Funding for environmental groups spans 26 years

The Swan Alcoa Landcare Program (SALP) has this year awarded $280,000 in funding for environmental restoration projects around Perth.

Now in its 26th year, SALP provided the funding to 21 community groups to support a total of 50 projects.

SALP offers the opportunity for small community groups to access funding for on-site environmental works in the Swan, Canning and surrounding catchment regions.

This year’s successful projects cover a range of maintenance and revegetation work, including the rehabilitation of bushland and wetland habitats, the control of invasive plants and animal species, and efforts to improve the biodiversity of Perth’s natural areas.

The Program - a partnership between Alcoa of Australia, the Burswood Park Board, and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), and delivered by Perth NRM - has contributed more than $10 million to the community over its lifetime.

The SALP funding provides these groups with resources to assist in the continuation or expansion of work at both existing sites and new areas. This annual opportunity is essential for many groups to enable them to plan and fund their important work, in partnership with their local governments.

Alcoa Australia Interim Vice President Tanya Simmonds said: “We’re incredibly proud of all that the Swan Alcoa Landcare Program has achieved over its 26 years. Since 2003 alone, SALP volunteers have planted about three million stems to restore over three thousand hectares of ecosystem across the Swan Canning catchment area.

“SALP acknowledges the importance of volunteerism and the incredible impact that grassroots organisations have in our communities.”

Community volunteers play a significant role in environmental conservation work. In the past 26 years, across 1675 SALP-funded projects, volunteers have provided more than 248,000 hours of their time, with their labour valued at more than $5.7 million.

“The rehabilitation and conservation work undertaken thanks to SALP has a hugely positive outcome for the health of our river system – restoring local bushland and waterways and providing habitat for native species to flourish,” said DBCA Manager Rivers and Estuaries Branch Glen McLeod-Thorpe.

“Congratulations and thank you to the dedicated volunteers and stakeholders who have received funding in this SALP funding round.”

Perth NRM CEO Keith Pekin echoed the sentiments, praising the work of volunteers.

“Perth NRM are very pleased to once again be assisting community-led groups in their important work restoring our natural spaces through the SALP funding,” Mr Pekin said.

“The fantastic work of these volunteer groups leads to beneficial outcomes, not only for the environment, but also the broader community.”

Applications are now open for the 2025 Swan Alcoa Landcare Program. Groups with conservation projects are encouraged to apply by the deadline, 6pm on Tuesday 30 April 2024.

To learn more about the successful 2024 recipients and projects, and to apply for the 2025 Swan Alcoa Landcare Program funding, visit the Perth NRM news page: www.perthnrm.com/news