Caring for our Country - Better Land Management, Less Red Tape

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Regional Delivery Support Program

Conservation Volunteers Australia and the National Landcare Programme have developed a national partnership to provide on-ground practical support for Landcare activities.

Expressions of Interest are now being called for - click here to view information

Closing date for applications - 26th October 2007

Media Release

$1.15 million for 10 New Tasmanian Landcare Projects

Ten new Tasmanian landcare projects funded by the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme were announced today.  The projects total $1.15 million for 2007/08 and complement the work being undertaken by another 22 NLP projects that are currently active in Tasmania.

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AgFund Now Open

AgFund is a grants programme to help primary producers in the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors manage change and improve profitability.  The Australian Government will provide matching funding of up to $50,000 to successful applicants to carry out projects that tackle industry issues at the local level.  AgFund is part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s new Advancing Agricultural Industries Programme.   Applications close on 16 July 2007.

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Community Water Grants - click here to view media release

(1 May 2007) 

On 23 April, the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Senator Eric Abetz, called for applications for the third round of Community Water Grants. 

Community Water Grants, which is one of the three national programmes in the $2 billion Australian Government Water Fund, is providing a total of $200 million to help communities play a positive role in managing local water resources.

Grants  of up to $50,000 are available for projects related to:

• water savings and efficiency
• recycling water for use
• treating water for discharge to the environment.

Applications and projects that meet special eligibility criteria can apply for large grants of between $100,000 and $250,000.

Round 3 opened on the 23rd of April and applications close on 4 July 2007.

For more information phone 6233 3401 or Freecall 1800 780 730 or see www.nrm.gov.au/water-fund/index.html for application guidelines and forms. 

See http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/env/2007/pubs/mr23apr207.pdf   for full Community Water Grants information media release. 

Don Defenderfer
State Landcare Coordinator, Tasmania
 
PO Box 193
Launceston
Tasmania 7250
 
Ph:     (03) 6332 1800  or phone 1800 154 111
Mb:     0428 330 115
Fax:    (03) 6331 4344

Web: http://www.daff.gov.au/landcare
Web: http://www.tfga.com.au/ (then go to Landcare link)
 
Email:     don.defenderfer@bigpond.com

Applications Open for Community Landcare Funding

(25 November 2006)

Applications are now open for funding of projects in 2007-08 under the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.

Australian Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Peter McGauran said advertisements would be appearing from today in national and regional newspapers calling for applications to fund projects under the programme’s community support component.

“The Government is keen to encourage greater involvement in landcare by community and industry groups, a crucial step to improving natural resource management in Australia.

“I invite groups from across Australia to submit applications covering a range of local landcare activities,” Mr McGauran said.

Applications for funding should be sent to regional NRM bodies so they can assess the proposed projects against regional priorities.

Mr McGauran said that, to help ensure the projects are consistent with regional NRM priorities, he strongly recommended that project proponents talk to their regional bodies before they submit their applications.

“The Australian Government will then assess all proposals,” he said.

“Regional NRM organisations are key stakeholders in the landcare movement, and I welcome the opportunity to work with them.

“Regional bodies may submit their own proposals; however, they should include documented support from the local landcare or farming communities, and clearly highlight the landcare activity their proposals will support.

“Projects funded under the National Landcare Programme’s community support component represent a partnership, and I have maintained the requirement of matching contributions in cash or kind.”

Mr McGauran said the projects also complement regional work under the Australian Government's $3 billion Natural Heritage Trust or $1.4 billion National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.

“The Australian Government will deliver National Landcare Programme funding through the States, which play a valuable role in landcare,” he said.

The 2007-08 National Landcare Programme Community Support Guidelines are available at: www.landcare.gov.au/nlpcommunitysupport.

For regional advice regarding NLP applications, contact: Guy Robertson at Cradle Coast NRM on 64 31 6285; Alister Mackinnon at NRM North on 63 33 7775; or Natalie Conod at NRM South on 62 26 2776.

For further information about the National Landcare Program please contact:

Don Defenderfer
State Landcare Coordinator, Tasmania
 
PO Box 193
Launceston,
Tasmania, 7250
 
Ph:     03 6332 1800
Mb:     0428 330 115
Fax:    03 63 31 4344

Web: http://www.daff.gov.au/landcare
Web: http://www.tfga.com.au/pages/Landcare/landcare.htm
 
Email:     don.defenderfer@bigpond.com

National Landcare Programme Natural Resource Innovation Grants Announced for 2005/06: $1.4 million to help farmers farm better

Farmers across Australia will benefit from nearly $1.4 million for 18 projects that will increase the use of innovative and sustainable agriculture practices.

