Grants can help you help the environment

Whether it be our own neighbourhood or the fragile planet we live on, everyone has a responsibility to protect and enhance the world around us.

And Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is again looking to help.

TRC is encouraging community groups or individuals who want to enrich and improve their local environment to apply now for available grants.

TRC Environmental and Community Services portfolio leader Cr Bill Cahill said the Environment Grant seeks to achieve the community's vision for a 'highly valued, diverse, liveable and sustainable environment' by providing financial and in-kind support for a host of projects.

Cr Cahill said the aim of the grant was to achieve one or more of the following:

• protect and manage air, land and water quality
• advance water, waste and energy use efficiency
• encourage environmentally sustainable community facilities and spaces
• improve landscape amenity of community facilities and spaces
• encourage environmentally sustainable travel, and
• reduce community carbon footprints (greenhouse gas emissions).

"Grants of up to $3000 are available," he said. "But please remember that grant funds are limited by the total funds available.

"Those submitting an application can request cash funding, in-kind funding for services, equipment and products - or a combination of both."

Cr Cahill said schools and community groups would be particularly interested in The Shade Trees and Shrubs In-kind Grant which provides up to $220 worth of plants to eligible organisations each year.

"Plants are distributed in early autumn and spring on a 'first-come, first-served' basis, so it's important to get in early," he said.

"All plants are grown at the Toowoomba nursery, so this program is limited by stock availability. If stock runs out, grant applications will be wait-listed."

To apply for a Shade Trees and Shrubs In-kind Grant or an Environment Grant, please complete the appropriate application form on the TRC website http://www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/community-services/grants-and-funding/environmental.html .

"Environment Grants for 2011 close on October 31, so I encourage anyone who wants to improve the landscape amenity of their community facilities to get their application in as soon as possible," Cr Cahill said.

"Together we can make a difference."