Free Farm Fencing!

Local farmers are invited to apply for grants that will enable them to erect fences along the riverbanks in their property thanks to Federal Government funding.

The fencing will help better manage stock and pest animals on properties which will, in turn, help protect creek and streambanks from erosion during severe weather events.

Studies show that extreme weather events can be catastrophic for our local ecosystems and, riverbanks can be an area where damage is extensive.

Areas with healthy riparian fare much better in extreme weather because their riverbanks act as a natural buffer protecting the broader area from extreme volumes of water.

Less resilient were the riparian zones that lacked this buffer and these areas required much greater investment in recovery and remediation after the event.

Thanks to the government funding, made possible by the Preparing Australian Communities Program funding stream, local farmers are now able to receive a grant for off-stream watering points and riparian fencing on their property.

Any farm in the Whitsundays that is south of Heronvale is eligible to apply for the grant.

Reef Catchments project officer Michael Boland said assisting property owners to protect the riparian zones along creeks and stream banks will help to improve farm management and prevent the loss of productive agriculture land.

“Managing grazing and pest animals in riparian areas with fencing and off-stream watering points helps to support the establishment and enhancement of creek and streambank vegetation, which in turn reduces the risk of erosion and increases resilience to extreme weather events,” he said.

Landowners have already taken up grant opportunities and with the project running until March 2025 there is still plenty of opportunities for new applicants to submit expressions of interest.

To download an application pack, visit www.reefcatchments.com.au or call 07 4968 4200 for further information about the program.

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