The Andrews Labor Government has announced a new fund worth $10 million over four years to protect and preserve the health of Victoria’s iconic Port Phillip Bay.
To be funded by the proceeds of the lease of the Port of Melbourne, the Port Phillip Bay Fund (PPBF) will support projects including water quality improvement works, foreshore upgrades, dune stability works, amenity upgrades and wetlands improvements.
Funding will be open to community groups, NGOs, local government and other agencies with an interest in improving the health of Port Phillip Bay.
The PPBF will be restricted to bay-based and neighboring bay-catchment areas and will include a requirement for projects to demonstrate a 1:1 matching funding arrangement, either cash or in-kind.
A Port Phillip Bay Fund Stakeholder Reference group will be established, with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to coordinate an annual grant application process that allows for multi-year projects.
The money will be made available via a competitive annual grants process to be administered by DELWP.
Arrangements for the grants program are now being finalized and the first round is expected to be open in mid-2016.