Deadline: 1-Aug-22
The North East Catchment Management Authority is pleased to announce the Soil Health Community Grants to increase awareness and adoption of land management practices that improve and protect the condition of soil, biodiversity and vegetation in the region.
Priorities are for projects that promote awareness and adoption of on-farm management practices that contribute to managing acid soils, hillslope and gully erosion and groundcover management in North East Victoria.
Funding Information
This project is supported by North East CMA, through funding from the Australian Government. Two grants of up to $7,500 (ex GST) each are available.
What is the CMA looking to fund?
The North East CMA is looking for projects that promote community awareness and support improvement in on-farm management practices to improve soil condition, focusing on reducing soil acidity (primary objective) and hillslope and gully erosion in North East Victoria. Each community project will deliver a training workshop on soil acidification issues and may incorporate other engagement events and activities such as field days and demonstrations. Community projects could test the viability and application of new farming practices, techniques and/or technology to help address the issue of soil pH and soil erosion. They could demonstrate and share knowledge of practices, innovations, new science or simply test potential solutions to addressing these problems.
The priority activities the project is seeking to fund include:
- At least one training workshop focusing on soil pH and erosion issues and management
- Training, field day and demonstration activities that reach a large number of land managers to promote soil acidity awareness and on-farm practice change
- Proposals that produce communication materials and use a range of media including social media to promote awareness and encourage participation in their activities
- Proposed that can be completed within the available time period (up to 11 months)
Eligibility Criteria
Landcare, industry and other community groups within the North East CMA area can apply. Where a proposed project/ activity will involve activities on private land, the land manager/s must demonstrate their support for the project by signing the EOI form.
Eligibility and Project Conditions
Applications can come from existing groups of more than 10 landholders, for example Landcare groups, BetterBeef groups, BestWool/ BestLamb groups, Dairy groups, Ecological farming groups or other farming industry groups.
To be eligible for funding under the Soil Health Community Grants program applicants must be willing to:
- Comply with project conditions, including Work Health and Safety Requirements
- Complete all project activities by end of May 2023 or by agreed dates
- Commit to developing a project plan with the project officer and providing written quarterly updates on project activities and achievements, along with the evidence of activity delivery as required in the attached Evidence Guide for Project Services. Specifically, photos, participant’s lists, agendas, evaluations or presentations (as applicable) will be required for each event.
- Support project communications and liaison with the CMA in developing products and ensuring compliance with publication requirements
- Provide a brief final report at the end of their project outlining: activities undertaken, results achieved, lessons learned, identifying project participants/ partners and the longer-term project sustainability.
- The proposed activities must meet the objective of the program and be within the North East CMA’s area of operation.
- For projects including works – the applying group and host farmer/s are responsible for coordinating the site set-up including any on-ground work such as fertiliser application, pasture or crop establishment etc.
- Applicants must have access or other appropriate rights over any proposed project site. A community group must provide evidence that they have the written support from the land manager to undertake the proposed activities (land manager to sign EOI form).
- The proposed project activities must not be subject to funding for the same activities from the CMA or another funding source or partner, however complementary funding from other sources is acceptable and encouraged.
- Applicants must have complied with the conditions of any previous grants from the North East CMA.
- Activities d eemed by the North East CMA to be largely for private benefit will not be funded.
For more information, visit https://www.necma.vic.gov.au/Projects/Current-projects/Securing-North-East-Soils/2022-23-Soil-Health-Community-Grants