Trust For Nature conservation covenant
Council offers a rates rebate on land protected by a Trust For Nature conservation covenant.
The Trust For Nature conservation covenant program allows landholders to permanently protect remnant native vegetation on their property and help conserve some of Victoria's most threatened species of flora and fauna. The agreement is voluntary and negotiated between Trust for Nature and the individual landholder. The Trust For Nature website has more detailed information on the program.
The rebate provides a 100 per cent waiver of rates over the proportion of land protected by the covenant. For example, if a landowner places a conservation covenant over 100 per cent of their land, they receive a rate rebate of 100 per cent. If a conservation covenant applies to 50 per cent of the land, a 50 per cent rebate of rates applies. The rates rebate applies to Council’s annual rates charges only. It does not apply to any other charges or services. For more information, call our Rates department on (03) 5422 0333.
Note: Council doesn't assess properties for eligibility for a Trust For Nature covenant.
Sustainable Land Management Programs
Council's Sustainable Land Management Programs are available to support landholders with our Farm Advisory Service, Caring for Country resource and Property Management Plans. For more information call our Environment team on (03) 5422 0333.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning - Land for Wildlife
Land for Wildlife is a Victoria Government program supporting landholders or managers who provide habitat for native wildlife. This free program provides landowners with access to expert and peer advice about property management, and the opportunity to participate in field days and information sessions. The Land for Wildlife website has detailed information on the program and membership benefits.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning - Native vegetation offsets
The Native vegetation offsets program is available to advise landowners on how they can choose to set aside all or part of their land as a native vegetation offset to compensate for the loss of native vegetation elsewhere.
Melbourne Water - Stream Frontage Management Program
If you own land in the Port Phillip and Western Port catchment that fronts onto a river or creek, you may be eligible for funding to help you manage your land. The Stream Frontage Management Program supports work that protects and enhances riverbanks, such as weed control, fencing and planting native vegetation.
North Central Catchment Management Authority - A Healthy Coliban Catchment
There are incentive available for landholders to fence off waterways, undertake weed control and revegetate in the upper coliban catchment. More information can be found at A Healthy Coliban Catchment.
Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority - Deepening Connections
The Deepening Connections project involves landholders south of Darraweit Guim and will undertake weed and rabbit control across 6,700 hectares. Landholders are invited to express their interest in the project through the project page.
Landcare groups
Many local Landcare groups have individual projects such as, Black Gum Conservation in Woodend, Ashbourne Landcare Biolink Project and the Cobaw Biolink project by Newham Landcare. To find your local Landcare group, you can search on the Landcare Australia website via the map or refer to our Landcare, Friends and Sustainability Groups page.