Projects funded in rounds 2, 3 and 4

Everybody Needs Good Neighbours – engaging local community to manage weeds

Arawata Landcare Group

This project is designed to provide Landcare members with information, skills and tools to take positive action against weeds by building relationships with each other and their neighbours. The grant will enable the group to engage professional weed management advice, guidance and practical demonstrations for members to knock on their neighbours'’door and ask if they need help to manage their weeds. The project will create better access to management tools for landholders, making it easier for people to get their projects underway, supported by a safety and induction process for borrowers.

$27,449.00

2 years

Rabbit Sweep - Rabbit Control Capacity and Capability on the Bellarine

Bellarine Landcare Group

The Rabbit Sweep project is a principled, long-term project about increasing land managers’ capability and capacity to control rabbits. The project strengthens the role for Landcare and embeds processes, procedures and practices in a sustainable model to align with community participants. The funding will facilitate a ‘hub and spoke’ model to help build at least 25 neighbourhood clusters each with approximately 5 land managers. This innovative engagement technique will drive an efficient, flexible, scalable and sustainable approach for connecting land managers to support, expertise, information, contractors and volunteers.

$50,000.00

2 years

Black Range resilient biodiversity through inspired community action on pests

Black Range Land Management Group

The project will increase landholders’ capacity to manage pest plants and animals with a variety of complementary methods appropriate to conservation focused land management. The funding will help building awareness and knowledge of non-chemical methods of weed control suited to sensitive biodiverse environments and train landholders in vertebrate pest control approaches. The project focuses on strengthening partnerships with Traditional Owners in caring for Country, Parks Victoria in coordinating management of land comprising both Public Reserves and other relevant stakeholders.

$18,041.00

1 year

Upper Lerderderg Catchment Weed Mapping and Prioritisation Project

Blackwood & Barrys Reef Landcare Group

The project aims to bring a range of land managers in the area together to prepare a comprehensive weed management plan for the upper Lerderderg catchment and, to encourage greater coordination across the work being undertaken. The plan will include detailed mapping of weed infestation type, location, size, density and terrain. The plan and engagement with community will identify priority areas for future work, with active engagement techniques including environmental art workshop encouraging local community involvement. Landcare and community members will also be offered training to support the project work and to use as an ongoing skill.

$48,826.00

1 year

A Community Approach – Peri Urban Rabbit Control in Chiltern Township

Chiltern Landcare Group

This project has been designed following a community rabbit control information session. The project aims to educate land managers and develop a coordinated town plan to reduce rabbit numbers and activity in the long term. The project includes a one-day VRAN workshop focused on managing rabbits in an urban and peri urban landscape. In addition, the Group will host a session to demonstrate how to successfully construct exclusion fencing. This activity at the demonstration site will be developed and facilitated by VRAN, with VRAN also supporting the newly formed Rabbit Control Working Group to drive community action.

$10,570.00

1 year

Proactive Progress against Pests in Central Victoria

Connecting Country

The project focuses on land management knowledge gaps in the community through changes in landownership. To provide technical advice and training the project will deliver a VRAN rabbit management field day to be supplemented by agricultural chemical course for committed landowners. The funding will also deliver a cultural awareness presentation and field day as the community has displayed a strong desire to connect with traditional owner groups. The field day is designed to provide an insight into DJAARA’s key strategies for healing country, Dhelkanya Dja and Galk-galk Dhelkanya through an interactive learning experience.

$22,935.00

1 year

Pests in Focus – Educating East Gippsland at the Field Days

East Gippsland Landcare Network

The project will deliver 2 years of highly educational pest plant and animal awareness activities. The funding will be used to create engaging educational exhibits, deliver expert advice on best practice management options and interactive displays on key weeds and pest animals affecting East Gippsland. The project will aim for behaviour change in landholders and the wider community through education and engagement. Each year will build on the last using participant feedback and strengthening connections between the community and regional pest management efforts. The project will create and refine new and existing educational materials and establish a portfolio of resources, for broader distribution and use beyond the event.

$33,970.00

2 years

Scaling Solutions – Strengthening African Lovegrass Control

Gippsland Agricultural Group

Building on previous work the 2-year project will build community capacity and strengthen partnerships through the introduction of new techniques, establishment additional paddock-scale sites and by enhancing the practical capacity of local land managers. A new capital investment in a wick wiper will be made available to the local community on a cost-recovery basis to aid landowners with African lovegrass management supported by landholder education through field days, resources, and demonstration events. The funding aims to bring stakeholders by facilitating a cross-agency Significant Weeds Alliance for regional coordination and planning.

