Applications are still open for grazing
2009/10
What is it?
Reef Rescue is $200 million five-year, Australian Government
initiative to improve water quality entering the Great Barrier
Reef lagoon. It includes a $146 million Water Quality Grants Scheme
for innovation in land management.
What’s it aiming to achieve?
The goal of the Reef Rescue program is to improve the quality of
runoff entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. It aims to do
this by increasing the adoption of land management practices that
reduce the runoff of nutrients, pesticides and sediments from
agricultural land. The Reef Rescue grazing sub-program for the
Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM region aims to reduce the amount of
sediment leaving grazing lands by providing financial incentives to
implement changes in:
- implementing water quality best
management practices for grazing; and
- implementing management techniques
to improve the health and structure of soil, and control
erosion.
How does it work?
Graziers are encouraged to adopt industry-endorsed best
management practices. These practices are listed in "Managing for water quality within
grazing lands of the Burdekin Catchment- guidelines for
graziers". Technical and financial support is provided to
graziers to assist in adopting these management practices.
To access grants, graziers will be required to undertake and
complete an industry-endorsed program that for graziers will
include grazing land management, grazing for profit and/or other
recognised grazing industry training programs.
What can the grants fund?
In the grazing industry, financial
grants will be available to implement changes in:
-
grazing management in upland country
– fencing and strategic watering points to improve grazing
practices aimed at increasing ground cover to reduce sediment
runoff in upland country; and
-
reducing gully erosion- strategic
remediation of gullies and eroded country.
Who can access the grants?
Grants are available to all graziers within the target
catchments who wish to implement an on-property practice change
that will improve water quality leaving their property. This
includes individual graziers and groups of graziers. On-ground
incentives will be available for graziers from the following
sub-catchments of the region: Burdekin River (above the
dam), Burdekin River (Blue Range), Bowen River, Broken River, Bogie
River, Little Bowen River, Pelican Creek, Burdekin River (below the
dam). Information on these sub-catchments is
available in our Catchment Atlas.
Grants are available for one or more practice improvements. The
grants are a one-off incentive and not an ongoing subsidy - grant
payments for a particular practice change will only be made once
per property.
How much is each grant?
The exact amount an applicant might request and receive depends
on what they plan to do, and the water quality improvements that
result.
Successful applicants are expected to provide a matching
contribution equivalent to the dollar value of the grant. The
matching contributions can be a combination of cash and/or in-kind.
In-kind can include: grazier time to undertake the project,
equipment and machinery use, salaries of staff involved directly in
the project, etc. Where a project might result in a significant
private benefit, the applicant will be expected to provide a
contribution that reflects that benefit. Projects seeking more than
$30,000 in grants funding must contribute 25 per cent of their
in-kind as a cash amount.
When does it start?
Expressions of interest are now open for grazing. Phone one of
the listed contacts to confirm that your property is within the
priority subcatchment and to receive an application form.
How long does a grazier have to complete the funded
activities?
The completion date for projects will vary according to project
size. Projects must be completed by 30th November 2010.
What things can’t be funded?
There are a number of things that are excluded. These are mainly
to do with activities that are part of normal farming operations,
or a grazier’s legal responsibility. This includes
activities that are required by law, such as managing and
controlling certain weeds or pests and the establishment of plants
that are known to be, or could become, environmental weeds.
Who’s involved?
Delivery of the grants scheme is a partnership between NQ Dry
Tropics, AgForce, Greening Australia and Queensland Primary
Industries and Fisheries.
