Central West Lachlan Landcare welcome the Phase 3 funding announcement for the NSW Landcare Enabling Program.

Minister for Agriculture, Regional New South Wales, and Western New South Wales, Tara Moriarty, announced $10 million in new funding to support community-led environmental action across the state.

Landcare groups will deliver on-ground projects across New South Wales in two areas: innovation and climate adaptation, and culturally informed landscape management. Twenty-two projects across the state will share in the grant funding, with 11 Landcare Networks each receiving two grants aligned to these priorities.

Landcare in the Central West Region received $922,561 which will fund innovative programs over the areas of Dunedoo-Coolah, Wellington, Dubbo, Coonamble, Condobolin, Grenfell, Parkes and Forbes.

For Central West Lachlan Landcare working over the Parkes and Forbes Shires, this means the delivery of several area specific projects, which are divided into two funding streams, with CWLL receiving just over $32,000 for local projects and will participate in regional projects that will also be delivered at a local level.

The first section of the program with a focus on innovation and climate adaptation, covers the delivery of projects including Indian Myna control, a Cat Control program, Firearms Safety Training, AgWaste operations, a Woody Weeds pilot, support for Eco Day, Wild Edibles workshops, Homegrown Innovation Workshops and a Propagation facility at Forbes Riverside Garden.

The second section of the program focuses on culturally informed landscape management, will provide funding towards the re-establishment of a learning space and yarning circle, pathways and plantings at Peak Hill Flora and Fauna Reserve, support for Parkes NAIDOC Family Fun Day and support for updating our Reconciliation Action Plan, and, as part of the broader Central West project there is Cultural Training and Seed Collection Training.

We are in the process of exchanging contracts and planning the swift delivery of these projects, that have to be concluded within the next eight months ahead of reporting.

Landcare NSW Chair, Steve Bunnell said “Landcare is often associated with planting trees, but in reality it represents one of the most cost-effective, community-driven environmental investments in New South Wales.”

NSW Landcare Enabling Program Manager, Jodie Lovell said “Landcare is proof of what can be achieved when local communities come together to care for the environment and create a better future for the next generation.”

For further information on this article, please go to www.centralwestlachlanlandcare.org, Facebook or Instagram @cwllandcare or contact Marg Applebee on 0418 611 053.