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Landholders Support The Southern Victoria Bushtender Project

The Southern Victoria BushTender project, the approach that pays landholders to protect native vegetation on their land, has reached a landmark, with the 50th Expression of Interest received.

By news@gippsland - 8th July 2005 - Back to News

Scott Lawrence, from the Department of Sustainability and Environment, says it is great to see so many landholders keen to become involved and make a difference, to protect biodiversity on their land.

Under this project, landholders have the opportunity to receive financial support for managing native vegetation on their land.

"This is an exciting and unique opportunity for landholders with native vegetation on their land." Mr Lawrence said.

"Not only does the landholder benefit financially, but it will also lead to a more healthy and productive natural environment, with greater protection for soil, water quality and salinity control."

Mr Lawrence encouraged other landholders in the project areas to register an Expression of Interest to participate in the project as soon as possible.

"Interest in this project has been strong and places are limited, so I encourage any other landholder that might be interested to register an expression of interest as soon as possible." Mr Lawrence said.

Landholders who formally express interest in the program will receive an obligation-free site assessment that will report on the vegetation on the site, determine its value and provide advice on management for improvement.

Landholders then submit a bid, based on an agreed plan for environmental works on their properties. The bids are assessed on the conservation value of the site, the estimated improvement in vegetation condition offered by the landholder and the cost involved.

Successful landholders will receive periodic payments for their management actions under agreements signed with the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

The southern Victoria BushTender project is being conducted across parts of the East Gippsland, West Gippsland, Corangamite and Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority regions.

The BushTender project is proudly supported by the Victorian Government’s Tackling Weeds on Private Land initiative and the Victorian Greenhouse Strategy.

Landholders interested in the BushTender project are invited to register an expression of interest with the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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