New funding available for Sustainable Practices in the Avon

The National Landcare Programme funding round 'Sustainable Practices' has just opened, providing opportunties for community groups, landcare groups and production groups to apply for funding. The funding targets the adoption of sustainable management practices by Australian primary producers to achieve its goal of a profitable and resilient primary production sector. NLP investment seeks public benefit outcomes and treating NRM issues at their source, rather than off-site, continues to be a key objective.

NLP Sustainable Practices will fund activites that are consistent with priorities in the Avon NRM Strategy. NLP Sustainable Practices will fund larger scale, strategic on-ground activities that allow for participation by landcare and industry groups with the capacity to undertake larger projects.

The following areas of activity define the scope of the NLP investment:

• encouraging engagement of primary industry and the wider community in landcare and NRM activities at local, regional and national levels;
• assisting on-ground implementation of projects that contribute to NLP outcomes;
• encouraging innovation, including greater links with science, and recognising or promoting success;
• raising awareness and knowledge of improved NRM practices;
• facilitating communication, particularly between the landcare community and government;
• maintaining the landcare ethic of caring for land, water and biodiversity

Applications for funding must be submitted to the Avon Catchment Council by COB 25 February 2008. For more information, to discuss project ideas or, for a copy of the Sustainable Practices Guidelines, contact Rochelle Pyle, Regional Landcare Coordinator on (08) 9690 2250 or rpyle@agric.wa.gov.au.