LOCAL communities can now apply for funding in the fight against the drug ice.
On Saturday, Crime Prevention Minister Edward O’Donohue joined State MP and Liberal candidate for Eildon Cindy McLeish and Liberal Member for Evelyn Christine Fyffe in Healesville to encourage local communities to apply for the grants.
Local communities can apply for grant funding of up to $100,000 to deliver their own ideas to stop the spread of ice in the community.
Mr O’Donohue said the funding was part of the Coalition’s whole-of-government program to fight the drug.
“The Napthine Coalition Government has adopted a whole-of-government approach to ice, which seeks to reduce supply, demand and harm of this insidious and damaging drug, with investments in prevention, treatment and law and order initiatives.”
Ms McLeish encouraged not-for-profit community groups and councils to apply for funding to help tackle the problem of ice.
“There is no quick fix and the problem has to be attacked from every angle,” Ms McLeish said.
“The $2 million grants program focuses on supporting prevention-based initiatives and allows communities to develop and deliver local solutions to ice and other illicit drug problems,” Mrs Fyffe said.
“The use of ice is a growing issue in the Yarra Ranges. It is a blight on our society which presents a bleak picture for those, who can be from all walks of life that use the drug.”
“Local communities have a crucial role to play, and their contribution is essential for developing and delivering effective initiatives,” Ms McLeish said.
People can have an impact and support a safer community by reporting those who deal in ice and other drugs anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
Expressions of interest for the ice prevention grants close on 13 February 2015. Groups can find out more and submit expressions of interest at crimeprevention.vic.gov.au
