ANZ SEEDS OF RENEWAL PROGRAM
Seeds of Renewal is a grants program, supported by ANZ, which aims to contribute to building thriving communities in regional Australia. The grants are independently administered by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).
Close Date: 01 August 2014
http://www.frrr.org.au/cb_pages/seeds_of_renewal.php
THE R E ROSS TRUST GRANTS – VIC
The grants work around 4 impact areas. For Landcare groups the most relevant area is impact area D; the protection and preservation of Australian Flora and Fauna.
Organisations must first submit an expression of interest for consideration by the Trustees and may then by invited to submit a full application.
Applications are considered all year round.
http://www..rosstrust.org.au/grants/apply-for-a-grant/
FARMER OF THE YEAR AWARDS NOW OPEN
Tell the nation about farming’s amazing work and outstanding contribution, with a nomination for the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards. A celebratory dinner will be held on Wednesday, September 10 in Melbourne. The 2014 award categories: Livestock Producer of the Year (sponsored by WFI); Egg Producer of the Year (sponsored by Australian Egg Corporation Limited); Biosecurity Farmer of the Year - plant (sponsored by Plant Health Australia); Biosecurity Farmer of the Year – animal; Dairy Farmer of the Year (sponsored by Dairy Australia); Young Farmer of the Year (sponsored by Case IH); Horticultural Grower of the Year; Grain Grower of the Year; Fibre Producer of the Year (formerly Wool Producer of the Year); Diversification Farmer of the Year; Agricultural Student of the Year; Rural Exporter of the Year. People can nominate themselves, their family members or friends and associates. Nomination forms are available at: www.farmeroftheyear.com.au. The deadline for applications is Friday, 27 Jun 2014.
VICTORIAN REGIONAL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
The Regional Community Leadership Program (RCLP) provides $6 million over four years to support the nine established Community Leadership Programs (CLPs) in regional Victoria, and to assist with the establishment of the Victorian Regional Community Leadership Programs (VRCLP) Secretariat. The VRCLP Secretariat was established in 2012 to support the Regional Community Leadership Programs across Victoria. Collectively the group aims to deliver exceptional leadership programs to Rural and Regional Victorians in order to strengthen its communities and develop leadership capacity and capability.
· Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program - www.avclp.org.au
· Fairley Leadership - www.fairleyleadership.com.au
· Gippsland Community Leadership Program - www.gclp.asn.au
· Leaders for Geelong - www.committeeforgeelong.com.au/leaders-for-geelong
· Leadership Ballarat and Western Region - http://www.lbwr.org
· Leadership Great South Coast - www.leadershipgreatsouthcoast.org.au
· Leadership Wimmera - www.wda.org.au/leadership
· Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program - www.cllm.org.au
· Northern Mallee Leaders - www.nml.org.au
· VRCLP Secretariat - www.vrclp.com.au
DEPI WATER REBATE PROGRAM EXTENDED TO UNTIL 30 JUNE 2015
All Victorian households can access home and garden rebates under the Living Victoria Water Rebate Program, even if they are self-supplied and not connected to a reticulated water supply.
Current rebates are available for products purchased and installed between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2015.
The program has been extended until 30 June 2015 and changes include:
· Rainwater tank rebates have been increased to:
o $850 (2,000–3,999 litres connected to toilet and/or laundry)
o $1,300 (4,000 litres or greater connected to toilet or laundry)
o $1,500 (4,000 litres or greater and connected to toilet and laundry)
· Tank to toilet and/or laundry connections are now $500.
· Tank rebates are now extended to existing homes that received building permits between 1 July 2005 and 1 May 2011.
· Washing machine rebates for 5-star water (WELS) and at least a 4-star energy rated models will continue.
For more information go to: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/water/saving-water/water-rebate-program
NEWS & RESOURCES
INSURANCE & HOLD HARMLESS CLAUSES: ALERT!
We have recently had a number of Member Groups report that they have been asked to sign contracts for grants or venue hire with “hold harmless” clauses. Most insurance policy wordings, including those held by the FTLA, state the insured is not allowed to sign any contract that indemnifies any other party and/or holds them harmless in any way and so doing will generally void the insurance.
Please read contracts carefully and contact us if you have any queries.
STATE BUDGET
The Landcare funding announced in the State Budget, ~5.5 million over two years, was very welcome as the previous Victorian Landcare program, including the DEPI state team and the Regional Landcare Co-ordinators for two years, was due to come to an end at the end of June. The state Landcare grant funding of most concern to groups is an internal departmental allocation within DEPI as per usual.
FEDERAL BUDGET
The National Landcare Program, which replaces Caring for Our Country, will lose $483 million of its funding, but will still receive $1 billion over five years. The remaining funding needs now to cover a greater number of programs including cane toad eradication in Western Australia's Kimberley, $9 million of fishing programs and a strategy to protect the Great Barrier Reef, the $40 million Reef 2050 plan, further reducing the money available to for Landcare groups to do on-ground works.
The Green Army was funded at $525 million over four years, however Project Sponsors need to have an existing already funded project in order to be able to utilise the Green Army participants as there is a $10,000 allowance for “Project Specific Materials” which goes to the Service Provider, and each project needs to be substantial in order to absorb 20 weeks of labour. Several landcare groups have made applications under the first round of funding.
SURVEY
Each year Not-for-profit Law gathers feedback from community organisations about their experiences with Victorian laws and government regulators. This important information helps us work with the Victorian Government to ensure not-for-profits in Victoria can access and understand that laws that apply to them, and highlights what is working well and where groups are having problems with laws.
To complete this short survey go to Not-for-profit Law’s 2014 Victorian compliance survey
NEW 3RD EDITION OF IN SAFE HANDS TOOLKIT & WORKSHOP SERIES (FREE)
Conservation Volunteers Australia and the Conservation Skills Centre are pleased to inform you that the REVISED and UPDATED In Safe Hands Toolkit (3rd Edition) is now available. Go to www.insafehands.org.au where you can DOWNLOAD the In Safe Hands Toolkit - FREE.
If you have previously downloaded In Safe Hands Toolkit then you are recommended to download the 3rd Edition with NEW inclusions.
LANDCARE IN FOCUS SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Landcare in Focus is now available online - http://www.landcareonline.com.au/resources/landcare-in-focus/landcare-in-focus-magazine/
The submission deadline for the August 21st edition is July 18th.
COPIES OF PAST MAGAZINES AVAILABLE
The FTLA has a number of copies of past Victorian Landcare magazines available, including the Awards issue, if you would like to use them for promotional purposes. We are happy to send them out in batches of ten or more. Let us know if you would find them useful.
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These newsletters are compiled from many sources, and thank-you to those who supplied the information.
Kind regards
Susi J Johnson
Executive Officer
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Farm-Tree and Landcare Association
Level 3, 24-28 Collins Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Phone: - 03 9207 5527