Through the focus on four key outputs, the Victorian Rabbit Management program will provide 'trigger' points that recommend increased investment in rabbit control. They are: - A rigorous monitoring program in priority areas that utilises current monitoring programs, including the RHD monitor sites and catchment indicator transects. - Providing resources for extension and compliance activity to support the pilot Multiple Outcomes Project. - Promotion/ marketing of rabbit management. This includes the implementation of a media program and increasing the Rabbit Free program. This particular program will focus on public/private land interface areas to recognise land manager works in removing rabbits from the landscape and the partnerships between public and private land managers in many areas is achieving this. - Maintain high level communication and reporting to CMA's, IC's and DSE by Landscape Protection staff.

The DPI Pest Plants Project is funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) to reduce the impact of weeds on environment. The project aims to be successful through the implementation of community supported weed management programs that contribute to the protection of biodiversity and production outcomes of regional and state-wide strategies. The DPI Pest Plants project will deliver these priorities through three sub projects: - Catchment Priority Weeds (focussing on priority species in the North Central Weed Action Plan) - Weed Alert Rapid Response and Distribution Prevention - Strategic Skilling activities

This project aims to secure permanent protection over high priority and high quality vegetation in the North Central region with statutory covenants through the Victorian Conservation Trust Act 1972. Trust for Nature (TfN) is a non-profit organisation that helps conserve privately-owned natural bush. Their program in North Central has now registered over 100 covenants protecting nearly 3,000 ha. The project will combine a structured stewardship program to ensure appropriate management of these significant remnants. This includes providing land owners with technical advice; help with obtaining fencing and rate rebates and flora and fauna surveys. The TfN Stewardship Officer will perform full site inspections and surveys of covenanted properties every three years. From this visit a Management Plan will be developed outlining actions needed to protect and enhance the biodiversity values of the property.

The Vertebrate Pests Bait Provision project will deliver activities associated with the preparation, distribution and management of 1080 bait products for pest animal control in the North Central Catchment. The Department of Primary Industries is responsible for preparing and distributing 1080 products for fox and rabbit control to private and public land managers. DPI is also responsible for meeting legislative and policy requirements for storing and handling 1080, a restricted poison.

The North Central Good Neighbour Program (GNP) is an essential part of the Government's approach to pest management on public land. The GNP provides the mechanism for a strategic approach to treatment of pest problems on public land/private land boundaries and aligns with the VPMF, the North Central RCS and the North Central Weed and Rabbit Action Plans. DPI plays the lead role in coordinating land managers that access this program. Partnership involve: - CMA. - Implementation Committees. - Parks Victoria, Forests Stewardship, Land Stewardship and Biodiversity(CLM). - CAS staff in the region aligned to the GNP. DPI implements the Technical Assessment Panel (TAP) process involving the above partners, provides outcomes to the Regional Assessment Panel (RAP) for approval and collates results to be presented to the Good Neighbour Program Coordinating Committee (GNPCC).

The review of the NC Salinity Management Plan has shown there is a need to change the focus of Dryland Management. This project will draw on learning from the previous Targeted Salinity Area projects to develop effective community engagement and extension activities with a strong emphasis on whole farm planning. New landholders will be engaged as priority assets have been identified. The final output will be the development of large multiple outcome projects to formalise and finalise work underway over a realistic time-span. This project will operate in tandem with a NAP funded project (NC 0708.04.170).

This project reflects a new approach to salinity management, guided by the draft North Central Dryland Region Management Plan and incorporating best available science, local knowledge and a logical transparent decision framework (SIF3). The focus is on the protection of high value regional assets, identified in consultation with the community, from the threat of salinity. Project activities focus on a mix of extension, R&D, targeted asset protection-focussed on-ground works, improved property management planning and expanding the understanding of regional assets and threats. In addition to improving the condition of high value assets, this project will position the region to swiftly adapt to and implement new initiatives, through increasing understanding of assets, their values and the threat to them. By building on and learning from previous investment we will ensure that the community is equipped to manage change and that we have skilled staff to support them.

The focus of the gorse control program is on community awareness and ownership of weed control to ensure the wider community is pro-actively involved in on-ground gorse control. Through the provision of one-on-one extension and enforcement, this project will provide a coordinated approach to weed control along priority waterways as a pre-cursor to fencing and revegetation. The project will: - build the communities capacity. - contribute to increased community awareness and participation in weed management (250 landholders contacted). - protection and enhancement of streamside biodiversity values (50 kilometres of waterway protected). - reduce pest plants impact and area of infestation in the upper reaches of the North Central catchment (50 hectares of infestation controlled).