$46,750.00

2 years

Busting Blackberries, Phase 2: Building Community Collaboration and Action

Kiewa Catchment Landcare Group

The project has been developed to build on the education-targeted Round 3, KCLG Busting Blackberries project. It aims to build long-term community collaboration to support a landscape approach to blackberry control across the Kiewa Catchment. Learnings from previous projects and community meetings will guide the project strategy and inform delivery. The group have partnered with the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce and the North East CMA to promote opportunities to work in collaboration such as on Good Neighbour Projects and in sensitive areas including riparian zones. The funding and activities are supported by financial support from the CMA for landholders to deliver on ground action.

$45,450.00

2 years

Lalbert Landcare aim for collaborative pest management & biodiversity leadership

Lalbert Landcare Group

The project will build pest management capabilities across the landscape by hosting a Victorian Rabbit Action Network-led workshop and the development of a Rabbit Management Action Plan tailored to the South East Mallee and Eastern Mallee Landcare Networks. Landcare members who hold a current Agricultural Chemical Users Permit will complete training in the Use of 1080 and PAPP bait products. This training will ensure a qualified, skilled base of local leaders and will be supported by the purchase of a bait-laying cart, that will be shared among the 13 Landcare groups across both networks.

$17,163.75

1 year

‘From Plans to Practice: Tackling Weeds and Pests Together’

Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network

This project looks to translate the Weed and Pest Strategy created in previous rounds of funding into local action. The funding will deliver a series of visible, place-based demonstration sites showcasing best-practice control methods for priority weeds and pests, supported by modern tools such as camera traps, drone footage, and digital mapping. The project will strengthen the capacity of Landcare groups to lead peer-to-peer education, monitoring, and community engagement. Targeted outreach, including media campaigns, field days, and signage, aim to engage disengaged or new landholders, many of whom may lack the knowledge or confidence to act.

$50,000.00

1 year

Capacity, Capability and Strategic Planning in the Millewa

Millewa – Carwarp Landcare Group

The project aims to build community capacity, strengthen partnerships and grow and maintain member involvement in cooperative rabbit management. In 2019 the Group funded a Millewa–Carwarp Landcare Rabbit Control Program 2014–2019 Resource Booklet. The new project would see the continued rabbit management data from 2020 to 2025 used to update the Program Resource Booklet and make it available to the broader community as a reference. In addition, the group will partner with the Victorian Rabbit Action Network to hold several field days to build community capacity in best practice rabbit management.

$36,300.00

2 years

Holistic Pest Management Of The Mitta 2 Murray Area Continues

Mitta 2 Murray Landcare Network

The project will meet the program objectives by delivering events that focus on education to boost community awareness and technical knowledge in relation to best practice methods for pest plant and animal management. The group will run a pavilion at the Tallangatta expo by collaborating with a range of stakeholders to boost the knowledge and skills of community as well as providing opportunities to lead current and future activities. The main strategic plan of the project will occur around the Mitta Mitta township rabbit program, with multiple educational events to support local action.

$50,000.00

1 year

Equipment and Capacity-Building for Wheel Cactus Injection at Mt Korong

Mt Korong Eco-Watch Association

This project will focus on strengthening partnerships with government agencies and community and raising awareness of Wheel Cactus and how to control it. The group will partner with Parks Victoria and Loddon Plains Landcare Network to deliver a capacity-building workshop for participants to learn about best practice management and use of cactus injectors. Multiple field days over the 2 years of the project will increase the community’s ability to control wheel cactus as well as conducting mapping of the infestations in the area.

$11,394.62

2 years

Targeted Tools for Sustainable Rabbit and Weed Management in Rural Victoria

Murrayville Landcare Group

This project addresses the growing impact of rabbits and wheel cactus infestations on agricultural land and native vegetation in the region. The project aims to equip the local farming community with modern tools to manage invasive species more effectively, with the tools improving the precision, efficiency, and safety of pest control efforts. This will be supported by a workshop with a local pest control contractor to present and demonstrate best practice management for the most effective methods to use in Murrayville area.

