Landcare groups across North East Victoria have been awarded $221,000 for environmental action through the Victorian Government's Victorian Landcare Grants.

North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Acting CEO, Jane Young stated that “the Victorian Landcare Grants Program supports Landcare and related community groups to undertake projects which assist groups in the management and protection of local landscapes.”

The Victorian Government has provided funding for local Landcare groups as a way of supporting the community to actively participate in the integrated management and protection of natural resources” she said.

Seventeen (17) North East Landcare projects will soon receive a combined funding boost of $207,000 from the Victorian Government, while an additional $14,000 will support three (3) groups to start and twenty-five (25) groups with ongoing maintenance and insurance costs.

Catchment Program Coordinator for the North East CMA, Ms Brooke Hermans, said “the projects are focused on local priorities, interests and needs. “They range from large scale Network and Group based projects where farmers are working on many issues, through to innovative urban and community education projects.”

Successful recipients include:
Kiewa Catchment Landcare Groups will continue involving community in improvements of community managed reserves, waterway and remnant protection.

Upper Murray Landcare Network and North East Blackberry Action Group will work with public land managers and local farmers to restore habitat, protect waterways and continue pest management events and activities.

Springhurst and Byawatha Hills Landcare Group will continue to support the Rabbit Roundtable to undertake integrated rabbit management with all partners in the area.

Wodonga Urban Landcare Network will continue to support their local Friends groups to involve the urban community in valuing and improving the waterways in the area.