Australian Government Envirofund

Caring for our Country announced

Caring for our Country is the Government's new natural resource management program. Caring for our Country is designed as an integrated package with one clear goal, a business approach to investment, clearly articulated outcomes and priorities and improved accountability. It will commence on 1 July 2008 and will integrate delivery of the Commonwealth's existing natural resource management programs, the Natural Heritage Trust, the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, the National Landcare Program, the Environmental Stewardship Program and the Working on Country Indigenous land and environmental program.

The Australian Government Envirofund was established in 2002 as the local action component of the $5.1 billion Natural Heritage Trust program. Trust funds of over $135 million through 10 rounds supported community groups and individuals to undertake 8,137 small projects aimed at conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable natural resource use.

Trust funding concludes after June 2008. Envirofund projects supported under Rounds 9 and 10, announced in October 2007, will be the final to receive funding through the Envirofund program.

Envirofund grants of up to $50,000 (GST inclusive) were provided to individuals and legal entities such as incorporated community groups and associations, companies, trusts, partnerships and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander corporations or councils proposing activities with very high public benefit.

Where groups were not incorporated, funding could be requested provided another legal entity (for example a local, state or territory government, regional natural resource management body or an incorporated community group) agreed to administer the contract and funding (a sponsoring organisation).

What is the role and responsibility of the sponsoring organisation?

Envirofund Round 10

Applications for a special purpose ‘coastal and marine’ round (Round 10) - the final round of Envirofund - closed on Friday 20 July 2007. $4 million of successful projects were announced on 14 October 2007.