Accelerating the growing popularity of outdoor recreational activities is the aim of the $600,000 in community funding being offered by the WA Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC).
To further boost participation, funding is now available under two grants programs, Outdoor Active Recreation Participation and Hiking Participation. Grants of up to $25,000 for hiking and $50,000 for outdoor active projects are open to community, sporting and recreation groups as well as local governments.
Previous successful projects funded included mountain biking activities, camps for vulnerable young people, swimming and surf safety initiatives, training for hiking leaders, and trails related programs.
Grant applications close on October 16, 2024 and more information is available on the DLGSC website – Outdoor Active Recreation Participation and Hiking Participation.
The opening of the grants coincided with the launch of the Outdoor October campaign at the Industry Activity Day at the Herdsman Discovery Centre. The theme of the 2024 campaign, now in its 11th year, is ‘Get Outside for Mental Health’.
In one event, Outdoors WA will be hosting a virtual hike in collaboration with the Bibbulmun Track Foundation, with participants encouraged to create a team and ‘walk’ the Bibbulmun Track whilst raising funds for a charity of their choice.
A research report commissioned by Outdoor WA found that two hours a week of outdoor activity and connecting with nature is all that’s needed to improve our wellbeing. The report is available from the Outdoors WA website.
The WA Hiking Trail Management Guidelines, a joint project led by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in partnership with DLGSC, was also released, providing direction for the development and management of hiking trails in WA.
In what is a national first, the guidelines include strategic and legislative context of trail development, partnerships, funding, and the planning and construction principles of trail building. The guidelines are a valuable tool for land managers, trail builders and users, to ensure a consistent approach to planning, designing, constructing and managing sustainable hiking trails.
The guidelines can be viewed on the DBCA website.
