12 November 2015
The Australian Government welcomes today’s Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management’s announcement that 22 local groups and landholders will share in $185,300 in grants under the National Landcare Programme.
This funding will support eleven sustainable agriculture trials and demonstrations located across the Wheatbelt. The projects include assessing legume pasture varieties, identifying summer grazing opportunities, improving yields on non-wetting sands and improving soil health.
Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management also announced its first round of the ‘Perennials for Profit’ projects. These projects will assist the widespread adoption of palatable shrubs for livestock grazing and/or sandalwood plantations to diversify farm income and improve the condition of soil, water and biodiversity in the Wheatbelt. The funding will support the establishment of eleven forage shrub or sandalwood demonstration sites by local farmers across the region.
“National Landcare Programme funding is supporting local landcare networks and other community-based groups to help restore local ecosystems and protect natural assets so the local community can enjoy the long-term benefit of a healthy and livable environment,” Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt said.
“The Government is ensuring that funding is invested locally to deliver real change that is targeted on and off farm to safeguard productive capacity in the land for the future and to safeguard our environment,” Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce said.
“This is crucial because farmers, landcarers and community groups know what works best for their properties, environment and their communities,” Mr Joyce said.
“Over the coming months, Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management will support local landholders to carry out important on-ground works to address some of the crucial environmental and sustainable agricultural issues facing the region,” the Federal Member for O’Connor, Mr Wilson said.
“Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management has a proven track record in managing projects that consistently deliver good environmental outcomes in the Wheatbelt,” Rick Wilson said.
The Australian Government is investing $2 billion to help support better natural resource management across Australia. As part of this commitment $1 billion will be invested through the National Landcare Programme, including more than $450 million directed in regional funding through to Australia’s 56 natural resource management organisations.
Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management’s announced funding is part of its commitment to invest over 20 per cent of its National Landcare Programme funding to help support local projects as well as other local community engagement activities.