Land Protection Grant Scheme

The grant is open to both landowners and land managers (i.e. people leasing property) in Wyndham, who care for properties that are:

• Outside Urban Growth Boundary
• 4ha or larger in size
• Located in dry-land agricultural farming areas (arable land not included).
• Not a quarry

• Land manager grant: Council provides a financial contribution of $75 to $125 per hectare to a landowner or land manager to follow a Land Management Plan created by Council. Grant is paid after works are completed and inspected, to ensure goals are met.
  Contractor grant: Landowner or land manager to pay 25% of overall cost of a contractor to perform weed control works, Council pays remaining 75%.  The 25% payment must be paid upfront before works can commence, Council pays remaining 75% after works are completed and all parties are satisfied.
• Native plants: Native plants may be supplied free of charge. 
• Fencing: Cost of fencing to protect native vegetation may be supplied by Council.
  Western Grassland Reserve: Properties with Public Acquisition Overlay 7 (PAO7) – properties that will form part of the future Western Grassland Reserve – are entitled to the same land manager grant, native plants offer, and fencing opportunities. However, the contractor grant for PAO7 land managers requires a contribution of only 15% of the cost for contractor works, with Council paying the remaining 85% using funds supplied by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).  The land manager or landowner 15% contribution can be made as an in-kind contribution, which is determined by Council’s Senior Land Management Officer.

Council will help fund a range of activities that help protect and enhance native vegetation, as well as support weed control activities including weed prevention and management.  We understand there is a diverse range of issues across rural Wyndham, and some works require a larger scale agricultural approach, and some works require more specialised detailed works.

Some of these activities include:

• Weed control works
• Weed prevention
• Controlled burning
• Revegetation works
• Pest animal management 
• Fencing 

• The Land Protection Grant Scheme is open and able to receive applications year-round until funding is spent (operating by financial year, not calendar year). Eligible participants are encouraged to apply at the start of the calendar year to ensure there is adequate funding for their project in the following financial year, and to allow Council staff and contractors adequate time to plan works.
• Council receives and saves all applications and will contact all applicants before the month of June to arrange property inspections to determine grant details and works for the following financial year.
• Council can only commit to funding one financial year at a time, and participants need to apply yearly.

Land Manager Grant

• Council officers will arrange a property visit to discuss works in detail with the landowner or land manager.
• A Land Management Plan will be written by Council and supplied to the land manager. The plan sets out targets for the land manager to achieve before the grant is paid out e.g. ‘Reduce a 2ha paddock from 10% Artichoke Thistle cover to 5% Artichoke Thistle cover by spot spraying using a broadleaf selective herbicide’.
• Additional recommendations will also be written into the Land Management Plan as every Land Management Plan is different and may have different target dates for completion.
  • After goals are met, Council will inspect the works, and payment will be made by bank transfer into the nominated bank account outlined in the Land Manager Agreement.
  • If a land manager has completed their goals before the due date, they may contact Council to inform them to progress with inspection of works.

Contractor Grant

• Council officers will arrange a property visit to discuss works in detail with the landowner or land manager.
• There will be another site visit performed by Council officers along with contractors, who will then supply separate quotes for the required works.
• Grant applicant will then be informed and required to sign an Agreement outlining the works and costs.
• The contractor will contact the land manager and invoice them their 25% contribution to the total cost of works. 
  • This 25% contribution MUST be paid before works commence.
  • Contractors will fill out a Pre-Post Condition Checklist requiring a signature from the land manager in case any damages occur, and form is returned to Council
• Council may audit the contractors as works progress.
• Once works are complete, Council will inspect the work and if all parties are happy Council will pay the remaining 75% cost of works to the contractor.

• The Land Manager must comply with all Acts, regulations, local laws, and by-laws in any way applicable to the Works or their Agreement.
• Land Manager grant recipients must agree to:
  • undertake the works with the degree of skill, diligence and care that would reasonably be expected from an experienced person in the same circumstances; and
  • follow all manufacturer instructions and directions when using any products or equipment in connection with the grant works.
• For 2 years after the Expiry Date, the Land Manager must not do anything that will negatively impact the Site, and must;
  • control all grazing threats at the Site, such as European Wild Rabbits but excluding any native wildlife;
  • not apply any fertiliser or disturb any soil, crop, construct any new dams, alter drainage, remove rock or undertake artificial feeding on the works site without prior consultation with Council;
  • maintain vegetation cover at the works site to greater than 70% coverage; and
  • retain all standing large native and canopy trees, whether dead or alive.