The state government has announced an $8.2 million investment to extend the roles of 80 part-time Victorian Landcare facilitators and 10 regional Landcare coordinators until June 30, 2025.
Based in regional Victoria, these extensions will ensure that facilitators and coordinators are able to continue delivering initiatives such as planting native vegetation, improving wildlife habitat, enhancing wetlands and waterways, and undertaking pest animal control.
Across 2021-22, these roles supported the community in undertaking projects that planted more than 240,000 native plants and restored more than 45,000 hectares of land in Victoria.
Facilitators support more than 740 environmental volunteering groups and networks across Victoria, helping them plan on-ground activities to benefit biodiversity and the environment. They also have supported over 700 community events on an annual basis, attracting more than 32,000 participants.
In addition to their support role, coordinators organise events to foster skill development and innovation within the volunteering sector.
Regional Landcare coordinators also support the delivery of the annual Victorian Landcare Grants, which delivered $3.22 million for volunteer groups last year and funded 217 on-ground and capacity-building projects to protect and restore the natural environment.
“This funding reflects our support for our invaluable volunteers who do important grassroots environmental work across the state,” said Environment Minister Ingrid Stitt
“These vital roles support local groups and projects across Victoria to secure our environment for future generations, and this funding will enable them to maintain the continuity of that work.”
“Local volunteers know what needs to be done to get the best environmental outcomes for their communities. We are supporting facilitators to empower locals to act for their environment.”
