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Overview
Recognising Port Phillip Bay as one of Victoria’s most precious natural assets, the Victorian Government is partnering with community organisations to address key issues impacting the Bay.
10,000 marine plant and animal species live in Port Phillip Bay, making it one of Melbourne’s most important ecosystems. In addition to providing valuable habitat, the Bay also supports recreational fishing and tourism, is the entrance to one of Australia's busiest ports, and has over 4.5 million people living and working in the catchment area.
The Fund supports long-term government strategies such as the Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan 2017-2027, Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037, and Victorians Volunteering for Nature – Environmental Volunteering Plan. These strategies, along with on-ground community action, are essential to addressing current and future threats to Port Phillip Bay.
2021 Port Phillip Bay Fund
The objectives of the 2021 Port Phillip Bay Fund are to support projects that aim to protect the health of the Bay and bay catchment area. The priorities of this round of funding are:
- Conserving and restoring the Bay’s habitat and marine life, and enhancing the marine environment.
- Enhancing waterways and significant wetlands through revegetation and soil erosion control.
- Encouraging strong partnerships across a range of interested groups including Traditional Owners and organisations with an interest in protecting ecological and culturally significant areas within the Bay’s catchment.
- Improving the appreciation and understanding of the Bay’s cultural and environmental values through on-ground actions.
- Engaging and involving urban communities in on-ground actions relating to Bay health.
If your proposed project has a waste or litter reduction focus, consider applying for Sustainability Victoria's Recycling Victoria Communities Fund instead. Grants for this fund close on 19 March 2021.
The 2021 PPBF is open to applicants who are:
- Environmental groups and networks, such as Coastcare, Friends groups and Landcare
- Volunteer-based recreational and community groups with an interest in the Bay, such as diving and naturalist groups, Scouts, Rotary, Lions, senior citizens and youth clubs
- Public Land Committees of Management
- Traditional Owners and Aboriginal community groups
- Kindergartens, Primary and Secondary Schools
- Research institutes, Local Government and other non-profit organisations
To be considered for funding, applicants must be located within the Bay itself or its catchment. Inland projects need to demonstrate strong benefits to the Bay and foreshore.
The total amount available for the 2021 PPBF competitive grants is $1 million. There are two funding streams available:
Funding Stream | Funding Amount (one off payment excluding GST) |
One | Up to $20,000 |
Two | Up to $50,000 |
Applications must demonstrate an in-kind contribution to their project that is in a funding ratio of 1:1.
Applications close | Thursday, 1 April 2021 at 12pm |
Project completion | By 15 September 2022 |
Applications must be submitted through Grants Online.
You are required to submit a budget table as part of your application, you can download this from within your application or here:
For further information about 2021 PPBF, you can contact our Customer Services Centre at 136 186 or email us at enviro.grants@delwp.vic.gov.au
Please quote your application number or “2021 Port Phillip Bay Fund” in your communication with DELWP.
For technical help with Grants Online, please email grantsinfo@delwp.vic.gov.au
2016-2020 Port Phillip Bay Fund
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