The annual program encourages landholders and community groups to submit local ideas for natural resource management outcomes with a focus on waterway health.

The key focus in the north east is waterway health and improving management of land and vegetation along rivers, streams and around wetlands.

North East CMA interim CEO, Tony Long, said the 2017-18 program also aimed to support landholders impacted by flooding and included funds for river bank stabilisation, vegetation enhancement or revegetation to protect the waterway.

“The program recognises the importance of partnering with landholders and community groups to deliver environmental outcomes,” Mr Long said.

“The grants will be used to undertake river bank stabilisation, fencing, weed control, revegetation and nest box installation. One group, the Friends of the Mitta, propose to undertake woody weed control over almost 80 hectares of waterway using kayaks and rafts through areas largely inaccessible to other works crews in the upper tributaries of the Mitta Mitta River.

“This year 35 recipients successfully applied for grants worth a total of $660,000. This will help enhance up to 222 hectares of public and private land across north east Victoria, involving more than 38 km of fencing and revegetating more than 72 hectares.”

Of the 35 recipients, eight were community groups including Friends of the Mitta, North East River Alliance Inc., Friends of Yackandandah Creek, Baranduda Landcare Group, Spring Ditch Committee of Management, Rutherglen Landcare Group, Willows Recreation Reserve Wahgunyah, and the Omeo Region Business & Tourism Association; the other 27 were individual landholders.

The Landholder and Community Grants Waterway Health program is funded through the Victorian Government’s $222 million investment over four years to improve the health of waterways and catchments.

For more contact Inneke Nathan on (02) 6043 7675 or inneke.nathan@necma.vic.gov.au