The North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has received funding from the Australian Government to undertake knowledge building and practical on-ground, climate-smart agriculture activities across north-east Victoria over the next four years.
The delivery of this project will include funding for:
- Group Grants for groups and organisation to deliver group-led activities that support agricultural productivity in north-east Victoria, by improving sustainable land management and protecting and conserving natural capital and biodiversity on farms. This includes funding for events (e.g. workshops, field days, training courses) to improve farmer knowledge and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, and on-farm soil testing, soil and farm monitoring equipment, demonstration sites and trials, and revegetation programs. One round of grants will be offered in March 2025 for projects ranging in 1 to 2.5 years in length, with a total funding pool of $300 000 available.
- Landholder Incentives will be available for individuals to undertake on-ground projects to improve their farm's agricultural productivity, natural capital values and climate resilience. Our target is to establish 40ha of new vegetation strategically on farms in north-east Victoria over the next 3 years. Round 1 of Landholder Incentives will be offered in March 2025. Subject to landholder response, additional rounds may be offered in the future until the funding pool is allocated. Incentives of up to $5,000/ha (Excl GST) are available for landholders to establish revegetation across the catchment, including fencing, off-stream watering points, sit preparation and planting support. In addition to this, plants and guards will be provided by the North East CMA.
Activities delivered by the CMA throughout the duration of the project will include:
- practical workshops on designing and implementing revegetation sites in the landscape (such as shelterbelts, farm dams, paddock trees and waterway sites)
- supporting landholders to develop plans for their revegetation sites and guidance throughout site implementation
- supporting groups and organisations to deliver their group-led projects
- annual forums to build the skills and capability of regional farmers and industry support staff to adapt to climate change, apply industry sustainability frameworks and/or engage in natural capital markets, specifically in relation to risk and opportunities
- events and other communications such as videos, podcasts and fact sheets to draw together key findings from the project,
- benchmarking of community attitudes and knowledge in sustainable land management over the course of the project and reporting on project findings at the completion of the project.
Read more about the Group Grants and Landholder Incentives.
As additional investment streams become available under this program, the North East CMA will investigate opportunities for additional funding to support the needs and interests of groups and landholders in our catchments.
For further information please contact Sally Day on 0488 576 533 or sally.day@necma.vic.gov.au.