$14,567.20

1 year

Bendigo Rabbit and Weeds Community Action

Nature Network Bendigo

The project aims to build the capacity of property owners and Landcare volunteers in the Greater Bendigo community to manage pest plants and animals on urban and peri-urban properties through a community awareness and engagement campaign. The campaign will include on-ground, in-person education and discussion, distribution of reference material and action plans. The group will deliver 3 farm-walk type events that are collaboratively designed and led by the Nature Network facilitator, property hosts and technical experts. Participants will be provided with information packs with reference materials to support learning.

$27,400.00

1 year

Enhancing community Fox control capacity for Watsons Creek Catchment

Nillumbik Landcare Network

The group aims to deliver a community awareness and education project on Fox Management in the Watsons Creek Catchment; a trial initiative that builds on existing community capacity and local knowledge. The funding will enhance current pest management efforts, strengthening partnerships with a range of stakeholders and increasing community capacity by empowering residents and other community groups with the knowledge and skills to undertake of best practice fox management effectively, in the long-term. In addition to workshops on mapping and evaluation, the community will receive formal training on chemical and 1080 use.

$49,597.99

2 years

Multi Farm Community Rabbit Management Action Program

Nulla Vale Pyalong West Landcare Group

The focus of the project is rabbit control, through building community collaboration and encouraging action. The funding will be focused into 3 areas. Practical skill building in key areas of rabbit management, a capital project giving farmers the ability to manage rabbits at the best times of the year and an evaluation component. The evaluation will involve data collection from the start of the project, a real time assessment of effectiveness of strategies by each farm and a program case study report to be written at the conclusion of the 2 years.

$49,950.00

2 years

Saving Species: For Landholders & Farmers – Invasive Species Management module

Odonata Foundation

Odonata is developing a course to equip landholders with the knowledge, tools and confidence to implement on-ground threatened species recovery and ecosystem restoration, while boosting agricultural productivity. The PAP funding will support the invasive species management module design. This module will include a comprehensive resource document and be backed by tools, articles, papers, videos and other resources. The structured yet flexible platform will allow landholders, farmers, Traditional Owners and conservation practitioners to develop comprehensive plans to manage established weeds and pest animals on their properties.

$28,000.00

2 years

Supporting volunteers to guarantee Grampians Ark continual fox control

Panyyabyr Landcare Group

The project aims to support community to achieve the knowledge and skills needed to join the established landscape scale Grampians Ark Fox Control Program post Grampians Bushfires in 2024–25. The funding will provide formal chemical and 1080 use training to build the capability of Landcare members to manage foxes at a landscape scale. The project will strengthen partnerships with a range of stakeholders across Parks Victoria, Birdlife Australia and Glenelg Hopkins CMA to protect both agricultural and biodiversity values.

$14,922.00

1 year

Grow the community, grow the capacity

South Gippsland Landcare Network

This project addresses key invasive species in South Gippsland, including rabbits, foxes, blackberry, ragwort and thistle – serious threats to agriculture and biodiversity. The innovative and integrated community-led approach will build on momentum from previous Partnerships Against Pests rounds. The strategy begins with broad community outreach at large public events, followed by targeted workshops designed to deepen knowledge, encourage peer learning, and promote long-term action. The funding will help introduce digital mapping and planning tools to empower landholders to create property-specific weed management plans, enabling more strategic, effective and trackable control efforts.

$49,850.00

1 year

Rooted in Resilience, Collaborative Solutions for Blackberry and Gorse

Up2Us Landcare Alliance

Through a focus on both Landcare professionals and community members, Up2Us will deliver a strategic landscape-scale approach to weed management focussing on leadership and a community of practice to drives long-term change. The funding will deliver a region-wide project to address the ongoing challenge of gorse and blackberry. The project will be delivered in 2 stages. Stage One to focus on building the skills of Landcare professionals and understanding the motivations of the landholders. Stage Two puts this knowledge into practice, with Landcare professionals delivering 4 community workshops using the nature-led resilience approach.

$50,000.00

2 years

Enhancing Community and Land Management Co-ordination for pest management

Upper Glenelg Landcare Network

The project will bring local Landcare groups together through engaging events to foster broader community participation. Starting with 4 Landcare groups, the project will refine a coordinated approach, then strategically expand across the entire network, ensuring a robust, scalable model for fox control. This funding will significantly enhance community capabilities with land managers gaining practical skills and essential knowledge in best practice management. The activities will be supported by formal chemical use training to broaden control methods available to land managers and increase the effectiveness of their efforts.

