Projects funded by AIJF
Cattle Underpass Scheme
$3 million funding has been allocated for another round of the Cattle Underpass Scheme (CUPS). Under the scheme, farmers can apply for a grant to construct underpasses under local roads. Underpasses enable dairy and beef farmers to move stock safely and efficiently across their property without having to cross over roads.
Grants can meet up to a third of the cost of construction of an underpass, to a maximum of $50,0000. As with previous rounds of the program, the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) will administer the scheme. For further information on CUPS contact the VFF on 1300 882 833.
Macalister Irrigation Project
$20 million in funding has been devoted to the next stage of the Macalister Irrigation Project. The project will modernise the Southern Tinamba supply area within the Macalister Irrigation District. Approximately 85km of manually operated earthen irrigation channel will be converted to approximately 38km of pipe and 32km of automated channel. This will generate around 9,700 megalitres of water savings for agriculture, and 170 customers will be connected to a modernised water supply system.
Project Regeneration
The Victorian Government has committed up to $8.5 million towards GrainCorp's $85 million Project Regeneration. The AIJF funding will be used to upgrade rail sidings at six 'Primary' grain sites in regional Victoria. Improving grain train loading efficiency will speed up train turnaround and utilisation. Construction work has commenced at several sites with design work and approvals to be completed for all sites by mid-2017. The work will be coordinated with the Murray Basin Rail Project (MBRP) track standardisation works in order to minimise disruption to rail services.
