Five Sunshine Coast groups will share in funding to help them transform areas into vibrant green spaces.
They will benefit from grants as part of a State Government’s state-wide Community Sustainability Action program, which aims to help organisations create thriving ecosystems.
One of this year’s successful recipients is Permaculture Noosa, which will receive almost $35,000 to refurbish sections of the Cooroy Community Gardens to improve its functionality for growing high-quality local food for the community.
Permaculture Noosa Grants Officer Adam O’Toole said the grant would make a considerable impact.
“This grant will allow us to lift the Cooroy Community Gardens to a new level of productivity and self-sufficiency,” he said.
“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.”
Forty-two groups across the state will share in $900,000 in funding.
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.
The Minister for Environment and Science, Leanne Linard, said community gardens were becoming more popular.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
Sunshine Coast groups to benefit from grants
- Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre at Maroochydore will receive almost $23,000 to expand upon The Urban Farm by installing new water tanks, irrigation systems, a composting bay roof, and a new garden shed.
- Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group Inc at Nambour will receive more than $8000 to continue the restoration of sections of Petrie Creek by removing large woody weed trees and Celtis sinensis weeds and planting local native vegetation.
- Mooloolah River Waterwatch & Landcare Inc at Glenview will receive almost $50,000 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.
- Palmwoods Progress Association Inc at Palmwoods will receive $13,000 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.
- Permaculture Noosa Incorporated at Cooroy will receive almost $35,000 to refurbish sections of the Cooroy Community Gardens to improve its functionality for growing high quality local food for the local community.
More information can be found at: Community Sustainability Action grants.
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