There are a number of funding opportunities available for Coastcare groups at the moment.

Celebrate Tasmania Day Grants

The aim of the 2010 Celebrate Tasmania Day Grants Program is to support volunteer-based organisations to run local events for Tasmanians around the State to participate in Celebrate Tasmania Day celebrations and to engage with their local community.

Celebrate Tasmania Day is an opportunity to:

• celebrate the Tasmanian way of life
• reinforce the sense of community in Tasmania
• strengthen communities by encouraging Tasmanians to become more active within their communities in either a formal (e.g. volunteering) or informal way (e.g. introducing themselves to neighbours)
• encourage the next generation of volunteers to become active
• thank those within the community who currently volunteer.

Applications close at 5 pm on Friday 17 September 2010. For more information go to http://www.celebratetasmaniaday.tas.gov.au/

Naturally Inspired Grants

Applications are invited for NRM South’s Naturally Inspired Grants, a program to deliver positive environmental change across Southern Tasmania Grants of up to $3000 are available to assist community groups and organisations in activities including:

• site remediation/clean-up days

• weeding/revegetation/fencing

• purchase of tools and equipment

• contractor/short-term project officer hire

• interpretative signage

• improving stormwater management

• action planning/review existing plans

• new group start-up support

An information kit including grant application forms and guidelines is available from the NRM South website at www.nrmsouth.org.au from 9 August 2010. Applications must be submitted by 5pm EST 20 September 2010.

Tasmanian Landcaring Grants - from the bush to the beach

The Tasmanian Landcaring Grants program is a new funding opportunity offered by the Tasmanian Landcare Association (TLCA) and Wildcare Inc through the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country initiative.  Up to $20,000 will be available for landcaring projects that hit national targets and provide benefits to communities and the environment.

Three rounds will be funded over the next two years with up to $20,000 available per project.  (Projects funded in round 1 must be completed by 1 November, 2011.)

TLCA will provide a supportive application process for applicants with two dedicated TLCA project staff (Alan Barton and Peter Stronach). TLCA is grateful for the support from various organisations, particularly our partner Wildcare Inc.

Projects will need to target identified Caring For our Country priorities. For more information visit the TLCA website at www.taslandcare.org.au

Community Action Grants

Community Action Grants are the small grants component of the Australian Government's Caring for our Country initiative that aims to help community groups take action to conserve and protect their natural environment. The grants are targeted towards established community-based organisations which have sustainable farming and/or protecting and enhancing the natural environment as their principal objective.

Investment proposals are sought from environmental, Indigenous, Landcare, Coastcare and sustainable agriculture community groups for grants of between $5000 and $20 000 (GST exclusive) to take action to help protect and conserve Australia's environment. Projects must be completed within 18 months.

The grants are available to groups currently operating in the environmental and sustainable land management arena, and to established and emerging Indigenous organisations. Individuals are not eligible to apply for Community Action Grants.

Community Action Grants support local activities such as tree planting, revegetation, dune rehabilitation, field days, improving land management practices, and recording and use of traditional ecological knowledge.

For more information go to http://www.nrm.gov.au/cag/index.html or call 1800 552 008.