Member for Benambra Bill Tilley announced the funding at the 30th anniversary of the Kiewa catchment Landcare group on Saturday at Kergunyah hall.

“When the Coalition government came into place they saw Landcare groups were struggling,” he said.

Mr Tilley said the Environment and Climate Change Minister Ryan Smith was ensuring significant funding would be given to Landcare groups.

“He will continue to support the groups financially to make parts of Victoria even better,” he said.

The funding would allow groups to continue their work to improve the environment for the next generation.

Kiewa catchment Landcare group president Peter Serpell acknowledged pest plants and animals were an ongoing problem.

“There are new problem animals we didn’t expect 30 years ago,” he said.

He thanked the government for allowing farmers to eradicate deer on their own land but said pigs were an emerging issue that needed to be focused on.

The Landcare group held a competition to celebrate trees planted throughout the region.

North East Catchment Management Authority chief executive officer Neil McCarthy attended the anniversary celebrations to announce the winners.

The main award of the day was the biggest living tree which was won by Liz and Ken Fuchsen who entered a tree that was 9.3 metres tall.

Other categories included favourite tree which was won by Amelia Thorpe and Rosalie Creamer; biggest non-living tree, won by Jenny Wallace; best revegetation project, won by Jos McAlister and best school tree entry won by Dederang Primary School.