Issue 112

Dear Chris

You will find plently of great funding opportunities below including the new Action on the Gound component of the Carbon Farming Futures.

Action on the Ground is designed to enable on-farm trial and demonstration of practices and abatement technologies to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in soil.

If you have a project involving fencing or revegetation of a waterway and you are located on the Avon River between Gwambygine and Beverley or in the Talbot Brook or Westdale areas we would love to hear from you as part of our new Healthy Rivers project. For mor einformation see below.

Kind regards,

Wheatbelt NRM

Web version

Events

Landcare’s everyday heroes recognised at Landcare awards across the country

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, and Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Mike Kelly, congratulated the winners of the 2011 state and territory Landcare Awards describing them as genuine everyday heroes.

“It takes selflessness and commitment to get out in all seasons and conditions and help your local community restore landscapes and care for the land and these winners certainly do that,” Minister Ludwig said.

“Both nominees and winners represent the valuable work done by more than 6,000 groups and thousands of individual landcarers who protect and enhance our environment and social capital.

“Their tireless efforts help secure the long term future of our environment and of our productive agricultural lands – work that is of benefit now and for future generations.”

Ceremonies have now been held in all Australian states and territories with more than 87 awards being given to individuals and groups across Australia.

“The Australian Government is a proud sponsor of the 2011 state and territory Landcare Awards and welcomes the opportunity to further showcase the winners who will go on to the national awards in 2012,” Minister Ludwig said.

Dr Kelly said the awards were an important acknowledgement of the work of tireless volunteers in a range of settings.
“The diverse range of projects recognised all have the common goal of working towards protecting and conserving our precious natural resources,” he said.

“I urge all Australians to support Landcare—one of the most enduring and recognisable environmental movements in Australia—in whatever capacity they can.”

Dr Kelly said it was important to also acknowledge the support of the wide range of other organisations that support the Landcare Awards through their generous sponsorships.

All the winners of the national categories in the State Landcare Awards will go through as nominees for their respective categories at the 2012 National Landcare Awards to be held in Sydney next year in association with the National Landcare Conference.

Investment in Landcare supports a number of key priority areas under the Australian Government’s flagship natural resource management initiative, Caring for our Country, including community skills, knowledge and engagement, coastal environments and sustainable farm practices.

Click here for more details about the 2011 State and Territory Landcare Awards.

General News

Westpac Carbon and agriculture: Making sense of it all

By Westpac

Given our experience in trading carbon in Australia and New Zealand, our leadership in Agribusiness and recognised for sustainability and climate leadership, we want to assist customers and landholders generally, to understand the opportunities and challenges presented by the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI).

So, Westpac teamed up with long term partners Landcare Australia to present a series of information seminars aimed at helping producers and consumers understand the impact of carbon on their businesses.

Key industry specialists from organisations like the Australian Farm Institute, Westpac Institutional Bank and law firm Baker & McKenzie were among the presenters at these information sessions. Held in September and October in Rockhampton, Toowwoomba, Tamworth, Deniliquin, Warrnambool and Murray Bridge, there’ll potentially be more information seminars once the grain harvests are over.

Stuart Fredriksson from Westpac Institutional Bank highlighted the links between the Carbon Farming Initiative and the Emission Trading Scheme, key factors for investing in offset projects developed under the CFI and Westpac’s expertise in the NZ emissions market. Click here to watch the video.

Michael Rooney from Greening Australia talked about past and current government carbon offset policies, the development and structure of the Carbon Farming Initiative and its regulations. Click here to watch the video.

Ilona Miller from law firm Baker & McKenzie discussed some of the legal issues that arise from offset projects being developed under the Carbon Farming Initiative. Click here to watch the video.

Funding

Is your saltland capable of a lot more?

Salinity is back on the radar thanks to a new project called “SaltCap”. Caring for our Country recently funded the Wheatbelt NRM project which aims to evaluate the use of the decision support tool ‘SaltCap’, developed by the Future Farm Industries (FFI) CRC. The tool firstly identifies what constraints are affecting salt-affected sites, and secondly provides plant-based solutions aimed at improving productivity on this land.

Project Manager Georgie Troup said “What this project will do is put saltland management back on the radar. For the past few years funding for improving saltland productivity has been few and far between but we are thrilled to be able to offer investment back into saltland. The project will provide valuable feedback on the use of the decision support tool and how appropriate the recommendations are for our region.

Farmers can apply through an Expression of Interest form which can be found on the Wheatbelt NRM website, or by contacting the office on 9690 2250. The project is targeting farmers located within the shires of Wongan-Ballidu, Bruce Rock, Trayning and surrounding shires. Successful farmers will participate in a training session, and be provided with financial assistance to implement the recommended revegetation activities in the 2012 growing season. It is anticipated that the majority of recommendations will be focused on saltbush systems either in belts or blocks. The financial assistance comes in the form of a subsidised seedling program offering saltbush seedlings for participating farmers at 12c each.

For further information contact Project Manager Georgie Troup on 9690 2258 or gtroup@wheatbeltnrm.org.au

Action on the Ground

Action on the Ground is a component of Carbon Farming Futures and will invest up to $99 million of grant funding over six years to assist individuals and groups of landholders and research, industry and farming organisations across Australia to trial and demonstrate on-farm ways of reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and/or increasing and maintaining carbon stored in soil.

Action on the Ground on-farm projects will create new opportunities for landholders and farmers to participate in the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) by trialling and demonstrating outcomes from research programs including, but not limited to, the Climate Change Research Program and the Filling the Research Gap program . Projects under Action on the Ground will ensure that research results can be practically applied on the ground in real farming situations.

