Media Release: Local Grants for koala conservation
The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Member for New England
The Hon. Sussan Ley MP, Minister for the Environment
Community projects in New England will be eligible for grant funding to support the recovery and protection of local Koala populations.
Grants of up to $200,000 will be offered for on-ground community projects and local activities that support the recovery and protection of the nationally listed Koala populations of Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said that the grants were another example of the Coalition Government working with communities to deliver practical on-ground programs.
“The New England community are proud of the local environment and care strongly about Koala populations,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“I encourage individuals or eligible groups to start preparing their ideas ahead of the grant round opening later this year.”
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said this will be the first of two $5 million grant rounds to help give communities the tools they need to make a difference for local populations.
“Individual grants of up to $200,000 will be made available to improve Koala habitat, health and our knowledge of populations,” Minister Ley said.
“The funding is part of the $50 million Koala package announced in 2022, which has taken the Morrison Joyce Government’s overall spending on koalas to more than $74 million.”
Grant guidelines are available on the Australian Government’s Business Grants Hub website, with the first round anticipated to open in May 2022.
The guidelines highlight 3 key goals:
improve the extent, quality and connectivity of Koala habitat and reduce local threats
increase understanding and management of disease and injury affecting Koala health and lift capability in on-ground care, treatment and triage of koalas, and
improve data and knowledge of Koala populations and health across their range, to support effective decision making and conservation action.
Grant guidelines: https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/koala-conservation-and-protection-community-grants-round-1