FRONTLINE organisations protecting Victoria’s environment, agriculture industry, and cultural heritage from biosecurity threats are being backed by the state government to manage invasive weeds and pest animals following last month’s funding announcement by the minister for agriculture.
The minister Ros Spence revealed the 25 recipients of the third round of the $5 million Partnerships Against Pests grants program on December 11.
“The Partnerships Against Pests grants program is a fantastic example of how we can support community groups to take the lead in managing biosecurity challenges at the local level,” said Ms Spence.
This program provides funding to community groups for projects that educate, strengthen relationships, and promote collaboration in managing established invasive weeds and pest animals at the local level.
Grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 were available to various agricultural and environmental not-for-profit organisations, including Landcare groups and networks.
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Among the successful recipients and projects was Agribusiness Yarra Valley for “Blackberry management in the Yarra Valley” receiving $50,000 over two years.
This was the first time that the incorporated not for profit group had applied for this funding according to project manager Kylie Ammerlaan.
A project officer will be engaged to facilitate a series of field days, workshops, and webinars.
The project is aimed at high priority conservation and areas of high value horticultural production along the Wandin Yallock, Olinda and Stringybark creeks in Silvan, and the Stringybark Creek in Gruyere and Yering.
“We are working along targeted waterways to get community support because an area wide focus is really important,” said Ms Ammerlaan.
Melbourne Water is the responsible authority for the waterways which back onto private and public land.
“Melbourne Water and the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce will partner with Agribusiness Yarra Valley to help us deliver the project,” she said.
Blackberries continue to be an issue in the Yarra Valley as the population grows and less awareness of the associated problems.
“There are a number of different pests that use blackberries as habitat from rabbits through to beetles and bugs,” Ms Ammerlaan said.
“One pest is the Queensland fruit fly which is extending its range into the Yarra Valley which poses a threat to the viability of horticultural activities in the area,” she said.
“We are proposing a refresher ACUP (agricultural chemical user permit) course for landowners” she said.
There will be five workshops using in kind support from the Blackberry Taskforce for subject matter to create a strategy to help landholders make a plan to eliminate blackberries whether that be through the use of chemicals or goats.
Through the partnership, Agribusiness Yarra Valley hopes to improve land productivity, restore biodiversity, and reduce biosecurity risks.
Another successful applicant was the Conservation Ecology Centre based in the Otways with its project “Removing feral pigs from our landscapes with science and collaboration” receiving $47,500 over two years.
According to conservation project manager James Templeton while this funding is for two years the centre’s feral pig program will be operating across the region for at least another three years.
A big part of the project is educating and communicating with landowners and individuals on how to manage the pig problem.
“Specifically, we will produce communication materials for the general public across a variety of regional and national platforms,” said Mr Templeton.
He explained this would be using traditional media such as community bulletins, posters, regional newspapers and radio, mixed with contemporary tools that included social media and blogs.
“We will facilitate workshops and meetings with traditional owners and Landcare groups to coordinate and support information sharing, increasing awareness and technical understanding across their networks,” said Mr Templeton.
The centre presented sessions on pig management at the 2024 Ecological Society of Australia conference held in Melbourne from December 9 to 13 and will be participating in the 2025 Otways Ecological Research Forum later in the year.
The group will produce videos of feral pig case studies featuring environmental, social, and economic impacts, and management regimes.
“All of these strategies aim at increasing awareness of the impacts, indicators and movement of feral pigs and building understanding about best practice management solutions,” he said.
The centre would continue building on existing relationships according to Mr Templeton.
“Our long working-relationship with Landcare, Parks Victoria, Corangamite Catchment Authority, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Forest Fire Management Victoria, universities, local government, water authorities, industry and private landholders has built a solid reputation of trust in our organisation’s capacity to deliver.
"We will further build on these relationships to enhance the positive outcomes from the project," said Mr Templeton.
Other successful projects included initiatives such as peri-urban and regional fox monitoring, the development of community pest management plans and partnering with traditional owners for on country management while protecting cultural heritage.
Wildlife Unlimited, received $50,000 for its Partnerships Against Foxes in its East Gippsland project.
The project will include a webinar on fox impacts and control, two training workshops on the FoxScan app, and the development of an East Gippsland Remote Communities Fox Control Strategy.
“By investing in projects that promote collaboration, education, and innovation, we’re not only addressing the impacts of invasive weeds and pest animals but ensuring our solutions are driven by those who know their local area best,” said Ms Spence.
