IN the latest round of Swan Alcoa Landcare Program (SALP) grants, Darlington’s Friends of Glen Park Reserve received $10,056 for regeneration and weed control maintenance within the reserve.

The group is one of 21 community organisations awarded almost $275,000 in grants to deliver 46 river restoration projects to protect and enhance the Swan Canning catchments.

The SALP awards were announced earlier this month and are a joint initiative of Alcoa of Australia, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and the Burswood Park Board, delivered by Perth NRM.

Friends of Glen Park Reserve coordinator Leonie Campbell said the group had applied and been successful for five SALP grants over the years.

“This year, the money will be spent mostly on chemical weed control, plants and summer watering in February and March next year,” Ms Campbell said.

“We have also been revegetating the banks of Nyaania Creek which is a tributary to Helena River, hence we are a member of the Helena River Catchment Group.

“In the last five years we have planted reeds such as Juncus subsecundus in or on the banks.

“We have also planted endemic plants to the area slightly upland from the creek to stop erosion.”

Friends of Sculpture Park West also received $8200 for their bio sculpture project at Sculpture Park in Mundaring.

Group coordinator Jen Kerr said the project involved the preparation of a plot at the Gugeri Street end of the park to showcase some of the beautiful wildflowers, as well as weeding and planting in preparation for community days.

“This is what I call the cultural end of the park which I believe, doesn’t always get the attention it deserves,” Ms Kerr said.

In other awards, Friends of the Bennett Brook at Whiteman Park received nearly $20,000 to improve biodiversity and water quality in the Bennett Brook Reserve.

The Gingin Brook Catchment Group was also awarded $18,045 to support the recovery of Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo habitat in Lennard’s Brook following a bushfire.

Other groups to receive funding included the Blackadder Woodbridge Catchment Group ($4082), the Lower Helena Association ($17,188) and the Friends of John Forrest National Park ($14,700).

Since its inception in 1998, SALP has provided more than $11 million in funding to community groups, who in turn have delivered more than 1776 restoration projects, engaging thousands of volunteers and contributing over 260,000 work hours.

Applications for the 2027 SALP round are now open, with community groups encouraged to apply.

For more information visit: https://www.perthnrm.com/