Young people from across Yuroke will benefit from the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants, helping to fund projects and learning activities that provide both environmental and educational outcomes for young people.

Member for Yuroke Ros Spence today announced that two projects in Yuroke were funded through the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants program, out of the total 111 projects selected throughout the state.

The projects selected within Yuroke are:

· Newbury Primary School’s project to improve biodiversity on their campus by revitalising spare land, propagating and planting Indigenous plants and encouraging wildlife back into the area.

· Aitken College’s project to establish a wildlife corridor within the Brodies Creek precinct on their campus in Greenvale. The project will focus on improving biodiversity of indigenous flora and fauna, and will be delivered as an education tool, engaging young people in caring for the natural environment.

These grants enable young people to participate in hands on environmental learning activities, helping to inspire our next generation to value, protect and enjoy our natural environment now and into the future.

The grants contribute to Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037 goals and deliver projects that support Victorians to value and connect with nature, and protect the natural environment.

The grants, of up to $5,000 have been awarded to Victorian schools, kindergartens, preschools, childcare centres, Scouts, Girl Guides, youth groups, youth environmental volunteer groups, and Junior Landcare groups, and enable small projects to make a big difference to improve habitat and reduce threats to biodiversity in Victoria.

This is part of the $7.4 million Community Environment Grants package funded by the Victorian Government to support small and large-scale projects dedicated to preserving AREAS.

Quotes attributable to Member for Yuroke Ros Spence

“It’s wonderful to see young people from Yuroke benefitting from these grants, which not only help foster a love of our incredible natural environment but make a real difference to helping protect local habitat.”

“Enabling children and young people to get involved in projects like these can lead to a lifelong appreciation of nature with benefits to the environment and community.”

“We very much look forward to seeing the results ahead for these projects and thank all of the volunteer, school groups for getting involved.”