$80,000 grants announced!

Main Image – Yolande, Kate Eccles (MP&B), David, Clare, Jesse Muir (BSS) and Alan Toner (ET). This image – David, Kate Eccles, Alan toner

 A youth bush school and a new project to boost biodiversity on Mosman’s harbour foreshores are two projects being funded by the Mosman Environmental Foundation’s inaugural grants program, Chairman, Dr David Robertson announced today. 

 Dr Robertson said four winners would receive almost $80,000 from Mosman Environmental Foundation (MEF) to launch new projects that will benefit the local environment. 

 He also called on organisations and educational institutions with ideas to benefit Mosman’s environment to launch their own bids for funding in the round now underway and closing July 31. 

 “I’m proud to announce that these are the first ever grants to be offered by the Foundation which was established with a donation from the late Don Seaton, a Mosman man who was passionate about our environment,” Dr Robertson said.

“I am sure Mr Seaton would be happy to see his wishes being brought to life in helping to educate our young people about our natural environment and to improve local environmental outcomes through a range of projects.”

“Applications are for anything that helps our natural environment, including air, soil, water, flora or fauna, so we have a wide latitude of potential projects we can consider.”

First round winners are:

• EcoWalk Tours: Youth Bush School – $9,400
• Sydney Institute of Marine Science: SIMS Living Seawalls – $41,800
• Mosman Parks and Bushland Association: Intensive weeding program – $9,790
• Blessed Sacrament School: Sensory garden – $16,960

MEF also considers funding proposals throughout the year and will consider applications which fall outside the times of announced funding rounds. 

  “I sincerely thank my fellow Foundation Board members for their work to bring better environmental outcomes to Mosman and I hope that some of the projects allow us to provide innovation and learnings that can be applied elsewhere,” Dr Robertson said.

“I look forward to receiving some inspirational ideas to progress Mosman’s natural environment – be it research or studies, or projects to improve our local environment or education.

“Our world is facing urgent ecological problems resulting from overpopulation and development and not enough consideration of our impacts on the environment.”

“It would be marvellous to see some potential solutions on a smaller scale to the wider-world challenges we face.”