News

New on-farm incentives for Mallee farmers

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 15:09:00

Landholders across the Victorian Mallee are being urged to apply for the latest round of incentives to complete important on-farm works such as dryland salinity control, dune reclamation, revegetation and and building stock containment areas.

Two rounds of incentives are currently available: the Mallee Dryland Sustainable Agriculture Incentives, which are available to landholders who own or occupy private land in the dryland Mallee CMA region; and the Mallee Biodiversity Incentive Program, which offers incentives to landholders in targeted areas of the Mallee.
The incentives are supported by the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA), through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.
“These incentives are about building partnerships with farmers, and getting positive outcomes on-farm and for the broader Mallee environment,” Mallee CMA Chair Sharyon Peart said.
“It’s farmers themselves who are really conscious of the health of their properties and they are aware of the best way to invest in order to tackle environmental issues.
“These projects provide the practical and financial support to help farmers actually get started on their ideas.
“We know from the past programs that getting the work done and seeing the benefits for the landscape gives farmers real satisfaction.”
Under the Mallee Dryland Sustainable Agriculture Incentives, eligible on-farm works include:
• Dryland salinity control works (to protect and manage secondary or induced saline discharge areas with saltbush). Incentive funding is available for fencing, trees and shrubs, tree guards and saltbush plantings, with the landholder responsible for constructing fencing and undertaking planting.
• Stock containment or exclusion areas (Incentives include up to $2000 per stock containment area to assist with fencing and water reticulation). Where revegetation is being carried out, additional incentives are available.
• Dune reclamation (funding to reclaim bare and eroded sand dunes). Incentives provide up to 60 percent of the cost of primary levelling for eroding sandhills, using bulldozers or a grader board, up to $5000. Incentives are also available for exclusion of stock.
Under the Mallee Biodiversity Incentive Program, eligible activities inlcude:
• Stock exclusion fencing;
• Works to control Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) such as Bridal Creeper, Prickly Pear, Wheel Cactus, Hudson Pear, Althel Pine, Boneseed and African Boxthorn; and
• Habitat Assessments, which can help landholders learn more about the native flora and fuana on their properties.
Support is also available to undertake revegetation works in targeted areas.
Applications for both incentive programs close during September 2016.
“The application process is quite straightforward, with the completion of an expression of interest form,” Ms Peart said.
“The Mallee CMA is here to help, so please contact us for any assistance or advice you need on your application.”
The incentives are awarded based on the merit of the project and the availability of funds.
For more information on the:
• Mallee Dryland Sustainable Agriculture Incentives, contact Marissa Shean on 5051 4354
• Mallee Biodiversity Incentives, contact Gareth Lynch on 5051 4569.
Fact sheets and Expressions of Interest Forms are also available from the Mallee CMA website at www.malleecma.vic.gov.au