Landholders in North Central Victoria will protect and improve native vegetation on their land as a result of $1.4 million in funding through the Brumby Labor Government’s successful BushTender scheme.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said 57 landholders in the Greater City of Bendigo and parts of the Loddon, Central Goldfields, Mount Alexander, Hepburn, Macedon and Mitchell Shires would share the grants.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to protect our landscape and biodiversity in the face of climate change and drought,” Mr Jennings said.
“I would like to congratulate the 57 successful landholders for their commitment to the environment through this round of grants which will result in about 2000 hectares of native vegetation being protected and enhanced.
“The BushTender program is a win for the environment as well as Victorian landholders who can not only restore their land but gain an extra source of income while they do so.
“Around 22,000 hectares of native vegetation on private land has been managed and protected through the BushTender program since 2001 and this additional funding will drive this effort further across Victoria.”
Mr Jennings said some of the initiatives to be undertaken by landholders under BushTender would include planting native trees and shrubs, reducing weeds and pest plants and fencing off land to protect native vegetation from cattle.
Local Daylesford-Castlemaine landholder Saide Gray will receive funding to enable her to tackle weeds and improve the diversity of native vegetation on her property.
“I value the habitat on my property but I also needed to generate some income from it. I was considering cropping or running sheep and goats on it but BushTender has enabled me to focus on enhancing the habitat instead,” Ms Gray said.
“It’s great to find a program that enables me to do that while still getting a return from my property.
“Another positive is that I will also be stimulating the local economy by purchasing plants locally and employing people to help with the planting.”
For more information, call DSE on 136 186 or visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/nativevegetation