What is the North Central Catchment Management Authority's (CMA) Drought Employment Package?

The North Central CMA Drought Employment Program is offered as part of the Victorian Government's Drought Employment Program.

The North Central CMA endeavours to work with our regional communities to ensure that our natural resources are well-placed to recover from the drought. Our Drought Employment Package will provide funding to help rural communities experiencing unprecedented hardships caused by the drought.

The Drought Employment Program will commence in January 2008 and continue until the end of June. North Central CMA is looking for people who are willing to work from one week to six months and employment arrangements are flexible to fit around life on the land. The Program is part of the Victorian Government's drought response package, funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

Another initiative of the Drought Employment Program is the offer of fully funded 1080 Endorsement courses. These courses aim to provide further opportunities to people who are drought affected by increasing their skill base that can be translated to work on their properties, in this instance, Pest Animal Management.

Why is the North Central CMA offering this Package?
We are conscious of the impacts of the drought across north central Victoria, both on its natural resources and its people.

The dry conditions present opportunities for the North Central CMA, in partnership with the community and catchment agencies, to accelerate a number of on-ground work programs, or add value to existing programs, to restore and protect our precious natural resources.
Working with landholders to ensure that the region is well-placed to recover from the drought is a major focus of the North Central CMA.

The DEP Achievements for 2008
The aim of the DEP is to employ farmers, farm workers and farm service providers affected by the drought. Eligible applicants will be employed in works crews to accelerate existing on-ground works to help restore and protect our precious natural resources (except for the construction of stock containment areas). The areas to be targeted include:

Weed control:

  • Targeting gorse in the Gorse Task Force control areas on crown land in the upper part of North Cental's catchment protecting the Upper Loddon and northern part of the Wombat State Forest.
  • Targeting wheel cactus in the Loddon Shire to protect Mount Buckrabanyule.

Water savings:

  • Assisting with Goulburn-Murray Water in delivery of project in Pyramid-Boort, Rochester and Torrumbarry districts.

Fencing and Revegetation:

  • North Central CMA in conjunction with Landcare Networks is working on a number of projects in the west of our catchment in the Wedderburn, Maryborough, St Arnaud and Charlton districts looking at protecting key waterways such as the Loddon and Avoca Rivers.

Stock Containment Areas:

  • An expression of interest process is being run for a limit number of land managers to erect stock containment where appropriate.

Who should I contact to find out more about the package or register my expression of interest?
Please call North Central CMA on 1800 751 751 (cost of a local call) weekdays between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm (except public holidays).

PDF File 0708 North Central CMA Drought Employment Program Sheet1.pdf (PDF - 74KB)

PDF File 0708 North Central CMA Drought Employment Program Sheet2.pdf (PDF - 53KB)



Drought Employment Program provided funding for 1080 Endorsement Courses and Farm Chemical Users Permits

The Drought Employment Program has now finished and trained over 300 people in the catchment in either Farm Chemical Users, Agricultural Chemical Users Permit or 1080 Endorsment.  We would like to thank our Pest Plant and Animal Facilitators;

  • Anthony Day
  • Morgana Te Pauae
  • Aaron Demio
  • Liz Reynolds

for their tremendous effort in recruiting and coordinating our training sessions!

We have left information below on 1080 Endorsment and the new regualtions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 1080 Endorsement?
In order to purchase 1080 pest animal bait products you need to complete a Course in Minimising the Risks in the Use of 1080 Pest Animal Bait Products for Vertebrate Pest Control and obtain a 1080 endorsement to your Agricultural Chemical User Permit (ACUP).

Do I need an Agricultural Chemical Users Permit to purchase and use 1080 Bait Products?
Yes, you need to apply to the DPI for your ACUP Permit in order to use 1080 Bait Products.

Why do I need an ACUP if I have successfully completed a Farm Chemical Users Course and want to purchase and use 1080 Bait Products?
The ACUP system was introduced in August 1996 to restrict the use of high-risk chemicals to people who were appropriately trained in safe chemical use.
1080 Bait Products is listed as a "restricted use" chemical in Victoria
Link: DPI ACUP information http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DPI/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-49A21C225110DAB74A2568B30004DB83-374ADF63FBF2E89BCA256BC700833E68-06ECF56A08EE79904A256DEA0027F033-491BB0C74C85A089CA25720C00101199?open


Will I be able to purchase and use 1080 Bait Products?
If you have:
  *  successfully completed a FCUC
  *  successfully completed a 1080 Endorsement Course
  *  have applied to the DPI for your ACUP and 1080 Endorsement
You will be able to purchase and use 1080 Bait Products.

These courses are run in conjunction with Chemcert Victoria and will be delivered through a selection of Region Training Organisations and delivered to members of our communities as part of the Victorian Government's drought relief efforts.

Useful links
Department of Primary Industries
1080 information
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfa.nsf/LinkView/8BA2FD6B7124F249CA2572FA007A2A9480B3AA027C37CD6ACA256C85007F6F93

Agricultural Chemical Users Permit information
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfa.nsf/linkview/b00ef00049d82471ca256c760019c86b58055e7274a3e6c3ca256c380018edbb

Chemcert
Trainers and course information
www.chemcertvic.org.au

Agsafe
Accredited 1080 retailers
www.agsafe.com.au/guardian/content.php?id=3
Or contact Agsafe on (02) 6230 4799 for more information

Department of Health & Safety
List of authorised perishable bait manufacturers
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/dpu/1080_poison.htm
Or contact DHS on 1300 364 545 or email dpu@dhs.vic.gov.au








 

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