Possible Sources of Funding for Victorian Rail Trails

Landcare Grassroots funding.

The following is a press release. While the total value of grants is only $80,000 rail trails may have a good chance as they are on land formerly managed by VicTrack, adn the strong commitment to revegetation shown by many rail trail committees.

“VicTrack is the Government Business Enterprise that owns Victoria’s rail land, infrastructure and associated facilities. Many rural and outer-suburban rail corridors carry significant remnants of indigenous vegetation, including native grasslands.

Through its Grassroots program with partner Landcare Australia, VicTrack is again funding projects by community groups and other bodies that help conserve, extend, publicise or enable us to better understand native grasslands in our state.

Projects can be anywhere in Victoria – they need not be restricted to VicTrack or other public land.

VicTrack is calling for expressions of interest for projects involving native grasslands, specifically focussing on:

• Strategic and regionally based native grasslands projects, incorporating broad community, research, business and education elements. • General research projects and surveys. • General projects involving weed control, burning, area plantings, seed collection, equipment, inventions, community education. • Community-based projects.

Project application forms are available from Rob Youl, Landcare Australia: rob.youl@landcareaustralia.com.au . Project managers should highlight opportunities to promote the project to the community, and be prepared to provide an indicative project timeline and very brief three-monthly reports for their project’s duration.”

Applications close 28 February 2007.>

Local Area Access Program (LAAP)

More than $1.3 million will be given to councils around Melbourne and in provincial Victoria by the Bracks Government to improve local access and overcome barriers to walking, cycling and public transport, the Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky announced on Friday 12th January 2007.

Full details of the press release.

See the Department of Infrastructure’s website for more information on this as well as details of future grant rounds.