Worth Throwing Your Hat In

MERRIWA farmer Martin Nixon encourages local farmers to apply for the Hunter Local Land Services grants announced yesterday totalling $2.2 million.

Mr Nixon was successful in securing funding for a sustainable grazing management system on his 825 hectare property Merriwa Park.

Martin Nixon applied for a grant to establish sustainable grazing management on his Merriwa Park property.

“I applied for a grant for capital works which entailed some monitoring and fencing to better set up my farm to meet some of the goals I have,” said Mr Nixon.

“It was to improve ground cover, plant biodiversity and soil health through changing grazing and pasture management,” he said.

“It takes a bit of time to do the application, but it is worth doing,” he said.

“You’ve got to have clear goals and clear costings,” he said.

“It would have taken me ten to fifteen hours to cost that out, other people might not have to spend that much time; but I measured things out and got quotes from local people and articulating what your goals and objectives are in a way that meets the criteria that the funding is for,” he said.

“The vast majority of farmers are trying to leave the place better than they found it and that benefits the whole community with the flow on of plant biodiversity and soil health, well that benefits generations to come,” Martin Nixon said.

Brett Miners general manager of Hunter Local Land Services, said their staff were available to assist with applications.

“Applying for grants can be a daunting process, and we encourage land managers to contact our staff who are available and willing to assist landholders with applications,” said Mr Miners.

“We are offering a range of grants which build the capacity of landholders and communities; support the implementation of sustainable agriculture practices; and enhance native and riparian vegetation management,” he said.

“Landholders play a vital role in land management efforts; by working in partnership with them, we are improving land productivity while also protecting and enhancing native vegetation and habitat for threatened species across the Hunter,” Brett Miners said.

Grants are on offer to support eligible applicants to:

• enhance and protect native vegetation, biodiversity and habitat for threatened species;
• implement sustainable grazing and land management practices;
• revegetate and restore streambanks and riparian zones;
• build landholder and community capacity in natural resource management, and
• implement on-ground land management for Aboriginal cultural outcomes or provide capacity building and/or employment of Aboriginal land management teams.

Landholders, land managers, community groups and Aboriginal organisations can apply for grants to improve the sustainability and productivity of land in the region.

• Eligibility criteria and guidelines apply.
• Applications close on 16 September 2016.
• Some grant applications require assistance from Hunter Local Land Services staff before submitting.
• Requests for assistance must be lodged by September 2.

For more information: www.hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au or phone 1300 795 299.