Inspiring Environmental Solutions – EPA Community Funding Program
Are you eligible for funding to enhance your community's environment?
EPA has reviewed its Inspiring Environmental Solutions (IES) program to incorporate the recommendations of the Compliance and Enforcement Review.
EPA has also made it simpler for groups to apply. Registration is open all year, and applicants must first complete a Registration Form before being considered. Please refer to the IES Guidelines 
(PDF 1.28MB) before completing the Registration Form.
Funding for the Inspiring Environmental Solutions program is sourced through a legislative scheme where the 'polluter pays'. Under the Environment Protection Act 1970 (Section 67AC), or through other remedy and sanctioning tools, a company or individual found guilty of environmental pollution may be directed by a Court to fund a community environmental project instead of, or in addition to, paying a fine. This is how funding for the IES program is sourced.
The total pool of funding on offer will vary each year, as funding is contingent upon the successful prosecution of pollution incidents, and at the discretion of the Court. EPA cannot guarantee that groups registered will be invited to develop a project and be funded within any one year.
What sorts of projects have been funded lately?
| Date | Project description & beneficiary |
| 16-6-2011 | Gippsland Climate Change Network Sustainability Fellowship Program. Gippsland Climate Change Network, $75,000.
The GCCN will develop and implement a Sustainability Fellowship Program for 40 participants from the community, business and Government sectors across Gippsland’s six municipalities. GCCN will work with their diverse membership to develop and deliver this program with locally based content, aimed at building the capacity of the region through education. An action research approach will be used to assist participants to identify and address regional sustainability issues over a 12 month period. Key project partners include the Institute for Sustainable Management, locally based TAFEs, local sustainability networks and local governments. |
| 12-04-2011 | Darebin Creek Pilot Raingarden Project. Darebin Creek Management Committee,$50,000. This project is a pilot program to fund 70 domestic raingardens in the Darebin Creek Catchment. Raingardens treat stormwater by simply filtering out pollutants and reducing the rate of stormwater influx into streams and can reduce suspended solids by 80%. Households will contribute labour and funds through an incentive scheme and will maintain the raingardens for an agreed period. |
| 09-03-2011 | DCMC Creek Experience Centre and Healthy Creeks Education Program. Darebin Creek Management Committee, $50,000. DCMC aims to enhance its environmental eduction program throughout the Darebin Creek Catchment. This program reaches over 65 schools located within the catchment (4,500 students educated last year) and focuses on water health. It builds student capacity and knowledge, and research demonstrates that the parents of children involved in the programs are more aware of local environmental conditions. Students learn about the impact that humans have on stormwater and how they can make a difference to water quality in their everyday activities. In order to enhance the program and make it less weather dependent, DCMC plan to purchase equipment for their new, purpose-built Creek Experience Centre, enabling delivery of their education services through all seasons of the school year. |
| 15-12-2010 | Brooklyn Federation Trail Park. Brooklyn Residents Action Group (BRAG), $50,000.
This project develops a green open space area for use by all of the local community. It will include tree planting and the installation of picnic facilities, culminating with a community planting day and celebration. The project aims to develop greater connections between the community and residents to their local environment. |
| 29-09-2010 | Murrindindi Green Business Code of Practice. Murrindindi Climate Network,$64,800.
The Murrindindi Climate Network Inc. (MCN) and the Murrindindi Shire Council will team up with the established business community of Yea and the bushfire-ravaged Marysville/Triangle community to deliver improved environmental performance of small and medium sized businesses in the tourism, retail and services sector. Using a bottom-up approach and partnering with the EcoBuy green procurement program and the Moreland Energy Foundation's Zero Carbon Business Program, this regional project will develop a voluntary Green Code of Practice. Murrindindi Discover-E Centre. Yea Wetlands Trust, $60,000. Yea Wetlands Trust is developing an interpretive education centre at Yea Wetlands. A centrepiece of this attraction will be an engaging interpretative display that sets the vibe and attracts the interest of the Centre’s anticipated 12,000 annual visitors - encouraging them to learn more about scarce water resources and put into practice measures that protect, share and use water in more sustainable ways.. |
| 17-08-2010 | Circling the Lake. Darebin City Council, $100,000.
This project implements actions identified in the Edwardes Lake, Our Lake Neighbourhood Environment Improvement Plan (NEIP). The lake is a local hub for residents of Reservoir and surrounds, attracting diverse multicultural visitors. Activities include community planting days to revegetate of the western side of the lake, installing lighting to improve safety and accessibility of the lake area, a water pollution community education program, drain-stencilling and educational signage. |
| 13-07-2010 | Re-connecting Melburnians with the Yarra River. Yarra Riverkeeper Association, $25,000 This project reconnects Melburnians with the river following the adage that “people protect what they love”. The Yarra Riverkeeper Association Inc. will run a series of 50 educational events, including river tours and illustrated presentations, targeted at schools, tertiary institutions, businesses, councils and community groups. |
| 16-04-2010 | Pathways to a Sustainable Low CO2 Future. The Mt. Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG), $60,000 This project works with Mt Alexander Shire residents to reduce household resource use. It specifically delivers education materials on environmental awareness and low CO2 living, pre-program audit and action plans for all participants, practical assistance via training sessions and follow-up assessment and evaluation after 6 months. http://masg.org.au |
| 19-02-2010 | Yarra Platypus Count. Australian Platypus Conservancy (APC), $55,000 This project is a systematic, community-based platypus monitoring program for the Yarra River directed by leading platypus biologist Dr Melody Serena. Community participation includes a mix of river users, local councils, and schools and community groups. Data collected will be analysed and shared with agencies and community groups encouraging platypus to re-establish where they have declined or disappeared. http://www.platypus.asn.au 
Community Education Program. Darebin Creek Management Committee (DCMC), $25,000 This project will enable DCMC to purchase a portable classroom and assist schools to design and create habitat gardens along the Darebin Creek. The portable classroom will provide much needed shelter from extreme weather, allowing DCMC to extend this already successful program more frequently to more groups. http://www.dcmc.org.au |
Need further information?
Please e-mail ies@epa.vic.gov.au or telephone EPA’s Information Centre on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842).