$38,500.00

2 years

Community engagement in best practice blackberry management and control methods

Upper Murray Landcare Network

Created from discussions with the North East Blackberry Action Group and local community the project aims to identify and respond to knowledge gaps in a changing demographic of landowners. The project will deliver field days, training sessions and workshops across the Upper Murray area to build community capacity and capability in blackberry management. Partnerships with the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce and HVP Plantations will strengthen project delivery with representatives on the project steering committee.

$38,100.00

1 year

WPCLN preparing community to implement best method action against pests!

Western Port Catchment Landcare Network

This project will continue the work WPCLN have done to date with the Partnerships Against Pest grants. By setting up members and stakeholders to advocate and raise awareness, the project will strategically align, plan, manage and implement an array of pest management activities across the catchment. The project will further develop the strategic planning conducted in Round 3 and progress it to an active implementation plan to ensure sustained future actions within the community. The funding will provide best-practice management education activities with VRAN as well as formal training opportunities on chemical use.

$37,976.00

1 year

Innovate and eradicate; Community action meets smarter solutions in the Wodonga region

Wodonga Urban Landcare Network

The projects aim is to educate and empower the community to undertake best practice, coordinated and collaborative management at a landscape scale across land tenures. Through a focus on workshops that deliver both innovative and applied content, alongside the purchase of demonstration equipment, this project will equip participants with skills and tools for proactive pest species management, building on the success of our workshop series conducted in Round 3. The group will also produce a pest management plan template to be implemented at a local level during and beyond the grant period.

$49,930.00

2 years

Partnership Against Pests Workshops and Seminars

Yarra Valley ECOSS

This project aims to increase community-led capacity to manage established invasive species. Through 2 targeted seminars and 4 community workshops local landowners, farmers, Landcare members, environmental groups, and Traditional Owner representatives will gain access to expert knowledge and practical tools. These events will build participants’ skills in strategic planning, risk management, and implementation of pest control strategies. Workshops will focus on collaborative learning and leave participants with property-specific action plans and practical resources. Expert facilitators will present the latest management techniques, promoting innovative and informed approaches across the region.

$10,000.00

1 year

Blackberry management in the Yarra Valley

Agribusiness Yarra Valley

The project aims to raise awareness and promote active blackberry management among land managers in the Yarra Valley. This will be achieved through a series of field days, workshops and webinars. The project will target high-priority conservation areas and areas of high value horticultural production along the Wandin Yallock, Olinda and Stringybark creeks in Silvan, and the Stringybark Creek in Gruyere and Yering. Through partnering with the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce, the group hope to improve land productivity, restore biodiversity, and reduce biosecurity risks.

$42,500

2 years

Weeds of the Bellarine Peninsula and surrounds

Bellarine Catchment Network

This project aims to increase the capacity and awareness of weed control in the community, and help coordinate collaborative efforts that are best practice, targeted and culturally sensitive. The group will create an A6 'Weeds of the Bellarine Peninsula and Surrounds' booklet that covers the Bellarine Peninsula, Geelong, Surfcoast and Otways region. A project group will be created featuring local experts, taskforces, volunteer groups, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners, councils and land managers to build a repository of knowledge and expertise.

$40,400

1 year

Cathedral weeds and feral pests project

Cathedral Landcare Group

The project aims to empower local landowners to manage pest plants and animals themselves, using efficient, effective and best practice techniques. The group will engage a Blackberry and Rabbit Action Project Officer to support local landowners by providing technical advice and information, raising awareness, and promoting best practice management through field days and workshops. The group will also hold an ArcGIS mapping training event for landowners.

$20,039

1 year

Removing feral pigs from our landscapes with science and collaboration

Conservation Ecology Centre

The project aims to reduce the impact of feral pigs by producing communication materials educating the public on the feral pig problem, how they can help, and best-practice management strategies. The group will produce videos of feral pig case studies, featuring environmental/social/economic impacts and management regimes. The project will establish partnerships with landholders adjoining the Great Otway National Park and Otway Forest Park, furthering the on-ground objectives of Parks Victoria and DEECA through increased community participation in reporting and enabling cross-tenure actions.

$44,500

2 years

Feral rabbit eradication for the Dandenong Ranges

Feral Rabbit Group - Emerald

The project will build on community led engagement on rabbit control by implementing a community awareness campaign across approximately 60,000 people in Dandenong Ranges including a mailout to all residents about collective action on rabbits. 10 local community champions will boost community capacity by engaging with their community on rabbit management. The project will deliver community forums, facilitate the local delivery of a VRAN bootcamp and develop a management plan for on ground works for 2025-2027 with council and other relevant stakeholders.

