Wildlife and environment winners from grant announcement
Nineteen Sunshine Coast environmental community groups can continue to focus on their core work, caring for our precious wildlife and stunning natural environment, thanks to the added support from the local council’s Environment Levy Partnership Funding Program.
The groups will share in $610,000 each year for the next three years, subject to completing a yearly progress report and the adoption of council’s annual Environment Levy budget.
The three-year partnership provides certainty for the groups, enabling them to engage in longer term planning and capacity building.
Sunshine Coast Environment and Liveability joint portfolio councillor Maria Suarez said the funding contributed to the groups’ operational expenses, allowing volunteers to continue providing a vital service to our wildlife and environment, while supporting the delivery of the Sunshine Coast Environment and Liveability Strategy.
“We are very grateful for their commitment and dedication to our region,” Cr Suarez said.
“Last financial year, 3733 volunteers from our 20 partner groups donated more than 400,000 hours of their own time to improve our environment and look after our wildlife.
“Amazingly, this equates to more than $12 million in contributions towards our environment.
“That shows the value of the Environment Levy right there – as this grant program would not be possible without the contributions made by property owners through their rate payments.”
Sunshine Coast Environment and Liveability joint portfolio councillor Peter Cox said 18 continuing and one new partnership had been approved at today’s (19 August 2021) Ordinary Meeting of council.
“Bat Rescue, Wildlife Volunteers Association (WILVOS), Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue, Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors, and Glasshouse Mountains Advancement Network (GMAN) can continue to support, rescue and nurse our native animals back to health,” Cr Cox said.
“Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group, Night Eyes Association, Mary River Catchment Coordination Association, Currimundi Catchment Care Group, Hinterland Bush Links, Barung Landcare Association, Coolum and North Shore Coast Care, Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group, ECOllaboration Ltd, Reef Check Australia, Mooloolah River Waterwatch and Landcare, Wildlife Queensland - Sunshine Coast and Hinterland and Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens can continue to restore and preserve our waterways and hinterland and coastal environments.
“And we welcome one new organisation, Wildcare, to the Environment Levy Partnerships Program.
“Wildcare Australia is a well-established and respected wildlife rescue and rehabilitation group that has increased its service on the Sunshine Coast over the last two years.
“Over the coming years, council officers will work with these successful partner organisations to ensure that, collaboratively, we realise from this investment not just great environmental outcomes but great financial results for our ratepayers.
“Most importantly, these partnerships are about council working with our community to protect and enhance our natural environment as we continue to build a pathway to a healthy environment and liveable Sunshine Coast.”
For further information about council’s partnerships and grants programs, visit council’s website https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Living-and-Community/Grants-and-Funding/Grants-Programs/Environment-Levy-Grants/Environment-Levy-Partnerships.
Nineteen applications recommended for three-year partnership with funding of $610,000 per year approved.
| Organisation | Partnership summary | Amount per year* | Total for partnership duration |
| Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group Inc. | The group runs the Florabunda community nursery, which is open to the public 5 days per week. They provide local native plants and advice on creek and habitat restoration, weed control, erosion control and species selection. | $17,000 | $51,000 |
| Night Eyes Association Inc. | Night Eyes has been operating in the Pumicestone Passage since 1999. They contribute to litter collection and waterway health management. | $18,000 | $54,000 |
| Twinnies Pelican and Seabird Rescue Inc | This group provides a 24 hour Pelican and Seabird rescue service, in addition to operating a bird rehabilitation facility. | $15,000 | $45,000 |
| Mary River Catchment Coordination Association | The MRCCC has been operating within the Mary River catchment since 1993. The group aims to achieve an informed community with an ethic of care for exceptional land and water management by supporting the development of on-ground projects, providing activities/events/materials and sharing knowledge. | $67,000 | $201,000 |
| Currimundi Catchment Care Group Inc | Established community group that operates within the Currimundi catchment and aims to limit erosion, improve water quality and protect the environment. Activities include family friendly events, education, advocacy and a quarterly newsletter with significant distribution. | $12,540 | $37,620 |
