Do you have a project in mind for your property?
The development of shelterbelts and woodlots, addressing erosion problems, managing farm dams and wet areas, managing waterways and creeks, planting new paddock trees and protecting and enhancing patches of remnant vegetation are some of the projects that Landcare can help you with that will improve primary production on your property and have significant environmental benefits. A common thread in all of these projects, is the protection of existing vegetation and establishing revegetation in our semi-cleared landscapes.
Increasing the overall amount of native vegetation in the landscape provides some resilience against the impacts of more frequent extreme weather conditions (droughts, fires and floods), increasing habitat fragmentation and loss from vegetation clearing, loss of our old large scattered trees over time and the long-term impacts of agricultural production on our landscapes.
A series of guides has been prepared by our Landcare Group to assist landholders in identifying opportunities to undertake on ground projects that deliver benefits to both farm productivity and our natural environment. Please select the chapter that interests you and have a read for further practical information on each of the following topics:
- Creating Practical Shelterbelts
- Enhancing Your Farm Dam
- Protecting and enhancing remnant native vegetation
- Woodlots & Wildlife
- Managing Wet Areas
- Managing Erosion
- Revegetation Planner
What types of projects might be eligible for funding?
Landcare projects typically include projects that care for our land and water. These can include fencing to protect vegetation or waterways, revegetation, pest animal and plant control, etc. A detailed list is included in the registration form.
Grants are commonly offered for a proportion of costs associated with the work, as the landholder will be required to provide some capital or in-kind investment. Typically, grants will provide a level of funding for fencing materials, native seed, native tube stock and guards. Grants will not fund the planting of exotic plants (those that are not native and indigenous to our area) and the Victorian State Government prohibits the use of barbed wire in fencing funded by their grants.
Shelterbelts are often funded, but can have rules around planting width. The minimum planting width that can be funded is typically 10 m. Greater financial incentives may apply for wider corridors.
Fencing off waterways is also promoted but needs to comply with Victorian State Government guidelines, e.g. fencing along waterways must be located a minimum of 10 m from the top edge of the bank.
Every grant is different – what can be funded and the conditions around funding can change frequently. These conditions will be discussed in detail with members when a suitable grant opportunity arises and before applying for funding for your site.
What are the landholder’s responsibilities?
When receiving a grant, the landholder’s responsibilities will vary according to the conditions of funding. It is usual for the following to be required of the landholder:
- Upfront payment for some materials, with agreed rebate on successful completion.
- Site preparation, including ripping and weed control.
- Erection of any fencing at the site.
- Planting and guarding of tube stock, which may also require watering and maintenance for the first 18 months to assist establishment.
- Ensuring revegetation sites are kept stock free for a minimum of five years. Weed control using appropriate methods (chemical, slashing, manual removal, etc.) is to be undertaken during this period to maintain the integrity of the project and ensure maximum revegetation outcomes are achieved.
- Ongoing site maintenance, including weed control, fencing maintenance and any top up revegetation.
What is the process for applying for funding for my site?
Greta Valley Landcare Group (GVLG) are building a database of potential projects for future funding and we welcome expressions of interest from any landholder member in our area.
Our aim is to secure funding for as many projects as we can that meet with the ethos of Landcare. To do this, we need to be organised. All projects are funded by grants. The priorities and requirements of these grants are highly variable. Government priorities change and philanthropic grant funding is scarce, but we try to get what we can for our members. Our Group will always endeavour to help our members achieve the best outcome for their property.
Funding applications often have very tight timelines, which limits our capacity to survey all members by email and post for interest in particular grants. To overcome this, we have developed a Project Registration Form which allows you to register your site for inclusion in our database of potential projects.
What happens after I have registered my site?
All Project Registration Forms will be entered into our database. When a funding source becomes available, this will be checked, and landholders contacted for permission to apply on their behalf. The grant opportunity will also be promoted in the GVLG newsletter.
If no current funding is available for your project, the proposed project will remain in the database, ready for the next opportunity. Please note that funding cannot be received for works already completed on your property and submission of an application does not guarantee funding.
If you have any questions about the funding process or would like to discuss your site, please get in touch via email by sending your details to secretary@gretalandcare.org.au