$35,000

1 year

Enhancing community group and land management coordination for fox management

Friends of Truganina Wetlands

Within Melbourne’s inner west, the project seeks to reduce predation harm caused by the foxes on wildlife populations and backyard poultry flocks. The group aims to enhance the effectiveness of fox management efforts by providing more frequent monitoring of high-value conservation areas and establish a ‘community of practice’ in the western suburbs for fox management. The project will also provide backyard chicken owners with an effective, appropriate, non-lethal means to reduce chicken losses.

$40,695

1 year

Resilience thinking in managing pest plants and animals – now and into the future

Gecko CLaN Landcare Network

This project will deliver a full day invasive species forum, establishing a local invasive species working taskforce and identifying priority areas for control. The forum will create a collaborative space for stakeholders to discuss their knowledge of pest plants and animals, learn about best practice control methods, and generate a community action plan. Through these activities the group will achieve increased community capacity and cohesiveness to improve long term weed and pest animal management in the region.

$40,300

2 years

Busting blackberries – building awareness in the Kiewa Catchment

Kiewa Catchment Landcare Group

The project aims to raise awareness and build community capacity in best practice Blackberry control in the Kiewa Catchment. The group will deliver educational events and engage with a range of industry experts from Agriculture Victoria, Soil Land Food, Rotor Solutions, David Hillhorst, VRAN, and VBT. These events will be open to everyone in the Kiewa Catchment, with an emphasis on engaging those new to land management. They will also include demonstrations from local contractors of techniques and technologies.

$50,000

1 year

Advancing Landcare partnerships for effective pests and weeds knowledge

Landcare Victoria

The project will produce capacity building activities and resources for Landcare organisations and make them readily available across Victoria.  The group will develop collaborative partnerships and deliver training sessions with community group leaders and key employees around risk management, leadership and group facilitation skills. Online events for community, a workshop at the Victoria Landcare Annual Forum and a bus tour to visit a demonstration site will allow the group to meet the awareness raising and community capacity building objectives of the program.

$50,000

2 years

2025 Latrobe weeds and pests community awareness and capacity building project

Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network

This project aims to increase public awareness, interest and participation in weed and pest animal monitoring, reporting and control activities across the Network and provide Landcare groups and land management agencies with much needed support. A part-time Project Officer will help drive coordinated public education and awareness activities including the formation of Communities of Practice, delivery of technology showcase workshops and develop Latrobe region’s Invasive Weed and Pest Animal Strategy. After the success of the PAP funded 2024 forum, the group will also organise the 2025 Regional Multi-stakeholder Weed and Pest forum.

$49,985

1 year

A thoughtful approach to controlling pest plants and animals

Maffra and District Landcare Network

The Maffra & District Landcare Network aims to provide landowners with a new perspective on pest plants and animals. The project will engage a soil scientist with specialised knowledge in holistic land management. This approach to improve the health of soils and pastures and create conditions less favourable for weeds will be delivered through a series of videos. The group will then host a launch event / field day and promote the video via an advertising campaign.

$21,366

1 year

The weeds of the Western Port Coast

Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation

The focus of this project is to raise awareness and provide best practice management information for unfamiliar weeds in difficult to reach areas. The group aims to achieve this by convening 2 public forums focussing on the weeds of the Western Port coast and by producing and distributing simple, easy to use guides on weed identification and reporting. The organisation’s aim is to bring community groups and government agencies together through partnerships with local council and Landcare networks.

$36,301

1 year

Adopting best practice weed management for Mudgegonga and District landholders

Mudgegonga and District Landcare

The group aims to increase knowledge of new landholders to enable them to meet the challenges of new weeds threatening agriculture in the district such as Chilean Needle Grass and African Love Grass. The project will engage speakers to deliver on-farm advice and demonstrations to bring landholders up to date on the latest techniques and technology for established invasive species management. These initiatives will support funding secured by the group to coordinate AgVet Chemical User courses for new and current holders.

$11,400

2 years

Applying technology to tackle invasive pest plants

Parklands Albury Wodonga Limited

This project targets blackberry, African lovegrass, black willow and whiskey grass. The group will conduct demonstration days for each target species to raise awareness and educate on species identification. The project will upskill members of the community in drone use and drone mapping. The group will map via drone the extent of willow infestations along sections of the Kiewa River and share the data with local agencies.

