These grants offer incentives to land managers for projects that protect and connect remnant patches of vegetation and/or enhance waterways and minor erosion gullies in Boorowa and Yass.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $2,000 to $28,000
- Application opened: 22 July 2022
- Application closed: 31 October 2022, 5:00 pm
Program objective
This project will improve health and connectivity in the landscape by planting the next generation of native trees and shrubs and protecting existing biodiversity values on private land.
By building connected corridors through our region we are providing a means for our most vulnerable species to move through the landscape and increase their resilience to the changing climate.
Connected, resilient environments lead to healthy and productive farms.
Planting native trees and protecting natural areas and waterways can provide numerous production benefits, including but not limited to
- providing shade for stock
- sheltering stock and soil from strong winds
- improving water quality
- encouraging native pollinators and species that provide natural insect control.
This program is funded and administered by Local Land Services.
Eligibility
Eligibility to apply for funding (applicants must meet all criteria)
- The project site is in the Hilltops (Boorowa) or Yass Valley Local Government Areas.
- I am willing to enter into a 10 year agreement with Local Land Services.
- All on-ground works previously funded by Local Land Services and/or Catchment Management Authorities are complete. If you have a project that is complete or will be completed by September 2022 and has not yet been inspected by an LLS officer please provide details.
- I am aware that Local Land Services will fund project materials at $7.50/m for fencing, $3.50/tubestock and/or as negotiated for direct seeding of trees/shrubs. $85 for individual paddock tree mesh guards. All of the labour costs are the landholder’s responsibility.
- Any new fences constructed for the project will be wildlife friendly fences with no barbed wire.
- Any new fences along waterways and erosion gullies will be 20m from the top of the bank.
- The project site is over 1ha and tree lanes are a minimum of 20m wide.
Who can apply
Landholders with a property size greater than 10 hectares in the Boorowa or Yass area and able to meet the eligibility criteria.
Types of projects funded under this grant
We are looking to partner with land managers who would like to enhance biodiversity values on their property. Eligible projects in order of priority are:
- Protecting and enhancing existing remnant areas by fencing to exclude stock and/or planting trees and shrubs to increase diversity.
- Rehabilitating creeks and minor/moderate erosion gullies by fencing and planting (earth works will not be funded in this project).
- Connecting existing remnant areas by fencing and planting large blocks of trees, tree lanes, clusters and/or paddock trees. This may include connecting to areas that aren’t on your property such as roadside vegetation and neighbouring remnants on public and private land.
What can’t you apply for
Funding for
- erosion control works
- boundary fences
- pasture improvement
- exotic tree or shrub species
- the labour component of the project.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Download the expression of interest (EOI) form:
The sections that need to be addressed include
- name
- property and postal addresses
- phone number
- ABN (if applicable)
- Lot/DPs.
View the Improved Biodiversity on the Tablelands Project on the Local Land Services website.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: The assessment panel makes funding recommendations, for the consideration and approval of the Decision Maker (Local Land Services, Local Manager with financial delegation). Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified.
Once EOIs have been received and processed a Local Land Services staff member will applicants to arrange a site visit.
Project proposals will be developed in consultation with South East Local Land Services staff. Final project proposals will be submitted to an assessment panel and reviewed against eligibility criteria and funding priorities considering:
- Environmental Services Ratio (ESR) calculator (from on-site assessment)
- project site design to ensure greatest value for money considering long term benefits
- the capability and experience of applicants and grantees
- any positive or negative impacts on Aboriginal cultural sites or artefacts
- any positive or negative impacts on Critically Endangered Ecological Communities (CEEC).
- consideration of the impacts of the Native Vegetation Regulatory Map and Native Vegetation Legislation on selection of project sites for funding (considering the longer-term protection of project sites from future clearing without a permit).
- overall project outputs and objectives are met.
Support and contact
Phone: 6385 1018
Email: melissa.henry@lls.nsw.gov.au
Postal Address: PO Box 49, Boorowa NSW 2586
Program evaluation
Evaluation of the Local Land Services (South East) Improved Biodiversity on the Tablelands Project 2022-2023
The Improved Biodiversity on the Tablelands Project was delivered in the 2022-2023 financial year in the Hilltops (Boorowa) and Yass Valley Local Government Areas.
The project funded 21 landholders to protect and plant native vegetation with the aim of enhancing the biodiversity and habitat values on their properties and improve connectivity across the landscape.
As part of this project 16,250 native tubestock plants were planted and 15kms of native direct seeding was undertaken. This will result in a total of 124ha of native terrestrial and riparian vegetation planted. To further improve connectivity in the landscape 137 individual paddock trees were planted.
In addition to this, 22ha of remnant native vegetation was fenced to protect these woodland sites from being over-grazed and to encourage natural regeneration of native fauna habitat. Riparian areas were protected from over-grazing by fencing 7235m of stream banks and establishing vegetation in these areas.
As well as achieving these tangible on-ground outcomes, this project has increased the capacity of participating landholders to protect and enhance their natural assets, leading to a more sustainable and productive landscape.