Funding comes from the Natural Resource Innovation Grants — part of the Federal Government's Commitment of $36 million in 2005-06 to the National Landcare Program.

Congratulations to the Two Tasmanian Projects which were funded (a list of the other national projects funded is at).

Tasmania:

Improving water use efficiency and reducing soil leakage from centre pivots ($34,080) 

Southern Farming Systems will demonstrate alternative irrigation schedules to farmers using centre pivot irrigators.  A mini lateral-shift irrigator will be modified to apply different irrigation regimes.  Soil moisture meters will be installed to demonstrate their use in monitoring water application and determining watering schedules, and to demonstrate leakage from poor irrigation scheduling.

Contact: Geoff Dean, Southern Farming Systems, Tas. (03) 6336 5233

Conversion of Onion Waste into disease-suppressive organic composts ($100,000)

Webster Fresh will undertake trials on techniques for composting onion waste so that it can be handled in a more sustainable way.  It will develop techniques to ensure the compost is free of onion pathogens, and demonstrate the potential for composted onion waste, enriched with a biological control agent, to disinfest land of onion white rot.

Contact: Dean Metcalf, Biocontrol Australia Pty Ltd, Tas. (03) 62 61 5302

The 18 projects, which will be undertaken by landcare groups, individuals and small businesses around Australia, will receive grants ranging from $9,850 to $302,000. 

The projects include:

Natural Resource Innovation Grants 2005-06

New South Wales

Increasing adoption of innovative irrigation and water recycling technologies in Australian nurseries ($129,748)

Nursery Garden Industry Australia will apply commercially available irrigation and water recycling innovations (techniques and technologies) within three case-study production nurseries to quantify and compare the environmental, production and financial benefits.  A cost/benefit analysis will provide a business case to encourage nursery owners to invest in more sustainable production technologies.

Contact: Rebecca Dawson, Nursery Garden Industry Australia, NSW (02) 9876 5200

The New England North West Innovation in Agriculture Landcare Adventure ($9,850)

The Adventure will be a regional forum to promote innovative sustainable agricultural practices.  It will be a two-day event in April 2006 involving more than 100 landholders and producers, and include farm visits, workshops and regional landcare awards to showcase and encourage innovation in landcare and in agriculture.

Contact: Jackie Bowe, Southern New England Landcare Ltd, NSW (02) 6772 9123

Natural Sequence Farming — catalyst for riparian restoration in semi-arid Australia ($141,880)

The Lake Cowal Foundation will carry out a trial of natural sequence farming in Spring Creek, which is a typical incised, ephemeral and degraded creek in the semi-arid Lake Cowal catchment.  The project will enable the re-establishment of the chain-of-ponds, swampy-meadow complex by establishing 20 low-cost ‘leaky weirs’ that reintegrate pre-European stream and floodplain hydrology.  A manipulated sequence of natural bed-raising events are expected to positively affect floodplain recharge, water quality, salinity, biodiversity and the catchment’s capacity to sustain agricultural production.

Contact: Donna Johnston, Lake Cowal Foundation Ltd, NSW (02) 6975 4654

Queensland

Saving irrigation water in the Condamine catchment ($44,500)

The Condamine Alliance will target cotton farms losing water by seepage through dam floors and walls.  It will result in early identification and remediation of potential dam wall failure, and clarify the amount of water lost to evaporation and seepage.  It will identify point sources of seepage and test three methods of sealing identified leaks.

Contact: Marien Stark, Condamine Alliance, Qld (07) 4620 0114

Renovating saline/sodic soils and conserving water through compost use ($74,122)

GELITA Australia Pty Ltd will assess the effectiveness of compost use as a tool to renovate saline/sodic soils.  It will determine the beneficial effects of using compost on soil chemical, physical and hydrological properties, as well as plant growth (pasture, trees) at sites adversely affected by saline effluent, dryland salinity and sodicity.

