Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann MP, is encouraging eligible community groups in Ipswich, the Somerset Region and the Karana Downs region to apply for the Communities Environment Programme.

The Communities Environment Programme is now open and will fund projects of between 2,500 and 20,000 in Blair.

Mr Neumann said he has advocated for local community environment groups for many years and is glad this money has become available.

“Australia is the nation of the “great outdoors”, but for too long, our rivers, creeks and wetlands have been treated like industrial waste drains, ending up polluted, dirty and littered with shopping trolleys rather than being safe spaces for families, kids and school groups to visit,” Mr Neumann said.

“So while this $23 million Programme is a small boost for local organisations and environment projects, it falls well and truly short of the $200 million Urban Rivers and Waterways investment proposed by Labor at the last election”

“This funding provides eligible organisations an opportunity to inject some money into the various projects being completed by groups in the electorate of Blair.

I would encourage groups to contemplate about how this money could help them with their environmental projects,” Mr Neumann said.

The objective of the programme is intended to deliver positive environmental and social outcomes by giving the communities the resources, skills and knowledge to care for the environment.

The grant amount will be up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs.

More information about the programme can be accessed at https://www.environment.gov.au/cep or by contacting Mr Neumann’s office on 3201 5300.