Environment Group Grants

Environment Group Support Grant

Council is proud to support the Environment Grant Program in recognition of the significant contributions our community environment groups make.

The program supports groups with capacity building, weed control and biolink enhancement to benefit the community and natural environment of the Macedon Ranges Shire.

Council has endorsed updated guidelines for Group Support and Biolink Boost grants, strengthening alignment with the Community Grants Policy 2025 and simplifying the program for applicants.

The Group Support grant has increased to up to $1,000 per group, providing flexible support for group administration, training, governance, insurance and small-scale environmental works.

The Strategic Weed Grant has been discontinued. Weed management is now supported through the Biolink Boost Grant, where it forms part of broader restoration projects.

The Biolink Boost Grant will move to a biennial model, with the next round opening in early 2027 to align with other Council funding streams.

The next round of Group Support and Community Climate Action Grants will open on 6 April and close 3 May 2026.

Updated guidelines are now available.

Guidelines and resources

Updated Guidelines

Assessment

Terms of Reference

Child Safe Standards 

Macedon Ranges Shire Council is committed to a zero tolerance approach to child abuse, through actively promoting child safety and ensuring compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards. All applicants must demonstrate compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards and read/understand Council's Child Wellbeing and Safety Policy. Note: If your organisation is being auspiced for the purpose of this grant, the auspicing organisation will also need to meet the Child Safe Standards.

Smarty Grants

Environment Group Support Grants can be applied for using SmartyGrants. 

SmartyGrants is an online grant management program to help grant recipients and Council record and track all the details around grant transactions. Through this program, you can apply for the grant, track it, and upload acquittal documents.

2024/2025 Funding Recipients and project outcomes

Category 1 – Landcare Friends Groups and Network Support Funding

Organisation Amount
Pipers Creek & District Landcare Group $800
Woodend Landcare $800
Macedon & Mount Macedon Landcare $800
Macedon Ranges Field Naturalists $800
Macedon Ranges Wildlife Network $800
Newham and District Landcare Group $800
Macedon Ranges Indian Myna Action Group $800
Campaspe River & Land Management Group $800
Campaspe Valley Landcare Group $800
Upper Deep Creek Landcare Network $800
Baynton Sidonia Landcare Group $800
Tylden Landcare Group $800
Upper Maribyrnong Catchment Group $800
Friends of Daly Nature Reserve $800
Bullengarook Landcare Group $800
Deep Creek Landcare Group $800
Friends of Kyneton Botanic Gardens $800
Total  $13,600

Category 2 – Strategic Weed Partnership Program

Organisation Amount           
Woodend Landcare $1,500
Newham and District Landcare Group $1,500
Campaspe River & Land Management Group                       $1,500
Bullengarook Landcare Group $1,500
Tylden Landcare $1,500
Macedon & Mount Macedon Landcare $1,500
Total $9,000

Category 3 – Biolink Boost Sponsored by Macedon Ranges Community Enterprises Ltd and Community Bank Gisborne & District

Organisation Project details  Amount
Woodend Landcare

Five Mile Creek Black Gum Biolink Enhancement Project

$5,000
Friends of Black Hill Reserve Kyneton

Black Hill Reserve Understory Revegetation Biolink for Woodland Birds project

$4,726.33
Newham and District Landcare Group

Enhancing biodiversity within the Cobaw Biolink

$5,000
Campaspe Valley Landcare Group

Blackwells Paddock seed planting and revegetation 2025

$5,000
Upper Deep Creek Landcare Network Mount William Range Biolink Boost Project $5,000
Baynton Sidonia Landcare Group Baynton Sidonia Tree Project $5,000
Greening of Riddell Riddells Creek excessive reed burden cull $2,800
Campaspe River and Land Management group

Consolidating Campaspe River Rehabilitation

$5,000
Macedon and Mount Macedon Landcare Group

Riddells Creek/ Bruce St. Revegetation

$5,000
Deep Creek Landcare Group Enhancing Deep Creek's Biodiversity $4,595
Total
$47,121.33

Project outcomes

The Biolink Boost Grant aims to support revegetation activities in strategic areas across the Macedon Ranges and to provide groups with a means to engage with landholders and increase membership.

Council wishes to thank our community partners, Macedon Ranges Community Enterprises Limited and Bendigo Bank for co-funding the Biolink Boost grant. The co-funding partnership means that community environment groups have the opportunity to access a total of $40,000.

Delivered projects

 

Variations/Extensions or returning grant funds

We understand that sometimes things don't go as planned. Call us on (03) 5422 0333 or email environment@mrsc.vic.gov.au if:

  • you are encountering unexpected challenges in your project delivery.
  • you need to make a variation or seek an extension to the project as planned in your application. You will need to complete a variation/extension request form and this will need to be approved by Council before any changes are undertaken.

Acquitting your grant

Once you have delivered your project, you will need to complete a Project Acquittal Report. You can access the form by logging in here and then clicking the 'My Submissions' link at the top of page. Here you will see your submission number and any associated forms open and waiting for you to complete.

Note: The 'My Submissions' area will store a history of all the submissions and additional forms you complete.

The report includes:

  • a summary of the benefits, challenges and learnings of the project; and
  • a summary of the grant expenditure and any remaining grant funds (if applicable);
  • promotional and marketing activities undertaken, including examples of the recognition of Council's financial support, photo evidence of the project and any media coverage.

Please note: If you have been auspiced for the purposes of your grant, the acquittal report will need to be signed off by the Treasurer of the Auspice and the Treasurer of the Applicant Organisation. If you have any questions regarding this, contact the Environment team. 

For further information, call the Environment Unit on (03) 5422 0333 or email environment@mrsc.vic.gov.au