Contact: Cameron Smeal, GELITA Australia Pty Ltd, Qld (07) 5541 9442

Implement proactive area–wide management of localised salinity problems in a sub-catchment of the Mary River ($42,850)

The Maroochy Landcare Group Inc. will demonstrate a local area-wide, multi-industry partnership approach to addressing salinity issues in a mixed ginger, dairying and beef production sub-catchment.  It will build on existing grower innovation and enhance awareness of the use of automatic salinity sensing, which allows unsuitable surface water to be directed away from irrigation dams during the rising phase of flow events.

Contact: Esma Armstrong, Maroochy Landcare Group Inc., Qld (07) 5447 0135

South Australia

Improved nutrition, weed and pest management in reduced tillage farming systems ($136,000)

The Southern Yorke Peninsula Alkaline Soils Farming Systems Group will evaluate and demonstrate innovative methods to improve the sustainability of reduced tillage farming systems.  The project will address the increased occurrence of brome grass, herbicide-resistant weeds, snails and inefficient nutrient application, which are arising in certain conditions under full stubble retention, no-till farming systems.

Contact: Michael Richards, Southern Yorke Peninsula Alkaline Soils Farming Systems Group, SA 0427 547 052

Victoria

Zero nutrient waste discharge aquaculture — aquaponic applications ($22,500)

Minnamurra Aquaponics will integrate a hydroponic plant growth component into an existing recirculation fish-farming system.  This will allow the excess nutrients the fish generate to be removed from the system, producing an aquaculture technique with zero nutrient waste discharge to the environment, low water use and minimal environmental impact.

Contact: Warren Watkins, Minnamurra Aquaponics, Vic. (03) 5786 5121.

Pigs 'benchmarc' a new idea ($302,000)

The Pig Pen Pty Ltd will test grape marc (a by-product of wine production and a major problem for wineries in Phylloxera zones) as bedding material for deep-litter piggeries.  The project will establish whether marc can form an environmentally and commercially sustainable source of supply, and develop logistical strategies to support the sustainability of moving large volumes of low-value material.  It will also establish the characteristics of the resultant mulch, including any issues connected to Phylloxera, and create a detailed handbook on the process so other regions of Australia can successfully adopt it.

Contact: Claire Penniceard, Pig Pen Pty Ltd, Vic. (03) 5795 1298

Sustainable tomato production through minimum tillage and crop residue retention ($54,200)

North Central Produce will test equipment designed to incorporate tomato crop residue in one tractor pass.  This has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of tomato crop residue burnt each year and lead to increased soil organic carbon levels.

Contact: Liz Mann, Australian Processing Tomato Research Council, Vic. 0427 857 578

Assessment of mechanical harvesters suited to thinning small-diameter plantation eucalypts ($20,500)

Woollybutt Pty Ltd will determine conditions under which mechanical harvesting technology can be used economically to harvest small-diameter trees during the thinning of eucalypt plantations.  The trial will compare the productivity of two types of machine as well as determine the costs and profitability of each operation. The trial will help to determine the future directions that need to be taken to develop profitable eucalypt hardwood thinning operations. 

Contact: John Lambert, Woollybutt Pty Ltd, Vic. (03) 5527 1363

Budj Bim Heritage Landscape sustainable Kooyang (eel) harvest feasibility project ($90,000)

The Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation will assess the potential sustainability of a traditionally-constructed eel aquaculture system in three important wetlands in the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape at Lake Condah, in south-west Victoria.  It will restore traditional channels and drainage systems in and around these wetlands and restore and recommission three eel harvest ‘nodes’ for demonstration and educational purposes.  The project will also include the development of new technology to replicate traditional eel baskets/nets.  The project will lead to improved fresh water quality and showcase land stewardship, Aboriginal land management and sustainable aquaculture at the landscape scale.

Contact: Denis Rose, Winda Mara Aboriginal Corporation, Vic. (03) 5527 2051

Western Australia

Botherling Springs saltland pastures establishment ($10,280)

Botherling Springs Catchment Group Inc. will assess the potential of Nypa grass (Distichilis) to increase profitability and soil health on three saline-affected sites within the Shire of Goomalling.  Establishment issues will include: soil attributes affecting the growth of the plants; the plants’ effects on the soil; mineral uptake; effect on water tables; and filling the summer feed gap.
Contact: Patricia Lord, Botherling Springs Catchment Group Inc., WA (08) 9620 1262

Extending profitable saltland use with salt-tolerant Rhodes grass varieties ($14,000)

