Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has announced Landcare and other community groups in Hume will be able to access a helping hand with the launch of the 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants 2014-15.

“The best way to help celebrate Landcare’s 25th anniversary is by supporting landcarers in the Hume electorate to do what they do best. Up to $5 million is available through competitive grants of up to $20,000 to support local Landcare and other local natural resource management groups to help protect our local environment and look after the land,” Mr Taylor said.

“We are looking to harness the expertise and enthusiasm of not just Landcare groups but the wider community, indigenous communities, farmers, fishers and other land managers.

“Applications are now open and close on 20 October 2014, so I encourage communities to come up with great ideas that will help protect our land and natural assets, and to get involved by submitting their applications.”

Mr Taylor also reconfirmed the Australian Government’s commitment to ensuring 20 per cent of Australian Government investment made through regional natural resource management organisations will be directed towards local projects and activities that are delivered by the community, including Landcare, under the National Landcare Programme’s regional stream.

This is a commitment of $90 million over four years for small, on-ground, practical environmental projects.

“This means that farmers, Landcare and other community groups in our region will have access to funding on an annual basis so that they can continue to undertake important on-ground works,” Mr Taylor said.

For more information about the National Landcare Programme 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants 2014-15 go to www.nrm.gov.au