$25,000

2 years

Guarding Gariwerd round 2: Empowering community to control priority pests

Project Platypus Association

The second year of the Project Platypus project (launched in 2024 via the Round 2 PAP program) will continue to build on the partnerships established in year 1. The group will highlight education through subsidised chemical user training opportunities, vehicle hygiene workshops and by nominating local champions to attend a VRAN rabbit bootcamp. By fostering a network of trained and certified leaders, the group aims to lead local efforts, advocate for best-practice biosecurity management, and contribute to long-term pest management strategies across the Gariwerd and Wimmera regions.

$50,000

1 year

Community led rabbit, fox and weed control across South Gippsland

South Gippsland Landcare Network

This project aims to reach a broad cross section of the community. The project will build capacity and capability in management of blackberry, ragwort, thistle and pest animals through collaboration with VRAN on a Rabbit control bootcamp and established invasive species control workshops. The group will raise awareness throughout the district through a citizen science campaign using the latest in monitoring and recording technologies and circulating information packs to new landholders developed in collaboration with partners.

$49,979

1 year

Collaborative change through education on invasive species

Swamps Rivers and Ranges

This project delivered in collaboration with the Ovens Landcare Network aims to educate peri-urban landowners about the importance of managing invasive species and build their skills and knowledge in best practice management. It will deliver resources to encourage neighbours and communities to collaborate to align timing on control activities to best achieve landscape wide change. It will do this via a series of in person events in Chiltern, Wangaratta and Myrtleford that will be complemented by 4 online events open to all landowners across North East Victoria.

$32,180

2 years

Strategy for gorse and willow management on private land along Five Mile Creek

Threatened Species Conservancy

This project focusses on controlling gorse and willows on private land around Five Mile Creek at Woodend. The project will develop and distribute educational material to private landowners in the area, deliver a field day with best practice management demonstrations, work with individual landowners to develop long term management plans, map infestations, produce a social and traditional media campaign, deliver a market stall day at Woodend market, and develop an overarching strategic framework for managing gorse and willow on private properties in the area.

$48,875

1 year

People against pests in the Mansfield environment

Up2Us Landcare Alliance

This project will deliver a wide range of events and communication products aimed at improving established invasive species management in the Mansfield Shire. The project will engage a project officer to lead the delivery of 3 field days, 3 facilitated large acreage farmer discussion groups, 1 webinar aimed at engaging absentee landowners, 1 subsidised chemical user training course, and 5 multi-year land management plans for landowners. They will also produce a range of communication products to promote participation in the events and provide information on best practice management.

$49,475

1 year

King Parrot pest animal cooperative

Upper Goulburn Landcare Network

This project aims to reduce the impact of foxes and feral cats on biodiversity and agriculture assets in the King Parrot Creek catchment. The project has 54 participants that cover approximately 4000 Ha. The project will collect data via remote camera monitoring and fox scat analysis to help inform future control programs. The project will also deliver an upgraded website and communication products to improve community awareness and technical knowledge of best practice management options.

$10,850

1 year

Ways to control rabbits and why we should

Upper Loddon and Avoca Landcare Network

This project will deliver a series of 3 rabbit control demonstration workshops in conjunction with 3 Landcare Groups across 3 Local Government Areas. The workshops will provide information about best practice control with a particular focus on providing the latest information and dispelling misinformation or out-dated views, and ensuring cultural heritage is considered in control programs. The project will also produce pamphlets on rabbit biology and control for distribution to landowners across the network area.

$10,890

2 years

Reversing weed and pest trends in our peri-urban environment

Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Group

This project tackles the challenges associated with a range of land use types in peri-urban areas. It will engage a Project Officer to work with landowners to develop invasive species management plans for their properties, deliver a series of weed and rabbit field days and workshops, undertake infestation mapping, and improve online presence and communication materials. The project aims to provide tools to reduce incidence of invasive species and provide an improved sense of community through tackling a shared problem together.

$33,585

2 years

WPCLN planning positive partnerships pathways against pests

Western Port Catchment Landcare Network

This project works across 3 Local Government Areas and 13 Landcare Groups and will deliver a series of strategic planning and networking workshops with agency partners, farmer discussion sessions, a 4-day farm planning training course, and several social and traditional media publications. The project will ultimately produce an invasive species strategic plan which aims to align all stakeholders across the catchment with achievable and strategic goals and set priorities for future investment.

