This joint initiative between South East Local Land Services and WaterNSW provides funding assistance to land managers for a range of land and water management practices within the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $5,000
- Application opened: 1 July 2022
- Application closed: 19 September 2022, 9:00 am
Program objective
- manage uncontrolled stock access to waterways
- encourage and maintain groundcover for soil stability and pollutant retention
- encourage and maintain diverse riparian vegetation
- control gully, stream bank and bed erosion processes.
This program is administered by Department of Regional NSW.
Eligibility
- Projects must be located on private land within the WaterNSW Sydney declared catchment area and South East Local Land Services (SELLS) operational area.
- Projects must demonstrate value for money and produce water quality benefit.
- In general, funding will only be provided to properties running a minimum of 20 head of cattle, 200 head of sheep or equivalent stock type/numbers.
- Landholders need to demonstrate adequate capacity and capability to meet all contractual obligations including required timeframes.
Who can apply
Private land holders within the Sydney Drinking Water Catchment.
Who can’t apply
- employees and board members of the SELLS and WaterNSW and their immediate relatives.
- public land managers (when applying on behalf of Public Lands).
Types of projects funded under this grant
- gully, creek or streamside fencing that enables the control of stock access to waterways
- permanent stock-proof fencing that enables management of stock, and either sub-divides large paddocks, or helps divide the property according to land capability
- erosion control works
- stock crossings (in conjunction with riparian fencing)
- alternative water (in conjunction with riparian fencing)
- revegetation (in conjunction with riparian fencing or erosion control).
What can’t you apply for
- work already underway or completed or proposed under other projects
- funding for boundary fences
- work required by reason of legal obligations being placed on the property or landholder
- commercial plantings
- overall property planning issues that are not connected with waterways or water quality
- work that could accelerate land degradation or water quality decline
- pasture or crop establishment or re-sowing
- temporary electric fencing
- weed or pest control
- fencing or other repair work that would normally be associated with existing landholder responsibilities or that has arisen from landholder not meeting maintenance requirements specified within a landholder contract
- where wilful damage or negligence has significantly contributed to the problem and someone can be held accountable.
Most recent recipients
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Applicants must meet criteria specific to their funding stream:
Erosion control practices
Funding is available for a range of on-ground works designed to control gully erosion and stream bed/bank erosion.
- Project activities may include soil conservation earthworks, streambed and bank protection works, fencing of vulnerable areas, and alternate stock water supply.
- Works are generally complemented with the regeneration of existing native vegetation and revegetation.
- Projects will be subject to an on-site assessment to determine eligibility.
- Minimum numbers of stock are required to be eligible for funding.
Riparian management practices
Funding is available for the provision of fencing materials, native trees and shrubs, alternate stock water, stock crossings and minor erosion control activities which will result in the protection and enhancement of native riparian areas.
- To be eligible for funding all projects must include waterway fencing that controls stock access with a minimum setback average of 10 metres from the top of the bank (this may be varied to deal with geographic constraints).
- Minimum numbers of stock are required for a project to be eligible for funding.
Grazing practices
Funding is available for the provision of permanent stock-proof fencing to manage land within its capability with the objective to maintain ground cover.
- Alternate stock water supplies will be funded where stock water access has been cut off.
- Each project must influence an area of at least 20 hectares of grazing land.
- Landholders must have demonstrated capacity to implement grazing management practices to promote long term pasture and soil health.
- Eligibility for funding must be demonstrated by completion of training in courses such as LANDSCANTM, PROGRAZETM, or equivalent, or successful participation and achievement in past incentive programs relevant to these objectives.
- Participants should also have a property management Plan or demonstrate their commitment to preparing such a plan. Properties which are not running stock are not eligible for funding.
- Minimum numbers of stock are required for a project to be eligible for funding.
Address the eligibility and assessment criteria
Eligibility for incentive projects will be considered based on:
- the landholder’s ability to meet any matching criteria for funding provided
- any training completed and/or plans prepared that may assist the landholder in overall property management
- the landholder’s ability to complete necessary works within an agreed time frame
- the landholder’s willingness to maintain and monitor project sites
- the value of the projects compared to water quality priorities.
South East Local Land Services is committed to the protection of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. All project applications are assessed to determine if a known (registered) Aboriginal site is in close proximity to the project site. In the instances where this occurs, South East Land Services Aboriginal officer will inspect the project site to ensure that the proposed activities do not impact on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.
Further information
South East Local Land Services will provide support to landholders in project development.
Landholders will be expected to enter into a 10-year management agreement and will be required to undertake agreed management activities relevant to the funding they receive.
All works associated with the project must be completed within an 18-month period.
Landowner co-contributions for riparian and grazing projects are expected to match the level of public investment through a cash or labour contribution.
Support and contact
Phone: 0429 071 626