The Australian Government is seeking applications for projects under the third round of funding for the Murray Darling Economic Development Program.
The grants will provide up to $34 million in grant funding to support communities within 38 eligible local government areas. The grants may be used to provide eligible communities with practical assistance to boost tourism and recreation and to help them diversify their economies.
The program supports a range of projects, which build community capacity to make the most of the resources available. Applications are encouraged for innovative projects and those designed to make the most of the distinctive assets of eligible communities are encouraged.
Applications will be assessed against three criteria: economic benefit (40% weighting), community support and benefit (30% weighting) and organisational capability (30% weighting).
The communities eligible under the grants are listed on the Murray–Darling Basin Economic Development Program website. Applications for Round 3 close on 12 April 2021 and are open to organisations including Indigenous Corporations, local governments, cooperatives incorporated associations and companies.
The first round of the program is currently providing up to $24.4 million in funding to support 42 projects across 15 basin communities, while the second round is currently providing funding of up to $14.4 million to support 32 projects across 29 communities.
In 2020, an independent assessment of the social and economic conditions in the Murray-Darling River basin found that some communities have been more vulnerable than others to pressures including drought, commodity price fluctuations and water recovery. The additional funding was one of the Government’s responses to the report.
For more information, visit the Community Grants Hub website.
by Erin Riley
