The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has received funding through the Federal Government’s Caring for our Country recovery program to assist communities and landholders repair and restore environmental assets that were impacted by the February Black Saturday fires.

Damian Wells, Chief Executive Officer has confirmed that the North Central CMA has $217,000 of funding available which will be co-ordinated through a grants process.  Funding is available to individuals and community organisations living in the Daylesford, Bendigo and Redesdale fire affected areas.  “The North Central CMA is committed to supporting those landholders who are still feeling the after affects of the devastating bushfires in the area.  This funding will help towards implementing natural resource recovery projects such as biodiversity, waterways, pest plant and animal, indigenous heritage and sustainable farm practice.”

The North Central CMA will also be working with public land managers such as the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Parks Victoria to implement fire recovery works on public land in the same fire affected areas.

Guidelines have been developed to help those community members who wish to apply including eligibility criteria and can be found on the North Central CMA website www.nccma.vic.gov.au

Mr Wells also said if there is a need for the community to seek further information on the guidelines and process for obtaining funding the North Central CMA would hold workshops in the fire affected areas. 

North Central CMA Operations Coordinator Adrian Martins says the funding will make a real difference to the communities in the affected areas.

Adrian encourages community members to read over the guidelines before submitting an application for assistance.  “There are a number of opportunities for eligible community members and landholders to undertake works on their property such as fencing to protect native habitats, pest animal control activities to protect native wildlife and plant communities vulnerable to predation, strategic control and containment of new and emerging or high risk environmental weed infestations, restoration of woodland and riparian corridors.

“Activities that support affected nationally threatened and endangered species, landscape rehabilitation and associated training, biodiversity conservation and identifying and protecting exposed Indigenous sites. “

For further information visit the North Central CMA website or contact the North Central CMA on 03 5448 7124.

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