Landcare calls for boosted Victorian Government funding

Landcare is urging the Victorian Government to take a long-term view of its work, with the current short-term allocation falling almost $40 million short.

Landcare Victoria’s work is at risk due to funding uncertainty, its leadership says, with a call for a funding boost to guarantee its conservation works into the 2030s.

In June, the Victorian Government allocated $8.2 million to extend the roles of 80 part-time Victorian Landcare facilitators as well as 10 regional coordinators until July 2025.

Landcare Victoria chairwoman Jane Carney said the June announcement was inadequate, with $48 million over four years needed to consolidate the organisation’s operations.

“The funding the Victorian Government provides to us right now gets extended bit by bit, year by year and is not enough,” Mrs Carney said.

“That’s why we’re calling for an investment of $48 million over four years towards facilitator and coordinator roles.

“That will enable us to offer our facilitators and coordinators longer contracts at a fairer wage, and to hire 20 new facilitators to share the growing workload.”

The office of Victorian Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the government valued the significant contribution our community volunteers are making across the state.

“(We appreciate) their work in helping us deliver ‘Biodiversity 2037’ - our long term plan to stop the decline of native plants and animals,” a spokesman said.

Mrs Carney’s cash call comes as Landcare Victoria released its 10-year plan this week.

Landcare Victoria deputy chairwoman Leanne Jackman.

Wimmera farmer Leanne Jackman said Landcare often lost good staff because piecemeal government funding meant staff couldn’t be hired on a long-term basis.

“We’re not going to be able to hold on to good people if we can’t give them an adequate wage and anything more than short-term contracts,” the Landcare board member said,

“And every year there’s more to do. This funding would enable us to hire 20 more facilitators and pay them the wage they deserve.”

Landcare Victoria was launched in November 1986 at St Arnaud by State Conservation Minister Joan Kirner and Victorian Farmers Federation president Heather Mitchell.

The concept went nationwide three years later under the leadership of Rick Farley at the National Farmers’ Federation and Phillip Toyne at the Australian Conservation Foundation.