Caring For Our Country - Congratulations on Wheatbelt Shires Success

01-10-2009
The Wheatbelt East Regional Organisation of Councils [WEROC] in conjunction with the North Eastern Wheatbelt Regional Organisation of Councils [NEWROC] and the South East Avon Voluntary Regional Organisation of Councils [SEAVROV] have been successful in their Federal Government, Caring For Our Country [CFoC] grant submission and will receive $786,000 over the next four years. Funding will provide landholders in these regions with a range of innovative opportunities to reduce land degradation risks associated with wind erosion.

To achieve sustainable farming systems, combating wind erosion is a priority. This project aims to support landholders to continue to balance production and the environment, and a focus includes providing Oil Mallee, Saltbush, Brushwood, Casuarina obesa and Sandalwood host seedlings and / or Lucerne seed to eligible landholders at either a subsided rate or at no cost, to target areas prone to wind erosion. The project will also encourage, where applicable, the implementation of wind breaks, tree crops, alley farming systems and / or perennial pasture systems and diversity in farming systems.

WEROC, NEWROC and SEAVROC are voluntary organisations that view integrated Natural Resource Management [NRM] and sustainable farming practices as core business for a better future and collaboration between the three regional groups as essential in achieving maximum on-ground outcomes across the Avon Wheatbelt. Project funding will be delivered by WEROC’s and NEWROC’s community based NRM officers and SEAVROC’s Planning and Land Use Management Group [PLUM], and will follow on from WEROC in partnership with NEWROC’s successful 2008, CFoC project ‘Adopting Innovative Practices to Improve the Resilience of Farming Systems in the Eastern and North Eastern Wheatbelt of Western Australia’.

Landholders in WEROC Shires, Bruce Rock, Kellerberrin, Merredin, Tammin, Yilgarn and Westonia; SEAVROC Shires, Beverley, Brookton, Cunderdin, Quairading and York; and NEWROC Shires, Koorda, Mt Marshall, Mukinbudin, Nungarin, Trayning and Wyalkatchem, who are interested in participating will be notified through local media in the coming months for expressions of interest.