| Hinterland Bush Links Inc | The group provides on ground assistance to landholders working for the long-term conservation of all native species, regional ecosystems and ecological processes in the Sunshine Coast Region through the Roving Restorers, Upper Mary Valley Weed Vine project and other activities. | $39,000 | $117,000 |
| Wildlife Volunteers Association Inc. (WILVOS) | Group operates a 7 day a week, 365 days a year Hotline for orphaned and injured wildlife. Wildlife will be rescued and transported to veterinary care when needed, or taken into care by a licenced wildlife rehabilitator. | $10,000 | $30,000 |
| Wildcare Australia | Wildcare Australia is a wildlife rescue / carer organisation that has been operating in the South-East Queensland area since 1994. In more recent years they have expanded their operation into the Sunshine Coast Council region. | $5000 | $15,000 |
| Barung Landcare Association Inc | Provides a range of initiatives including growing and distributing native plants via a community nursery, education programs, bush regeneration and advice for rural landholders. Also assists smaller landholders and gardeners via the Gardens for Wildlife program. | $67,000 | $201,000 |
| Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors Worldwide Ltd | World renowned Wildlife Hospital providing emergency and rehabilitation care for all species of injured, orphaned and abandoned wildlife. The hospital also supports wildlife carers in the region with free veterinary care. | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group Inc | Group focussed on reducing risks to water quality in the Lake Baroon catchment by implementing projects addressing erosion, nutrients and pathogens. | $52,000 | $156,000 |
| ECOllaboration Ltd | ECOllaboration and the brands of Maroochy Waterwatch and ECO Education Service deliver community on ground action with volunteers, waterway litter collection and education. | $54,000 | $162,000 |
| Reef Check Australia | Reef Check Australia undertakes reef health monitoring on the Sunshine Coast (Mudjimba to Caloundra) using trained volunteers to collect locally relevant, globally standardised reef health information. The group undertakes education aimed at increasing community participation and marine stewardship. | $33,000 | $99,000 |
| Mooloolah River Waterwatch and Landcare Inc. | A well-established community group dedicated to the health, protection and enhancement of the Mooloolah River. Operates a Native Plant Nursery and the Sunshine Coast Bio-control Facility; monitors water quality; fosters community engagement, and promotes science-based actions by well-informed citizens as champions for the Mooloolah River. | $59,000 | $177,000 |
| Friends of Maroochy Regional bushland Botanic Gardens Inc. | Friends of MRBBG will continue to provide an expanded range of support services for site development (garden planning, planting and maintenance, light construction, propagation) and as a conduit between Council and Community (Information Volunteers, Garden Guides, working in partnership with relevant organisations, koala monitoring, etc.). | $9460 | $28,380 |
| Bat Rescue Inc | Organisation's aims are to: Rescue, rehabilitate and release sick, injured or orphaned bats back to the wild; Educate and Promote to the community, Australia's bat species as important to biodiversity; and participate in conservation activities and projects to help ensure the survival of the species. | $10,000 | $30,000 |
| Coolum and North Shore Coast Care Group Inc. | Coastal environmental protection and restoration. On ground projects include: dune and bushland weed control and habitat restoration; biodiversity enhancement such as nest box installation and monitoring; fauna and flora surveys; feral animal control; marine turtle monitoring; data collection and rescue; marine debris surveys and analysis; community education; environmental advocacy; and citizen science projects. | $37,000 | $111,000 |
| Wildlife Queensland - Sunshine Coast and Hinterland | Wildlife Queensland - Sunshine Coast and Hinterland Branch propose the continuation of the Faunawatch Sunshine Coast program. This is aimed at monitoring and evaluating the presence of fauna at strategic and wider locations across the Sunshine Coast region and supplying this information to the Sunshine Coast Council and interested environmental groups. | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| Glasshouse Mountains Advancement Network (GMAN) | GMAN will actively maintain the Koala Food Tree Plantation established in Pinelands Drive Park. The purpose of the plantation is to supply foliage for the rehabilitation and care of injured and orphaned koalas. This foliage is collected and supplied to Endeavour Veterinary Ecology, Wildlife HQ, Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital & Koala Action Inc. | $5000 | $15,000 |
* Year 2 and Year 3 funding is contingent on the satisfactory completion of a yearly progress report and annual acquittal and is also subject to the adoption of Council’s annual Environment Levy budget.
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