COMMUNITY groups have been awarded grants to help protect their farms and local environment from the threat of weeds and pest.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence awarded grants, worth $500,000 in total, to 16 organisations in the state for the Partnership Against Pests Program.
The program aimed to deliver industry and community-led actions that target weeds and pests in key agricultural areas.
Established weeds and pest animals damage landscapes, impact agricultural production, are a risk to international market access and damage culturally sensitive sites.
The government said the pests were are estimated to cost Victorian farmers $869 million per year in management and lost production costs.
Projects being funded aimed to improve local knowledge and capability, and encourage collective efforts to manage local established weeds and pests.
Buloke & Northern Grampians Landcare Network received $37,500 to partner with a range of stakeholders to increase awareness of weeds and pests in the district, including a program for Year 9 students and mapping the extent of specific species using online tools.
The group will develop management plans, and deliver a series of educational community displays, forums, workshops and publications.
The government said $250,000 had already been awarded through the partnership program to support the work of Victoria’s four community pest management groups – the Victorian Rabbit Action Network, the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce, the Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party and the Victorian Gorse Taskforce.
“Weeds and pests threaten our agriculture industries, environment and communities,” Ms Spence said.
“It’s crucial we empower people to identify, develop and deliver projects that will protect their communities from these threats.
“The grants will support communities to reduce the impacts of established weeds and pests though local action, and by bringing together all the local players to achieve sustainable, long-term changes.”
More information about the Partnership Against Pests Grants Program, including a full list of round 2 grant recipients, is at agriculture.vic.gov.au
