Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney said today private owners of State-registered heritage places can now apply for heritage grants of up to $100,000 towards the cost of urgent conservation work to their properties.

Mr Blayney said $1.273 million was available under the State Government’s 2015-16 Heritage Grants Program to help private owners conserve and revitalise their properties.

The grants program, overseen by the Heritage Council of Western Australia, offers dollar-for-dollar funding for urgent conservation works or documentation to help plan future works.

Mr Blayney saidthe Grants Program is one of the few programs in Australia to assist private owners with the costs associated with maintaining their heritage properties.

Since the program’s inception in 1997, 690 heritage projects from across the State have received grants totalling more than $15.8 million.Last year it helped generate $3.3 million in building works, demonstrating the tremendous value of this grants program to the conservation of the State’s heritage.

Last year alone, it helped generate $3.3 million in building works, demonstrating the tremendous value of this grants program to the conservation of the State’s heritage.

In 2012, the Liberal National Government increased funding for the Heritage Grants Program by 25 per cent, committing an extra $1.046 million over four years.

Applications for the 2015-16 Heritage Grants Program close at 4pm, Wednesday July 22, 2015.