Evergreen Farming Inc. will assess the salt tolerance of three new Rhodes grass cultivars under Western Australian climatic and soil salinity conditions.  These cultivars have the potential to increase the profitability of higher-salinity discharge areas where the grass varieties currently available cannot be grown successfully.  The project is also targeting the sustainability of high-salinity discharge areas by increasing the level of permanent grass cover and helping dry out the excessive moisture that typically collects in such areas.
Contact: Philip Barrett-Lennard, Evergreen Farming Inc., WA (08) 9475 0753

Grading raised bed furrows to reclaim saltland in Western Australia ($22,850)

Wagin/Woodanilling Landcare Zone Inc. will undertake trials on a cheap and effective means of constructing and renovating raised beds on ‘flat’ waterlogged and saline valley floors that ensures all furrows will empty completely.  The aim is to increase to 100 per cent the extent of reclamation achievable by raised beds on low-slope waterlogged and saline valley floors, and to promote the adoption of raised-bed farming on waterlogged valley floors as a means of restoring the land to profitable and sustainable productivity.
Contact: Joy Angwin, Wagin/Woodanilling Landcare Zone Inc., WA (08) 9863 7209

National

Mortality composting in the Australian dairy industry ($112,355)

Dairy Australia will establish best practice on-farm demonstration sites for the safe composting of dead dairy cattle, so as to minimise the risk of contamination of surface and sub-surface water bodies and nutrient overloading of soils in animal disposal areas.  The sites — in Victoria and Queensland — will be used to research and monitor the composting process and pathogen destruction, and also for training and demonstrations.  Project findings will be integrated into standard operating procedures and existing dairy industry programmes. They will also form the basis for a training programme on on-farm mortality composting, which will be piloted in Gippsland.

Contact: Catherine Phelps, Dairy Australia, Vic. (03) 9694 3730

$1.35 million for 13 Tasmanian Landcare Projects

19 December 2005

Landcare groups in Tasmania will share up to $1.35 million this year from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program (NLP).

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Peter McGauran announced this week that $1.35 million would come from the NLP’s Community Support component to fund 13 natural resource management (NRM) projects across the State.

“The Tasmanian-based projects are among 210 nationwide that will share in $25.3 million in funding — a major boost to NRM across the country,” Mr McGauran said.

“Up to 75 per cent of Australian farmers and land managers are directly involved in landcare, or are benefiting from knowledge acquired through the landcare movement.”

The Tasmanian projects include:

• $100,510 for a cross-regional project with 18 participating dairy farms looking to make their water use more sustainable, and improve their understanding and management of soil nutrients
• $300,000 for a project in the State’s north that aims to boost the sustainability of farm forestry activities
• $87,815 for a project in the State’s south that aims to boost the natural resource management and sustainable farming skills of local communities

Mr McGauran said the projects are consistent with the investment strategies developed as part of the regions’ NRM plans, and are about finding local solutions to local problems.

State Landcare Coordinator Don Defenderfer said the new and continuing NLP projects also demonstrate the “durability and diversity of Landcare in Tasmania.”

“Landcare has been going in Tasmania for 15 years and it is still going strong.  There are over 260 Landcare groups in the State putting in over 500,000 volunteer hours a year.

Landcare has also expanded and is now working not only with individual farmers and community groups, but also with a diversity of primary industries such as the vegetable, horticulture, dairy, grazing and farm forestry industries.

“We are working on a much more diverse range of issues than in the past; we are investing in projects that are addressing issues such as nutrient budgeting, dairy effluent disposal, fertilizer and chemical management, property management systems, irrigation efficiencies, water quality, weed and pest management, salinity and soil erosion.

“Landcare funding is working to assist farmers to address sustainability and production issues that will allow them to be more environmentally and economically sustainable.   There is a lot of pressure on farmers these days to demonstrate their environmental credentials and Landcare can assist them to find innovative solutions to both local and regional issues that they choose to address.

“Landcare benefits both rural and urban Tasmanians.  The projects that Landcare groups are working on across the state will inevitably lead to cleaner water, cleaner food products and less impacts on the environment.”

Cross Regional Projects:

South, North and Cradle Coast NRM Regions:

Water use and nutrient management on Tasmanian dairy farms ($100,510)

This project involves measuring water use, soil moisture and nutrient levels, irrigation scheduling and pasture performance, as well as the sustainability of management practices on 18 farms in three prominent dairy catchments.

