Landcare and community groups in the Murray Local Land Services area are now able to apply for Billabong Yanco Community Grants totalling $120,000 to help care for the region’s natural environment and support sustainable agriculture.

Billabong Yanco Community grants of up to $10,000 are available for groups and individuals to bring communities together to promote a resilient, productive Billabong Yanco System, with healthy ecosystems and communities. The grants are part of the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme and managed locally by Murray Local Land Services — one of Australia’s 56 regional natural resource management organisations.

“This is a great opportunity for local communities to tackle important work aimed at addressing local natural resource management priorities,” Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt said.

“Through these Billabong Yanco Community grants communities are invited to deliver simple, local and long-term solutions to improve the health of their land and their local environment,” Mr Hunt said.

“It’s also pleasing to see that Australia’s 56 regional natural resource management organisations are directing more than 20 per cent of their National Landcare Programme funding to help support grant rounds such as these, as well as other local community engagement activities,” Mr Hunt said.

“The Australian Government is ensuring that funding is invested locally to deliver real change that is targeted on and off farm to safeguard productive capacity in the land for the future and to safeguard our environment,” Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce said.

“This is crucial because farmers, landcarers and community groups know what works best for their properties, environment and communities,” Mr Joyce said.

“It is also a key driver in delivering on the Australian Government’s commitment to support productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of Australia’s primary industries, and good management of natural resources,” Mr Joyce said.

“Murray Local Land Services has been working closely with local farmers, Indigenous people, Shire Councils, government agencies and other local residents to identify priorities and reach a shared understanding of the environmental and agricultural needs of the region,” Federal Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley said.

“The region is an outstanding part of the country and has amazing natural assets, productive landscapes and vibrant communities. By getting involved, Landcare groups, farmers and community organisations working in natural resource management can help ensure the grant programme is used to its maximum benefit, targeting local and regional priorities,” Ms Ley said.

The Australian Government is investing $1 billion to help support better natural resource management across Australia through the National Landcare Programme. This includes more than $450 million directed in regional funding through to Australia’s 56 natural resource management organisations.

For more information on this grant round and how to apply, please visit the Murray Local Land Services website at http://murray.lls.nsw.gov.au/

For more information go to www.nrm.gov.au