By Juliano Oliveira
Grants from $200 to $5000 are available for environment-driven organisations and individuals through the Native Wildlife Carers and Cultivating Community Gardens.
The program is aimed at community groups, non-profit organisations and registered Native Wildlife Carers, and it is part of Lord Mayor’s 2021-22 Community Sustainability and Environmental Grants Program. Environmental and sustainability-minded projects are a requisition.
“The Native Wildlife Carer Grants provide funding for registered wildlife carers to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured native wildlife, with the total grant pool amounting to $65,000 with grants available from $200 to $5000 for individuals and organisations,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
“The Cultivating Community Gardens Grants provide funding for community groups and non-profit organisations to maintain or develop community gardens with grants available from $1000 to $2500 from a total pool of $50,000.”
The Native Wildlife Carer Grants and the Cultivating Community Gardens Grants are now open and closed on 30 August 2021.
To apply for the 2021-22 Lord Mayor’s Community Sustainability and Environmental Grants Program, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/grants or call Council on 3403 8888.
Last financial year, the $5000 grant was awarded to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to purchase soft crates and koala beds, supporting animals in the RSPCA QLD Wildlife Hospital Wacol.
“The hospital at Wacol was built in 2012 to cater for 5000 patients, and it is now responding to over 20,000 annually,” RSPCA QLD Senior Wildlife Veterinarian Tim Portas said.
“With koala admission numbers this calendar year expecting to exceed last year’s total by more than 25%, so these koala beds will assist greatly in the comfort of the rescue process.
“The grant will be put towards beds in our intensive care unit, allowing recovering koalas to be comfortable during treatment for injuries sustained in the peri-urban environment, such as being hit by cars and attacked by dogs.”