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4.1 Support for rural landowners4.1.1 Federal and State Government programs and initiatives

The National Landcare Program is a Federal Government initiative to address nationwide problems such as:

■ Loss of vegetation

■ Soil degradation

■ The introduction of pest weeds and animals

■ Changes in water quality and flows

■ Changes in fire regimes.

It is jointly administered by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Department of the Environment and Energy and includes a range of measures to support natural resource management and sustainable agriculture and to protect biodiversity.

Within the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Agriculture Victoria works with industry and on research, development and extension to improve production; connects the sector with international markets; supports industry development; and maintains effective biosecurity controls. Resources, such as technical guidance and data, are provided as well as direct assistance through grants, awards and workshops. For example, current opportunities include Food Innovation Voucher Stream; Food Source Victoria grants and scholarships; scholarships for young people (aged under 35 years).

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4.1.2 Hume City Council programs and initiatives

Council is committed to ensuring that the City’s natural heritage, environment and rural spaces are protected, enhanced, maintained and valued. Council supports and invests in a range of programs and projects that support the rural community to manage land sustainably, including:

■ field days and workshops ■ fauna monitoring ■ technical assistance, newsletters and other resources ■ the Conserving our Rural Environment grant program, and ■ the Agricultural Land Use Rebate (ALUR).

The Conserving our Rural Environment grant program aims to conserve and improve rural land and the natural environmental assets on private property. This is achieved by providing funding for on-ground environmental works, capacity-building activities and community engagement initiatives to landowners and environmental community groups. The eligibility criteria for these grants are:

■ Landowners with property larger than 0.4 hectares that is zoned: Green Wedge, Green Wedge A, Rural Living and Farming.

■ Landowners with property identified as conservation within the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy for Melbourne’s Growth Corridors and environmental community groups such as Landcare are also eligible to apply.

The Agricultural Land Use Rebate supports investment in sustainable agricultural land use and sustainable land management activities by providing approved rebate applicants with an annual discount on the general rate for eligible properties. This is available to owners of land greater than 2 hectares and utilising a minimum of 50% of land for agriculture. A review of the rebate program and eligibility criteria is in progress and expected to be finalised by end of 2018.

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4.1.3 Community/Landcare groups

Sunbury Landcare, Clarkefield and District Landcare, Upper Maribyrnong Landcare and more recently Riddells Creek Landcare are Landcare groups made up of local residents. These Landcare Groups undertake planting and weed control works on private properties. Some groups run field days and periodic workshops. Hume is committed to supporting these groups through the Conserving our Rural Environment grant program.

Hume is home to a number of Groups such as Friends of Emu Bottom and Holden Flora Reserve Groups, who undertake a range of environmental activities on public land including vegetation enhancement works and bird monitoring programs. The groups are supported through Council’s Urban Biodiversity Program.