LANDCARE groups in the Wimmera have received a cash injection through the Victorian Landcare Grants program.
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Fourteen landcare groups across the region have received grants totalling $170,447.
Northern Grampians Landcare Group and Stawell Urban Landcare Group benefited the most with grants worth $18,000 and $17,560 respectively.
Project Platypus is the umbrella organisation for 11 different Landcare groups in the Wimmera and Grampians.
Project manager John Pye said the organisation was delighted with the grant for the Northern Grampians group.
He said the grant would help increase Indigenous vegetation around Lake Lonsdale and Pleasant Creek.
“We are looking to put in 3200 plants and 3.1 kilometres of fencing over six hectares to complement what is already existing in the area,” he said.
“This falls into our major project - the Grampians to Pyrenees Biolink, which will increase the vegetation in that area for animals and birds to migrate.
“We couldn’t have achieved any of this without the help of the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and their funding.”
The grants will help preserve the Wimmera environment.
Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network also received a grant in the North Central Catchment. It received $13,220.
Rainbow District Landcare Group received $15,537.
Landcare group facilitator Claire Kelly said the money would be used to help control weeds of national significance.
These weeds include bridal creeper, African boxthorn and horehound around Lake Hindmarsh.
“We’re targeting rabbits as well,” Mrs Kelly said.
“It’s quite significant (we received this grant) because there is quite a big problem there around Lake Hindmarsh with boxthorn… which Rainbow Landcare wants to control.”
Mrs Kelly said the Landcare group applied for a grant worth $18,000 but was pleasantly surprised to receive $15,537.
“I think because we are targeting a number of things and not just boxthorn is the reason why we were successful,” she said.
“It is still fantastic.
“We’re very thankful to the Wimmera and Landcare for funding this project.”