Media Release - Tara Moriarty - Record Funding To Support Landcare And Deliver On Ground Landcare Projects

Tara Moriarty, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Regional New South Wales, Minister for Western New South Wales

Friday, 9 February 2024

The NSW Government has reached a major milestone on an election commitment, allocating funding for 83 full-time equivalent local and regional Landcare coordinators and support staff through its $59 million NSW Landcare Enabling Program 2023-2027.

Following a competitive grant and assessment process, 16 Landcare groups based across NSW were successful in receiving funding for coordinators and support staff.

The aim of the regional and local Landcare coordinators is to deliver and support on-ground projects specific to the needs of the local natural environmental and agricultural systems.

In addition to the delivery of on-ground projects, the local and regional coordinators will deliver on a number of other priorities, including:

• strengthening the capacity of Landcarers which will result in effective, efficient support to landcarer volunteers, farmers and the community

• ensuring effective collaboration and partnerships between Landcare groups, Local Land Services, other government agencies and Landcare NSW

• leveraging funding opportunities to maximise socio-economic and environmental outcomes.

As part of the funding, each local and regional coordinator can also access up to $5,000 to undertake professional development over the course of the four year program.

For more information about the current funding opportunity and the NSW Landcare Enabling Program, visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au/landcare-program.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

It gives me great pleasure to announce the successful applicants from this major funding opportunity.

There was strong interest in the funding opportunity and the NSW Landcare Enabling Program more broadly, so its great to have such engagement from our Landcare community.

I am also very pleased that the Landcare community have worked together on region wide applications in many cases. This will support better outcomes for the Landcare community.

By providing this funding, our coordinators will have more time to focus on improved facilitation and delivery of on-ground projects that care for our environment and boost agricultural productivity.

For the first time, support staff roles were also included and we know that was important to provide additional support with administrative tasks, allowing coordinators to focus on the delivery of on-ground projects.

Full list of grant recipients:

• Central West Lachlan Landcare Inc.

• North West Regional Landcarers Inc.

• South East Landcare Inc.

• Greater Sydney Landcare Network Incorporated.

• West Hume Landcare Inc.

• Holbrook Landcare Group Ltd.

• Western Landcare NSW Inc.

• Western Murray Land Improvement Group.

• New England Landcare Network, Inc.

• Corowa District Landcare Inc.

• Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare Connection Inc.

• Hunter Region Landcare Network Inc.

• Ricegrowers' Association Of Australia Inc.

• North Coast Regional Landcare Network (NSW).

• Watershed Landcare Group Incorporated.

• Murrumbidgee Landcare Association Incorporated.

MEDIA: Alastair Walton | Minister Moriarty | 0418 251 229

02 7225 6120 52 Martin Place Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 5341 Sydney NSW 2001 2