The North Central Catchment Management Authority's Drought Employment Program (DEP) is now seeking expressions of interest from rural community members.

The aim of the DEP is to employ farmers, farm workers and farm service providers affected by the drought, at a time when the rural community is facing severe hardship as result of water shortage.
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.

The Drought Employment Program will commence in January and continue until the end of June. North Central 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. For more information and to register your interest please contact North Central CMA 54487124.

For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au