Media Releases

Nationals Member for Eastern Region Peter Hall is encouraging community groups in Gippsland to apply for grants up to $250,000 under Victoria’s Heritage Grants for Places and Objects program.

Mr Hall said the 2010-11 Places and Objects funding program was part of the Victoria’s Heritage- Strengthening Our Communities program and supported communities in their efforts to retain and creatively use heritage places and objects to promote community identity.

“I receive many enquiries from community groups across Gippsland seeking funding opportunities for heritage projects, so I am encouraging all community groups to consider lodging an application,” Mr Hall said.

The program has $1.2 million available for a range of grants in four categories:

• $20,000 to $250,000 available for the repair of heritage places;

• $5000 to $10,000 for the repair of heritage objects;

• $10,000 to $50,000 for interpretation of heritage places and objects;

•  $5000 to $10,000 for documentation projects.

“The program is open to local councils, not-for-profit community organisations, committees of management, the National Trust, religious organisations, and State Government departments,” Mr Hall said.

Mr Hall said a further program for Heritage Studies and Advisory Service, offered grants up to $120,000 to local councils and authorities responsible for administering planning schemes.

“Community based organisations undertaking strategic state-wide or regional heritage studies to enable local government to better protect and manage local heritage places may also apply for funding under this program,” he said.

The 2010-11 Heritage Studies and Advisory Service program has $600,000 available for a range of grants in three categories:

• $10,000 to $20,000 for heritage studies stage one and two,

• $3000 to $15,000 for heritage studies stage three, and

• $3000 to $14,000 for heritage advisory service.”