Irrigators in the Lake Wellington catchment can apply for funding to trial emerging technologies and methods on their farms.
Agriculture Victoria senior irrigation extension officer Alexis Killoran said the program supports the innovations of irrigators from any agricultural sector within the Lake Wellington catchment through rebates of up to $30,000.
'The program, implemented by Agriculture Victoria and The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA), promotes practice change in agriculture for both the benefit of agribusinesses and the environment.
'This year, it includes the upper Latrobe Catchment, alongside the Macalister Irrigation District. Catchments include the Latrobe, Narracan, Morwell, Tanjil, Thomson, Macalister and Avon rivers and their tributaries.'
Ms Killoran said proposed projects must demonstrate on-farm activities that help achieve the objectives of the Lake Wellington Land and Water Management Plan, by meeting one or more of the following objectives:
- reduction in nutrients and other pollutants in the Gippsland Lakes
- management of the impacts of salinity and high water tables
- sustainable regional economic growth
- improved understanding and management of social and cultural values
- reduced greenhouse emissions from irrigated agriculture.
'The last round of funding saw 4 dairy businesses receive grant funding to host demonstration sites on their farms', said Ms Killoran.
Newry dairy farmer James Clyne adapted his pivot irrigation system with variable-rate irrigation technology, Tom Gannon in Tinamba used a self-cleaning filter to efficiently use effluent through his pivot irrigator, Jess and Stephen Knight from Stratford upgraded to a pipe-and-riser system with automated effluent distribution and Wilco Droppert and Sandra Jefford in Clydebank trialled solar-powered automation software for their sprinklers.
Expressions of Interest must be submitted by 4 pm on Tuesday 26 November 2024. Successful applicants will develop a project timeline during planning, with projects required to start before 1 March 2025 and be completed by 31 March 2028.
