learning about Indigenous Plants. |
$13,000 |
|
Holloways Beach Coast Care Inc. |
Holloways Beach |
This project aims to engage the local volunteer community to help revegetate a previously cleared coastal riparian site, located along Thomatis Creek in a tidal fish habitat ecosystem. |
$24,000 |
|
Amby Progress Association Inc. |
Amby |
This project aims to establish herb and vegetable gardens within the Amby Hall grounds to enable the sharing of produce within the community, along with the installation of compost and recycling bins. |
$9,743 |
|
Ediblescapes |
Nerang |
This project aims to rehabilitate and repurpose an unused community space at Country Paradise Parklands at Nerang to address food security through the direct provision of food grown onsite to the local community hub. |
$45,721 |
|
Mount Morgan Citizen's Club Inc. |
Mount Morgan |
This project aims to establish a community garden to enable the sharing of produce within the community and create a green space within the Mount Morgan Arts Precinct. A small nature corridor for invertebrates, birds, reptiles and amphibian wildlife will also be created. |
$10,674 |
|
Dowse Lagoon Bushcare Group (sponsored by Keep Sandgate Beautiful Association Inc) |
Sandgate |
This project aims to remove a large fig tree and a large branch on a Ficus Elastica at Dowse Lagoon in Sandgate. |
$5,232 |
|
Springbrook Men's Shed Inc. |
Springbrook |
This project aims to install additional garden beds, irrigation and composting facilities at the Springbrook Men's Shed. |
$15,919 |
|
Crows Nest Progress, Recreation and Tourism Association Inc |
Crows Nest |
This project aims to create a community garden at Skelly Park in Crows Nest which will involve growing fruit and vegetables for the local community. Rainwater tanks and compost bins are also to be installed for the community's use. |
$39,199 |
|
Robina Community Garden Association Inc. |
Robina |
This project aims to reconfigure the existing garden layout at Robina Community Garden and create a new publicly accessible garden area. |
$29,042 |
|
Permaculture Noosa Incorporated |
Cooroy |
This project aims to refurbish sections of the Cooroy Community Gardens to improve its functionality for growing high quality local food for the local community. |
$34,928 |
|
Marlin Coast Neighbourhood Centre Inc |
Trinity Park |
This project aims to extend the existing community garden which provides access to free fresh, organic garden produce for the community by installing additional garden beds, gazebos, fencing and a pathway to improve physical accessibility. |
$20,000 |
|
Desert Uplands Build-Up & Development Strategy Committee Inc. |
Barcaldine |
This project aims to repurpose the Barcaldine Common by undertaking cadastral mapping and fieldwork, installing fencing and walking tracks, and documenting bird and plant species. |
$32,165 |
|
Kilkivan Community Garden and Railway Markets Project Inc. |
Kilkivan |
This project aims to revitalise and expand a small community food garden to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to the local community. The project will also provide skills and training to engage local youth. |
$8,578 |
|
Cape York Folk Club Incorporated |
Rossville |
This project aims to construct a garden shed, purchase equipment and tools and conduct workshops for the Rossville Community Garden. |
$5,663 |
|
Norman Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee |
Holland Park West |
This project aims to rewild an area of creek bank within Glindemann Park by establishing new native vegetation to increase connected bushland to support animal movement and reduce the dispersion of weeds downstream. |
$10,885 |
|
Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District (Lutheran Community Care) |
Nundah |
This project aims to create a community garden at Union Street Nundah to provide fresh food to the local community by installing garden beds and water tanks. |
$32,215 |
|
Faith Works Uniting Community |
Coorparoo |
This project aims to provide a green space for local community members, particularly those in high density living; by expanding the community garden and increasing composting facilities. |
$15,049 |
|
Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre Inc. |
Palm Beach |
This project aims to build raised garden beds for growing herbs, fruit and vegetables and create a community garden to assist people who are currently accessing the foodbank who will have the opportunity to grow their own food and connect with others in a social environment. |
$13,640 |
|
Oxley Creek Catchment Association Incorporated |
Durack |
This project aims to improve the habitat and biodiversity of the Archerfield Wetlands. The project will include on ground restoration at critical locations, installing 30 nest boxes at the site, and establishing native riparian vegetation along the watercourse around the newly installed culvert crossing. |
$49,861 |
Since the Community Sustainability Action Grant program started in 2016, more than 691 projects have shared in $23.4 million in funding.
The program provides vital funding to eligible community organisations and individuals for innovative solutions that address climate change, protect our unique wildlife and conserve our natural and built environment.
More information on Community Sustainability Action grants can be found at: Community Sustainability Action grants
ENDS
Media contact: Scott Chandler – (07) 3719 7339