Action on the Ground is designed to enable on-farm trial and demonstration of practices and abatement technologies to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in soil. This will be achieved by supporting landholders, research, industry, non-government, government and farmer ‘care’ ‘grower’ groups/organisations come together to trial and demonstrate management practices and technologies on-farm that can reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in soil.

How to apply

The program guidelines outline eligibility and the application process for round one of funding for the Action on the Ground program.

Guidelines
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Applicants seeking to apply for funding under Action on the Ground are encouraged to read the guidelines in conjunction with the DAFF standard funding agreement (funding deed). To receive funding, successful applicants will be required to enter into a funding deed with the Commonwealth of Australia, acting through the department.

DAFF funding deed  Word [259KB]
DAFF funding deed  PDF [292KB]

The on-line application form will be available from 11 January 2012. Download and complete all sections of the on-line application form, following the instructions provided in the application form.

A sample application form is provided below to assist with your project planning and application preparation prior to 11 January 2012.

Sample application form  Word [205KB]
Sample application form  PDF [613KB]

Applicants are encouraged to apply on-line however; if you do not have access to the internet you may request a hard copy application pack. Hard copy application packs will be available from 11 January 2012 and can be obtained by calling the Action on the Ground hotline on 1800 025 005 or via email AOTG. Applicants who wish to pre - register for a hard copy application pack may do so by phone or email.

Applications close 5:00pm (AEST) Wednesday, 8 February 2012

More information

What priority/ies for Action on the Ground are you proposing to trial or demonstrate in your project? See Section 2 – Grant Guidelines. One or more priority can be selected.

• Reduce methane emissions
• Reduce nitrous oxide emissions
• Increase carbon stored in the soil
• Innovative practices/technologies to reduce agricultural greenhouse emissions/store carbon in soil.

More information on the Carbon Farming Futures is available by contacting the Sustainable Agriculture team at Wheatbelt NRM.

Healthy Rivers

“Protecting Wheatbelt Waterways”

The Wheatbelt NRM Healthy Rivers project is calling
for expressions of interest from landholders who
want to protect their bit of waterway.

If you have a project involving fencing or revegetation
of a waterway and you are located on the Avon River
between Gwambygine and Beverley or in the Talbot
Brook or Westdale areas please register your interest
at wheatbeltnrm.org.au or contact Greg Warburton on
9690 2250 or email gwarburton@wheatbeltnrm.org.au

Opportunities

Waterways Project Officer

An exciting opportunity exists to join a team of reputable natural resource management professionals.

This position has responsibility for implementing a number of waterways management projects across the Avon River Basin. Working closely within a team the position will assist in developing waterways management activities and take responsibility for the implementation of a planned on ground works program.

The ability to undertake on ground works related to conservation management including weed control, fencing and revegetation will be required.

Ideally the applicant will have the ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders and an understanding of the issues and management of threats facing Wheatbelt waterways.
Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management Incorporated (Wheatbelt NRM) is an independent community-based organisation leading natural resource management (NRM) endeavours within the Avon River Basin.

Position documentation is available at www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au/employment For further information or an application package please contact Rebecca Palumbo at rpalumbo@wheatbeltnrm.org.au or 96902265.

Applications close 5.00pm WST Friday 16 December 2011

Birds Australia Positions available

Birds Australia has available two important and exciting positions within our threatened cockatoos program, and it would be wonderful if you would pass the information on to people who might be interested and your networks (or apply if you are interested).

Threatened Cockatoos Project Manager – a Perth-based position managing Birds Australia’s threatened cockatoos program in WA. Initially, the person will be working collaboratively on an assessment and evaluation of the Carnaby’s Cockatoo Recovery Project. Full time fixed term position to December 2013.

Carnaby’s Cockatoo Conservation Officer – working with farmers and other land managers to protect and manage critical habitat in the landscapes connecting and surrounding four Important Bird Areas in the SE wheatbelt of WA. Location negotiable within the southern wheatbelt or the Great Southern in WA. Full time fixed term position to June 2013, although for the right candidates we would consider job sharing (two part-time positions).

Applications for both positions close on Wednesday 21

December. Position descriptions are downloadable here: http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/our-people/employment.html 

You can help conserve our cockatoos by helping us to recruit the right people to do the good work.

Publications

Caring for our Country : outcomes 2008-2013

In its first five years (from July 2008 to June 2013), the Australian Government will invest $2.25 billion through Caring for our Country to secure improved strategic outcomes across six national priority areas:

• the National Reserve System » biodiversity and natural icons
• coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats
• sustainable farm practices » natural resource management in northern and remote Australia, and
• community skills, knowledge and engagement.

Caring for our Country will be delivered in partnership with regional natural resources management groups, local, state and territory governments, Indigenous groups, industry bodies, land managers, farmers, landcare groups and communities.
This document outlines the specific outcomes that Caring for our Country will deliver in its first five years of operation, and the potential strategies for achieving these outcomes.

The document places these outcomes in the context of 20 year projections of the results the Australian Government expects Caring for our Country to deliver in each of the six national priority areas.

Click here to download the document

Focus On

Dowerin Rose / Pear-fruited Mallee

(Eucalyptus pyriformis)
The large fruit on this mallee give it it’s common name, but this mallee is also famous for being the floral emblem for the Shire of Dowerin. Like many mallees, the abundant nectar is important for small mammals, birds and many insects.

Caeasia Gum

(Eucalyptus caesia)
Although it is now known as a common garden plant, this mallee was originally from scattered populations restricted only to granite outcrops. The abundant nectar and large pendulous flowers are excellent at attracting birds to your garden, while the curly ‘minni-richti’ bark  is an added attraction.