Agriculture Victoria is supporting six community groups in the fight against pests and weeds of greatest concern to their localised areas including ragwort and wheel cactus.
Biosecurity Victoria Executive Director Katherine Clift today announced $190,000 in grants for the Partnership Against Pests pilot program to help protect Victoria's $17.5 billion agriculture industry from biosecurity threats.
'We know a strong biosecurity system is not only good for our agriculture industries, but also protects our wildlife, environment and way of life,' Dr Clift said.
'The Partnership against Pests grants will enhance the participation and delivery of coordinated pest animal management activities and offer improved outcomes for everyone.
'The long-term management of established pests and weeds requires collaboration across community, industry and government.'
The targeted pilot program will deliver $40,000 each to Victoria's four established statewide Community Pest Management Groups (CPMGs) – Victorian Rabbit Action Network, Victorian Gorse Taskforce, Victorian Blackberry Taskforce and Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party.
Two Landcare groups will also receive funding – Loddon Plains Landcare Network, $12,500 to raise awareness about wheel cactus control and South Gippsland Landcare Network, $17,500 to support capacity building activities that focus on ragwort management.
The funding will enable these community groups to expand their reach and upskill land managers to improve the way they manage pest animals and weeds in their local areas as part of a larger coordinated approach.
Access to future grants will be open to community groups across Victoria to expand community engagement and education, with additional funds made available via the 2022-2023 Victorian Government's Collective Biosecurity budget, and the $5 million 'Backing Victoria's Producers' initiative.
