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Information sheets

What funding is available to restore native vegetation on my property?

Protecting and restoring native vegetation benefits farmers and the broader community through improved water quality, reduced salinity, improved biodiversity, reduced greenhouse emissions and reduced soil loss.

The new native vegetation legislation is being accompanied by an unprecedented level of public funding to assist landholders repair degraded landscapes.

The NSW and Australian Governments have committed $436 million for this purpose over four years, from 2003/04 to 2006/07.

Much of this funding has been allocated to assist landholders protect and restore native vegetation through the NSW Sustainability Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality.

The money will be allocated by your Catchment Management Authority (CMA) according to priorities set out in their Catchment Action Plans and investment strategies.

Who can apply for funding?

All CMAs have developed on–farm incentive programs that relate to native vegetation. All landholders are encouraged to contact their local CMA to find out the details.

What activities will be funded?

Native vegetation incentive programs include:

• revegetation and rehabilitation of land with native vegetation, such as
  • rebuilding riparian vegetation along streams to improve water quality and create wildlife corridors
  • managing stock to allow natural regeneration
  • planting understorey species to improve biodiversity and
  • large scale planting of trees as a means of salinity control
• conservation and management of existing native vegetation, such as
  • control of grazing and fire to optimise biodiversity
  • weed and feral animal control, and
  • protection from pesticides and fertilisers.
• rewarding farmers for good land management, such as
  • retaining dead trees for wildlife habitat
  • retaining dead logs/timber on the ground, and
  • retaining a proportion of mature vegetation on their properties for conservation purposes.

How do I access the money?

Landholders can find out about native vegetation incentive programs through their local CMA.

If a landholder is successful in obtaining incentive funding, they will need to sign a contract in the form of a Property Vegetation Plan or an alternative contractual arrangement that ensures protection of the vegetation.

How will CMAs allocate the funds?

Each CMA will soon have a Catchment Action Plan and investment strategy which identify the natural resource priorities for their catchment.

The computer based decision support tool known as the PVP Developer assists CMAs to evaluate proposed activities against the benefits they will have on water quality, soils, salinity and biodiversity.

The PVP Developer generates a score that the CMA can then use to weight their decision according to the priorities of their Catchment Action Plan.

This evaluation process ensures public monies are invested in areas that will achieve the greatest environmental benefit.

The tool also provides high–resolution satellite imagery enabling landholders to identify those areas of their properties best suited to native vegetation management.

Other funding sources

CMAs can also help you identify ways of accessing additional funding for native vegetation management. For example, landholders are eligible for a range of taxation deductions for conserving native vegetation on their properties.

For more information:
Contact your local CMA, or you may also:
Email: info@nativevegetation.nsw.gov.au
Freecall: 1800 237 012

Note: This information does not constitute legal advice. Please seek specific advice from your local CMA before undertaking any clearing.