PARTNERING ON COMMUNITY-LED ACTION AGAINST PESTS
Organisations on the front line protecting Victoria’s environment, agriculture industry, and cultural heritage from biosecurity threats are being backed by the Allan Labor Government to manage invasive weeds and pest animals.
Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas today announced the successful recipient in Macedon of the third round of the $5 million Partnerships Against Pests grants program.
This program provides funding to community groups for projects that educate, strengthen relationships, and promote collaboration in managing established invasive weeds and pest animals at the local level.
Established weeds and pest animals damage our landscapes and waterways, cause substantial production losses, jeopardise international market access and damage culturally sensitive sites of First Nations people.
Grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 were available to various agricultural and environmental not-for- profit organisations, including Landcare groups and networks.
Successful projects included initiatives such as peri-urban and regional fox monitoring, the development of community pest management plans and partnering with Traditional Owners for on country management whilst protecting cultural heritage.
Among the recipients is the Threatened Species Conservancy who received $48,875 for their project Strategy for Gorse and Willow Management on Private Land along Five Mile Creek.
The project will develop and distribute educational material to private landowners in the area, deliver a field day with best practice management demonstrations, work with individual landowners to develop long term management plans, map infestations, produce a social and traditional media campaign, deliver a market stall day at Woodend market, and develop an overarching strategic framework for managing gorse and willow on private properties in the area.
This funding is in addition to the $250,000 allocated to competitive grants for Victoria’s four Community Pest Management Groups – the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce, the Victorian Gorse Taskforce, the Victorian Rabbit Action Network, and the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party.
This funding is helping expand their influence across the state and strengthen partnerships with local communities.
For the full list of grant recipients, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/support-and-resources.
Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas
“This funding supports local community groups to carry out important work that protects our rural communities from invasive weeds and pests."