$36,634

1 year

Partnerships against foxes in East Gippsland

Wildlife Unlimited

This project brings community and agency stakeholders together to collaborate on innovative fox control solutions for East Gippsland. It will deliver a webinar on fox impacts and control, and 2 FoxScan App training workshops to enable community members to actively record and share regional fox activity. It will also work with community to produce an East Gippsland Remote Communities Fox Control Strategy including recommendations for improved, innovative and cost-effective fox control solutions.

$50,000

1 year

Healthy hectares – growing capacity against invasives on small blocks

Wodonga Urban Landcare Network

This project will deliver 6 workshops on invasive species best practice management with a focus on effective control techniques for smaller properties. Workshops will be targeted at and designed for tree changers, hobby farmers and small landowners that may lack the technical knowledge, resources and support networks that larger scale farmers have. The workshops will feature expert presentations, demonstrations and field visits.

$44,114

1 year

Building capacity against complacency

Bass Coast Landcare Network

This project will increase awareness of weeds and pest animals with new residents and disengaged landowners through workshops, a calendar, new resident packs, roadside signs, and community meetings. The group will convene quarterly stakeholder meetings to coordinate control efforts. The project will focus on weed species of greatest community concern, rabbits, and foxes. The group have collaborated with Bass Coast Shire Council, Bunurong Land Council, Parks Victoria, and Phillip Island Nature Parks.

$38,200

Building capacity for private landholders’ aspirations and practices for a pest-controlled, healthy Bellarine Peninsula

Bellarine Landcare Group

This project continues the work of the ‘Rabbit Sweep’ program, which aims to identify opportunities to engage with disengaged landowners. The project will engage a facilitator to hold a series of presentations, training events, and workshops on rabbit control. The group will contribute to newsletters, produce brochures, and facilitate regular meetings with local Rabbit Action Group. They will also create a ‘Rabbit Library’ designed to make existing rabbit control resources easier to search and access. The group have collaborated with Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management, City of Greater Geelong, Victorian Rabbit Action Network and Wadawurrung Traditional Owners.

$30,800

Project Shingleback: Managing invasive pests and weeds under the ‘Landcare New Futures’ Windharp Horizons program

Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network

The project will partner with a range of stakeholders to increase awareness about weeds and pests in the district. This includes engaging year 9 students across 4 schools and mapping the extent of specific species using online tools. The group will develop management plans and deliver a series of educational community displays, forums, workshops, and publications. This project is a subcomponent of the Windharp Horizons Program and will benefit from its extensive list of collaborators.

$37,500

'Buckrabanyule' – a story of country, cactus and combating invasives

Bush Heritage Australia/ DJANDAK

Bush Heritage Australia will partner with DJANDAK to deliver on Country field days for the public and for Dja Dja Wurrung peoples to share the story of wheel cactus control and country healing at Buckrabanyule. The project will produce a video focussed on sharing knowledge, designed to attract future investment in wheel cactus control in the region. The video will include results from trials using a range of innovative wheel cactus control methods to build the capability of land managers in managing wheel cactus.

$30,000

Activating community to control pests in the Mount Alexander region

Connecting Country

The project will run several field days alongside a seasonal communications campaign to build awareness of weeds and pest animals in the community. This includes hosting weed identification and control field days, a rabbit control field day with the Victorian Rabbit Action Network, monthly blogs, social media, articles and radio spots. The group will attend market stalls, develop a weed control technique video and deliver a cultural awareness and Country plan information session in partnership with Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation.

$43,076

Pest-busting strength through community connection in the Heytesbury

Heytesbury District Landcare Network

This project will deliver ‘Weed Busters’ events with focus on the barriers to weed control and building community capacity to support on ground action. The group will also deliver weed and pest education activities to the local P-12 school. Landcare network staff will be trained in video editing and produce a series of 6 case study videos involving local community members. The project is targeting blackberry, ragwort and rabbits which are the species of most concern to the local community. The group is collaborating with multiple schools, several historical societies, the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce and Vic Roads.

$30,700

2024 Latrobe Integrated Priority Pest Plant and Animal Initiative

Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network

This project will deliver a one-day stakeholder forum to address gaps in regional weed and pest animal information and help codesign a weed and pest management strategy. Information collected at the forum will be used to develop a region-wide pest management strategy. The project is supported by Baw Baw Shire Council and Latrobe City Council, as well as TAFE Gippsland and the Department of Transport and Planning.

