Funding for rural land holders

Funding available to support ACT rural landholders

As farmers, you have come through the millennium drought, weathered La Nina floods and seen pastures singed by this summer’s heatwaves. Autumn 2014 is looking better after the recent rain but you may be wondering about the future, in particular, how do I get better farm productivity through:

• improved soils and pastures
• more shade as well as protection for my old gum trees;
• help managing weeds and pest animals;
• how do I prepare for the next drought;
• how can I work with my neighbours on shared issues; and
• how can I find out about and test new approaches to farming?

Three funding programs

If you are thinking about any of the above, then there are three grant funding programs to help you:

1. ACT Rural Grants Project – Taking the next step
2. Tree planting/revegetation funding
3. The ACT Environment Grants

While each program will fund different on-ground work, you may be able to seek funding from more than one grant program, to achieve multiple benefits on your farm.
Rural landholders are encouraged to seek funding from both the ACT Rural Grants Project and the Tree Planting/Revegetation funding where they meet both project and your own farm goals. If groups of farmers want to work together on a shared project, then the ACT Rural Grants project or the ACT Environment Grants may be the best option, noting ACT Environment Grants projects need to achieve a conservation outcome.

» LANDNEWS APRIL 2014

Who to contact
You can discuss your project and the approach you are thinking of taking with any one of the people who will be involved in assessing your application:
Information session

The ACT Government will be running a free information session for ACT rural landholders on the three grant funding programs on Monday 28 April 2014, 5.30pm-6.30pm at the Weston Creek Labor Club, Teesdale Close, Stirling, Weston ACT. RSVP to:

Anna van Dugteren
Phone: 62052914 Mobile: 0455299657
Email: anna.vandugteren@act.gov.au