Landholders interested in grants to protect sand ridge woodlands species, such as silver banksia, white cypress, sweet bursaria and yellow box, on their property are invited to lodge an Expression of Interest with the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) by November 30.
Goulburn Broken CMA Landscape Restoration Officer Jim Begley said the CMA had received $100,000 of funding through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme for the Sand Ridge Woodland Project.
“The Sand Ridge Woodland Project is an ongoing partnership between Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, government agencies and landholders to protect these sites that have been degraded over time though sand mining, clearing, grazing and pest plants and animals,” Mr Begley said.
“This funding will allow us to build on previous works done though this project to protect cultural sites, restore and prevent damage to sand dunes and create corridors linking habit for native species.”
At least 40,000 trees and shrubs will be planted across 80ha.
Mr Begley said the project would continue to work with Yorta Yorta’s Woka Walla work crew.
“This has proved to be a great partnership, creating jobs and building natural resource management skills as well as raising cultural awareness among the wider community,” he said.
Grants are available to landholders in the region that extends along the Murray and Goulburn valleys across Yorta Yorta Country for fencing, revegetation, pest animal and weed control and protection of cultural heritage sites.
“As the majority of remnant sand ridge woodlands in the catchment are on private land, we are keen to support landholders to protect and enhance these unique communities for broader environmental, cultural, social and economic benefits,” he said.
Landholders interested in finding out more about the grants can contact Jim Begley on (03) 5764 7503 or jimb@gbcma.vic.gov.au