$34,320

Holistic pest management of the Mitta 2 Murray Region

Mitta 2 Murray Landcare

This project will provide opportunities for people to gather, learn and share information about weed and pest animal management. This includes the delivery of events at several locations over the network, including:

• A stakeholder forum to promote collaboration with   Parks Victoria and the North-East Catchment Management   Authority.
• Training/field days with the Victorian Rabbit Action   Network and the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce.
• Knowledge sharing on Country   with Duduroa Dhargal   Aboriginal Corporation.

$28,705

Creative campaigning for Moorabool’s top 3 weeds: gorse, blackberry and serrated tussock

Moorabool Catchment Landcare Group

This project will deliver extension, education and mapping activities. These will include mail outs, articles for print and social media, seminars with guest speakers, and hands-on weed identification workshops. The Victorian Blackberry Taskforce, Victorian Gorse Taskforce and Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party will assist in this delivery of information. Videos will be created as an enduring educational resource. The project will also deliver a community wide mapping project to record weed infestations to inform a strategic approach to future control works.

$24,759.50

Partnering to tackle pests on the Peninsula: a Landcare approach

Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network

The project will increase support and raise awareness about weeds and pest animals through several engagement and education activities, including training to build skills of Landcare leaders and upgrading digital and printed educational materials. A series of community workshops will focus on best practice management with an aim to facilitate co-ordinated control across land tenures. The group has partnerships with the Mornington Peninsular Shire to erect dynamic road signage.

$38,540

Port Campbell rabbit control training workshops/video

Port Campbell Progress Group

This project will continue the community’s rabbit control journey by equipping private landholders and public land managers with rabbit control knowledge, skills and confidence, specific to their situation. The project will engage with the Victorian Rabbit Action Network for rabbit management workshops tailored to land size. The project will be documented via video to provide an enduring educational product. Project partners include Parks Victoria, Corangamite Shire and Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority.

$20,587.20

Guarding Gariwerd: empowering the community to control priority invasive species around an iconic national park

Project Platypus

This project aims to establish long term partnerships between stakeholders and private landholders to protect Gariwerd (the Grampians) from weeds and pest animals. The project will establish formal partnerships between stakeholders and run a series of workshops to connect experts with community. The project will create locally focussed resource packs and support training for Barengi Gadjin Land Council staff. This project also supports the partnership with the Wimmera Biodiversity Seminar to deliver on the theme of invasive species for 2024.

$37,450

Community-led action for pest and weed control in South Gippsland

South Gippsland Landcare Network

The project will deliver a range of initiatives including a seminar with guest speakers on weeds and pest animals. Two community management groups will be established for local collaborative action. The groups will hold field workshops with technical experts on target species. The project will also engage with Traditional Owners to share information and build partnerships. Project partners include the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and the South Gippsland Shire Council.

$33,792

People Against Pests in the Mansfield environment

Up2Us Landcare Alliance Mansfield

This project focusses on priority species for the local community including rabbits, feral pigs, blackberry, gorse and Paterson’s curse. The project will provide community education via online resources, site visits, education events and field days with expert guest speakers. The group will develop neighbourhood pest management plans and case studies and provide advice on pasture management and controlling weeds in times of drought. The project will build on place-based action year on year and is collaborating with Mansfield Shire and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.

$28,520

Developing Partnerships Against Pests in Southwest Victoria

Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network

This project will bring together a range of stakeholders using a comprehensive community education and engagement program. Workshops will aim to focus and improve control efforts to achieve best return on investment. The project will facilitate the delivery of workshops from Victorian Blackberry Taskforce, Victorian Gorse Taskforce and Victorian Rabbit Action Network. A collaborative taskforce will be formed with 15 partnered organisations to host events where experts will deliver information about cultural and environmental values and best practice management. The project will develop a localised set of resources using expert and local experience.

$41,942

WPCLN Building Catchment capacity and partnerships in the battle against invasive pests!

Western Port Catchment Landcare Network

This project will deliver community farm walks focussed on priority species detailed in the Cardinia Shire Bio-links plan. It will also deliver vertebrate pest information nights, as well as farmer discussion groups led by a professional facilitator to drive discussion and action. This project involves collaboration with Agriculture Victoria’s Established Invasive Animal team, the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce and Cardinia Shire Council.

$16,230