Contact: Mark Smith, DairyTas (03) 6432 2233

North and Cradle Coast NRM Regions:

Integrating NRM into farming practices through monitoring and action-oriented learning ($120,000)

This project involves farmer groups building on a previous pilot project to implement on-ground changes to encourage the use of best management practices. It will involve monitoring, record-keeping, analysis and skills building.

Contact: Doris Blaesing, Serve-Ag Pty Ltd (03) 6498 6800

North and Cradle Coast NRM Regions:

Promoting sustainable production to improve river health in the Greater Rubicon Catchment ($129,000)

This project involves the Greater Rubicon Catchment Management Group and Greening Australia developing and testing a range of best-practice tools and techniques for managing river environments more sustainably.

Contact: Peter Stronach, Greening Australia (03) 64 32 1405

Cradle Coast NRM Projects:

Riparian Management and Slump/Slip Soil Stabilisation ($76,400)

This project involves the Wynyard Landcare Group improving the quality of regional streams, and reducing erosion in riverbank and escarpment areas, by stabilising 40 priority slump soil sites as part of re-vegetation and fencing works.

Contact: Graeme Stevenson, Wynyard Landcare Group (03) 6435 1319

Using a nutrient budgeting framework to improve nutrient management practices in the Montagu Catchment in Northwest Tasmania ($41,400)

This project involves the DairyTas Board implementing best practice fertiliser and nutrient management strategies on 20 properties in the Burnie area to improve water quality in the Montagu catchment.

Contact: Mark Smith, DairyTas Board (03) 6433 4801

NRM North Projects:

Increasing production and biodiversity in the Tamar Region ($200,000)

This project involves the Tamar Region NRM Strategy Management Group working with the local community to encourage greater integration of production and biodiversity management, with a focus on native vegetation.

Contact: Amanda Locatelli, Tamar Region NRM Strategy Reference Group (03) 6323 3355

Sustainable farm forestry management for production and conservation ($300,000)

This project involves Australian Forest Growers, community landcare groups and private landholders working together to increase farm profitability and sustainability by targeting problems such as salinity, erosion and water quality.  There will be an emphasis on promoting farm forestry and good land management practices.

Contact: David Lane, Private Forests Tasmania (03) 63 36 5309

NRM South Projects:

Implementing Landcare in Tasman ($68,400)

This project involves the Tasman Landcare Group undertaking a range of on-ground activities, including vegetation management, weed and pest-animal control, and providing landholders with training in property management planning.

Contact: Mel Fazackerley, Tasman Landcare Group (03) 6251 2400

Implementing Sustainable Productivity on a unique aboriginal farming enterprise ($87,815)

This project involves the Murrayfield Management Committee and Greening Australia tackling a range of productivity and land management issues facing ‘Murrayfield’ — a property on North Bruny Island.  The project aims to boost the natural resource management understanding and sustainable farming skills of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

Contact: Leanne Sherriff, Greening Australia (03) 62 23 6377

Demonstration of practical, cost-effective means to improve agricultural production and sustainability of sodic soils ($5,400)

This project involves the Coal River Products Association testing the effectiveness of a range of products designed to improve agricultural production on sodic soils, and reduce the threats posed by severe soil erosion.

Contact: Marcus Hardie, Salinity/Soils, 62 23 6251

Restoring the Balance: Landscape solutions for productivity and sustainability in the Derwent Catchment ($114,114)

This project involves Greening Australia, along with local councils and landcare groups, using demonstration farms and field days to showcase ways of boosting productivity by using best-practice weed control techniques, remnant/riparian fencing, establishing buffer zones and re-vegetation.

Contact: Leanne Sherriff, Greening Australia (03) 62 23 6377

To implement best practice in dairy effluent management across dairy farms in Southern Tasmania ($51,000)

This project involves DairyTas improving surface water quality and nutrient re-use in southern Tasmania by helping dairy farmers upgrade their effluent systems to the latest standards through a range of activities, including on-ground works.

Contact: Mark Smith, DairyTas (03) 6432 2233

Establishment of perennial plants for soil conservation and forage ($47,460)

This project involves the University of Tasmania, and the Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, demonstrating a range of drought and pest-tolerant perennial grazing and browsing plants to landcare groups in the Upper Derwent Valley. 

Contact: Eric Hall, Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (03) 6336 5449

Community Landcare Coordinators for Tasmania
Contact details for the Community Landcare Coordinators:

Website (other than TFGA's Landcare section): http://www.daff.gov.au/landcare