Rural Land Program HEALTHY FARMS FOR HEALTHY WATERWAYS

About the program Who we assist

The Rural Land Program provides assistance to landholders to keep soil and nutrients on their farm and out of waterways and improve water security throughout the catchment. This is important to Water as the caretaker of river health for the and Westernport region, but also offers a range of benefits to farmers. “We’re improving our management practices to improve productivity, while reducing the amount of sediment and nutrients going into the river.” Port Phillip Chris Johnson, participating farmer Bay

What’s in it for you?

The benefits of being involved include: The Rural Land Program is available to landholders who • Improved access, security and quality of water own or manage rural land in the following catchments: • Improved soil health • Woori Yallock, , Stringybark,Yering, Hoddles • Reduced input costs through retention of nutrients Creek, (Upper and Middle), Little Yarra, Diamond and soil on-farm Creek (Source and Rural), ,Watsons Creek, • Support in achieving your goals for improving (Source and Upper), Steels and Pauls Creek management practices • Jacksons Creek, Upper , Upper and Middle • Contributing to the requirements for environmental assurance Werribee, Emu Creek, Boyd Creek, Upper Little River and accreditation. • Bass, Lang Lang, Bunyip and Tarago Rivers, Cardinia, Toomuc, Deep and Ararat Creeks, Watsons Creek on the Mornington Peninsula and Mornington Peninsula South Eastern Creeks.

Program eligibility

To identify if your property is within one of the 3 eligible areas please view the interactive map on the website: https://www.melbournewater.com.au/getinvolved/applyforfunding /pages/rural-land-program.aspx How we can assist you Assessing your application

Melbourne Water can provide landholders with: We will send you an acknowledgement when we receive your completed application form. We will contact you to discuss your • Technical assistance for improving management practices. application and to arrange a site assessment of your property. This includes undertaking whole farm plans, understanding The site assessment enables us to assist you in developing soils, workshops and farm walks for landholder groups and your project. access to technical advice. Getting involved is easy – just complete the application • Financial assistance for undertaking on-groundworks form below and email or post the form to: and treatment systems. We will pay up to 50% of the cost, including labour and materials, of a broad range of activities Rural Land Program designed to improve the quality of the water leaving Melbourne Water Reply Paid rural properties. PO Box 4342 Melbourne Vic 8060 For more information contact 131 722 or [email protected]

Rural Land Program Application Form

PROPERTY ADDRESS NAME OF WATERWAY MELWAYS/VICROADS REFERENCE CONTACT DETAILS: TITLE – MR / MRS / MS / MISS / DR / OTHER FIRST NAME SURNAME POSTAL ADDRESS POSTCODE TELEPHONE – HOME TELEPHONE – WORK MOBILE EMAIL TOTAL SIZE OF PROPERTY HA PLEASE INDICATE THE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LAND USE (PLEASE TICK) Melbourne Water may provide funding for some of these activities HORTICULTURE (INCL. VEGETABLE & FRUIT SMALL CROPS) FARM LAYOUT AND DESIGN BEEF DAIRY WATER SENSITIVE AREA PROTECTION WORKS ORCHARD VINEYARD NURSERY FARM TRACK DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY) DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT WORKS NUTRIENT BUDGETING AND ANALYSIS HAVE YOU UNDERTAKEN ANY ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS ON YOUR PROPERTY IN THE PAST. IF YES, PASTURE IMPROVEMENT PLEASE INDICATE IF ANY FUNDING WAS RECEIVED YES NO EROSION CONTROL RETENTION SYSTEM DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FUNDING PROVIDED BY: IRRIGATION SYSTEMS & EFFICIENCY SELF FUNDED MELBOURNE WATER DAM DECOMMISSIONING LANDCARE GROUP PPWCMA DAIRY EFFLUENT MANAGEMENT OTHER: IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE PLANS STORMWATER HARVESTING / RUNOFF MANAGEMENT PLEASE INDICATE ANY PROPERTY BASED PLANNING FARM WATER BUDGET / PLAN ACTIVITIES THAT YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY): HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE RURAL LAND PROGRAM DIRECT MAILING / INVITATION FIELD DAY / PRESENTATION NEIGHBOUR / OTHER LANDHOLDER Examples may include any Property Planning activities you have undertaken INDUSTRY GROUP through Ag-Vic, Industry Bodies, Landcare, TAFE or other providers EG. LANDCARE GROUP FarmPlan21, Dairy SAT, EnviroVeg, Nutrient Management Plan etc. OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY):

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