New round of sustainability grants

A new round of the City of Stirling’s Living Green Program funding for schools is now open for applications in a new process designed to be simpler and more inclusive than ever before.

Primary and secondary schools within the City are eligible to apply for up to two vouchers to help reduce waste, energy and water use, and create biodiversity and habitat.

The broader Living Green Program offers a range of incentives, rebates and workshops to help create sustainable homes and cool, green communities, including funding not only for schools but also for waterwise verge rebates and the annual Sustainable Verge Awards.

The current funding round for schools closes 31 August 2022, and includes:

• $500 vouchers for supply and delivery of Western Australian waterwise plants to increase biodiversity and habitat on school grounds
• $500 vouchers for supply and delivery of garden soil, mulch and consumables. These include water saving native and vegetable garden soil, mulch, soil amendments, seedlings, seeds, fertilizers, worms for existing worm farms and kelp solutions
• $730 vouchers to supply, delivery and install a recycled fridge worm farm with worms and accessories to assist schools with diverting organic waste away from landfill
• $500 vouchers for gardening tools and equipment, consumables, energy saving devices or waste and recycling (vouchers can't be used to purchase environmentally harmful products such as chemical sprays or synthetic fertilisers).

Mayor Mark Irwin said the City had long funded a suite of initiatives, from grassroots action all the way up to major investments, to improve and sustain our natural environment and deliver energy and cost savings to the operations of the City.

“The City recognises that small changes can make a big difference to our environment over time and we are encouraging residents and schools to start the journey towards more sustainable lifestyles,” he said.

“We as a City have committed to net zero by 2050, an ambitious but achievable target backed up by our Sustainable Energy Action Plan (Corporate) 2020-2030 to achieve 100 per cent of our energy from renewables and a 70 per cent reduction in our emissions by 2030.

“At the individual and community level there is so much that can be accomplished, and the application process for this round has been significantly improved to ensure that at the grassroots level even more schools are encouraged to apply and participate in the program.

“This program will not only help make our local community beautiful but also teach our children valuable lessons that we adults often only learn the hard way.”

Previously funded projects have included the development of bushland trails and outdoor classrooms, community recycling hubs, revegetation projects and energy and water reduction initiatives.

Available across the City of Stirling, the innovative Living Green Schools Fund is in its fifth year, and schools can email sustainability@stirling.wa.gov.au or visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/livinggreen for more information about the program.