Projects to restore habitat for threatened species and to create a ‘bush kindy’ for pre-schoolers at Cygnet River on Kangaroo Island were among 15 grants selected for communities across Mayo.

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has welcomed the Government’s final approval of grant applications for her electorate under the Communities Environment Program.

Mayo had $150,000 to share for local on-ground projects as part of the $22.65 million national program. Applications closed in September 2019.



“I elected to establish an independent committee of local people with environmental expertise to help me assess the grant applications to put forward to the Government for final approval,” Rebehka says.

“The feedback from the committee was that they were presented with a range of high quality projects and they selected the projects that would produce the greatest environmental benefit while engaging with the local community at a grassroots level.

“I commend all the groups who made applications under the Communities Environment Program.

“These grants are an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in our region and help communities with practical projects.”

The successful applicants announced on the Fleurieu and KI are:

• The Prospect Hill Bushland Group (under the umbrella of the Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Association) received $19,800 to plant and nurture 3,000 trees along Bull Creek Range south of Meadows.

• Hindmarsh Island Landcare Group received $19,550 to continue revegetation of Alexandrina Council reserves and roadsides with 4,500 plants.

• The Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Association received $17,300 to grow 2,500 native seedlings along Mount Barker Creek.

• Conservation Volunteers Australia received $16,000 to restore 8,000 habitat trees for endangered glossy black cockatoos at Wirrina near the Reservoir.

• Trees for Life received $9,750 for the protection and recovery of Southern Brown Bandicoots.

• Clayton Bay Nursery received $6,000 to plant and guard 2,000 plants along the Clayton Bay Foreshore Walking Trail.

• South Coast Environment Centre received $5,500 to establish a native plant community nursery at the Openlight Camp site at Victor Harbor.

• Friends of Aldinga Scrub received $4,600 to remove bridal creeper weed from the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park.

• Kangaroo Island Children's Services received $4,500 to introduce a bush kindy to their students.

• The Friends of Nuraggi received $2,500 for native vegetation protection and the installation of walking stiles along Nurragi Conservation Reserve between Milang and the Victor Harbor railway.

The Communities Environment Program provides $150,000 in grant funding to each of Australia’s 151 electorates. Grant applications ranged from $2,500 to $20,000 per project and the majority of funding had to be directed to on-ground activities within the electorate.