The
Australian Government has launched Community Landcare Grants:
·
Grants
between $5,000 and $50,000 are
available for local community groups to deliver natural resource management
outcomes.
·
The
grants come under the Caring for our Country’s new “Sustainable Agriculture”
stream (“Sustainable Environment” stream grants coming soon).
·
Applications
must address one or more strategic objective:
o
Sustainable food production - practices to increase productivity
and improve ecosystem services
o
Innovation - Increased trialling of innovative
practices
o
Reduced impacts of weeds and pests
on agriculture
o
Improved management of the natural
resource base
o
Building
knowledgeable, skilled and capable landcare
communities able to manage their natural environment and productive lands
(including through knowledge sharing).
·
Applications
close on 20 March 2013
·
Successful
projects are likely to receive funding in August 2013 and projects should be
completed within 18 months
Who can
apply?
·
Community groups including landcare and professional
farming systems, or any other groups with the following:
o
Membership
of at least 5 individuals.
o
Groups
that can demonstrate that they are working towards a sustainable and resilient
agricultural base.
·
New
or emerging groups that don’t meet the above requirements must demonstrate that
they have broad community support for and/or technical expertise to deliver the
project. If they are not a legal entity they must be sponsored by one that can
apply on their behalf.
Who isn’t eligible?
·
Any
level of government; regional NRM bodies; organisations operating under state
legislation (however these organisations are encouraged to support or sponsor
an eligible group),
·
individuals;
or political lobby groups.
Activities could include:
·
Trials,
demonstrations and adoption of practices that improve soil condition and reduce
erosion.
·
Fencing
of rivers, wetlands and native vegetation to reduce impacts of agriculture of
these communities (excludes standard boundary fencing).
·
Weed
and pest projects:
o
Addressing
issues identified in national strategies,
o
Demonstrating
innovative management methods,
o
Eradication
of a new or emerging outbreak.
·
Building
capacity of community organisations to raise awareness and share learnings
·
Host
field days
Budget items may include: materials, equipment hire, labour,
advertising, website development, printing / publication, expert advice and
administrative support.
Potential activities cannot include:
·
Weed
and pest projects on a single property
·
Planting
species that are known to be, or could become agricultural weeds
·
Purchase
of major capital items (>$1000)
·
Activities
that could impact on matters of national environmental significance
·
Where
the primary purpose is to improve amenity (e.g. picnic tables)
For more
information, click here
To discuss
a potential project, call me on 8941 4266 or 0419 142 835
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