ENVIROFUND EXTENDED FOR CYCLONE LARRY AND KATHERINE FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS

11 April 2006 - Community groups and individuals in northern Queensland and the Northern Territory town of Katherine can apply for Australian Government Envirofund grants until 19 May, after the April deadline was extended.
The destruction caused by Cyclone Larry last month and the recent Katherine floods this month means some people will need extra time to submit applications for local environmental projects.
Australian Ministers for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, and Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, Senator Eric Abetz, today said those living in the Wet Tropics and Northern Gulf Natural Resource Management regions had an extra three weeks to apply for an Envirofund grant.
“We hope this will make things a bit easier for communities trying to deal with a range of issues as a result of the cyclone,” Senator Campbell said.
“In particular this round of Envirofund could help restore previously-funded projects that may have been damaged by the cyclone.
“If, for example, past funding went into native plantings that are now destroyed, people could re-apply for a grant to do some repairs,” he said.
Grants for as little as a few hundred dollars or up to $50,000 are available for activities ranging from fencing to protect coastal areas to removing weeds on public land.
Senator Abetz said the Australian Government would also continue to support Northern Territory communities in their quest to look after the environment and promote sustainable resource use.
“The Envirofund aims to give people practical support for local activities that protect tropical, coastal and marine areas as well as our important agricultural lands in this region,” Senator Abetz said.
Applicants affected by Cyclone Larry or the Katherine floods can submit proposals until 5.00pm, Friday 19 May.
All other Envirofund proposals should be submitted by Friday 28 April.