At the 2015 Nyngan Ag Expo over the weekend, the Central West Local Land Services invited landholders to apply for grants totalling $860,000 to undertake projects that support sustainable agriculture and the environment.
The grants are supported with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme and managed locally by the Central West Local Land Services who are one of Australia’s 56 regional natural resource management organisations.
“This is a great opportunity for local communities to tackle important on-ground works aimed at addressing local natural resource management priorities,” Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt said.
“Through the 2015-16 Incentives Program, landholders are invited to deliver simple, local and long-term solutions to improve the productivity of their land and their local environment,” Minister Hunt said.
“It’s also pleasing to see that Australia’s 56 regional natural resource management organisations are directing more than 20 per cent of their National Landcare Programme Funding to help support grant rounds such as these as well as other local community engagement activities,” Minister Hunt said.
“The Australian Government is ensuring that funding is invested locally to deliver real change that is targeted to the environment and the land,” Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, said.
“This is crucial because farmers, landcarers and community groups know what works best for their environment and their community,” Mr Coulton said.
“It is also a key driver in delivering on the Australian Government’s commitment to support productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of Australia’s primary industries, and good management of natural resources,” Mr Coulton said.
The Central West Local Land Services works closely with the local community and landholders to reach a shared understanding of the environmental and agricultural issues facing the NSW Central West region and what work is needed to address them.
“By getting involved, farmers and landholders and community organisations working in natural resource management can help ensure the grant programme is used to its maximum benefit, targeting local and regional priorities,” Board Member of the Central West Local Land Services, Jenny Bradley, 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.
For more information on this grant round and how to apply, please visit the Central West Local Land Services website at www.lls.nsw.gov.au/centralwest.
For more information www.lls.nsw.gov.au/centralwest or go to www.nrm.gov.au.
MEDIA CONTACTS
For Minister Hunt: Nicole Green 0427 244 999
For Mr Coulton: Amy Welham 0448 477 830
For Central West LLS: Rod Campbell (02) 6881 3430