Free info session on rural landholder initiative

LISMORE City Council is inviting rural landholders to a free information session on the new Rural Landholder Initiative.

LISMORE City Council is inviting rural landholders to a free information session on the new Rural Landholder Initiative where landholders can learn how to apply for $5000 of on-ground works.

The Rural Landholder Initiative is an integral part of Council's Biodiversity Management Strategy and is designed to conserve biodiversity hotspots on private land through education and incentives.

The project has been funded by a $100,000 grant from the NSW Environment Trust and a cash contribution of $50,000 from Council for landholder incentives.

This fund will be used to help landholders achieve practical outcomes including weed control, stock fencing and tree planting.

These works will improve farm profitability as well as ensuring the rehabilitation of degraded habitats and the protection of threatened species.

Council will also produce a range of educational materials on the major environmental issues for five landholder types: beef grazers, dairy farmers, orchardists (e.g. macadamia growers), floodplain croppers (e.g. sugar cane growers) and 'lifestyle' landholders (e.g. non-commercial rural landholders).

Interested landholders are invited to attend an information night about the project and how to apply on Thursday, August 27 from 5.30-7pm at the Lismore Workers Club.

This will include the results of the landholder survey and a look at recommendations in the Incentives Report.

Landholders can also download an expression of interest form at www.lismore.nsw.gov.au.

Applications close on September 16.