South Australians are being invited to apply for grants of up to $5000 to come up with creative alternatives to
South Australians are being invited to apply for grants of up to $5000 to come up with creative alternatives to using private vehicles.
The TravelSmart Innovation Fund was set up last year to give people the opportunity to come up with ways of reducing their reliance on vehicles.
Last year $40,000 was distributed to nine initiatives, this year the Rann Government is making $50,000 available says Energy Minister Carmell Zollo.
“This Government has a strong commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and one of the best ways of doing this is by encouraging alternatives to vehicle use,” she says.
“The outcomes achieved by grant recipients last year have demonstrated that, if given the opportunity, workplaces, schools and community groups are happy to reduce their reliance on cars.”
Grant recipients last year included:
- Flinders University, which encouraged students to use bicycles by providing jerseys, infrastructure and other support mechanisms.
- Bute, Mawson Lakes and Edwardstown Primary Schools who created interactive displays, Walking School Bus stop signs and storybooks promoting the TravelSmart message.
This year the funds will support projects that:
- Make it easier for people to chose safe, healthy and sustainable travel modes such as walking, cycling and public transport.
- Encourage people to access local activities, shops and services.
- Assist workplaces or schools where a commitment has been made to change travel behaviour.
“This initiative will help redress the alarming statistic that South Australians produce nearly 30 million tonnes of greenhouse gases every year – with transport accounting for 19 percent of that figure,” Zollo says.
“Put simply, the Rann Government does not want to “exhaust” the planet.”
TravelSmart is a State Government (Department of Transport Energy and Infrastructure) initiative that works closely with other government agencies to encourage travel behaviour change in the everyday lives of South Australians.
Enquires and requests for application forms and guidelines can be directed to TravelSmart@saugov.sa.gov.au.