Building environmental-friendly communities

The Communities Environment Program provides each of the 151 electorates across Australia with up to $150,000 to fund small, community-led environment projects. These projects aim to address local environmental priorities. In consultation with their community, each Federal Member of Parliament identifies potential applicants and projects in their electorate and invites them to apply for a grant.

The Communities Environment Program will run until 31 December 2020. The Australian Government announced the program in March 2019, prior to the 2019 budget, and provides $22.65 million in funding.

The program forms part of the Australian Government's 2019 environment policy election commitment, Our Plan for a Cleaner Environment. It aims to support the environmental priorities of local community and environment groups in their regions and neighbourhoods, to recover and strengthen the environment and to build and strengthen local communities.

Project details

The grant amount can contribute up to 100% of eligible project costs. Your grant request must be between $2500 and $20,000.

We encourage additional cash and in-kind contributions towards the project costs.

You must complete your project by 31 December 2020.

You may start your project from the date you submit your application. However, if you choose to start your project before you have an executed grant agreement, you do so at your own risk.

We can't fund your project if it receives funding from another Commonwealth, State, Territory or local government grant. You can apply for a grant for your project under more than one government program, but if your application is successful, you must choose either the Communities Environment Program grant or the other government grant.