By Corey Everitt
The vital funding for landcare and their facilitators has been extended another year to 2026, pleasing local landcare groups with the assurance that they can run effectively into the near future.
Landcare groups throughout Victoria received the news on Thursday 9 May that the Minister for the Environment Steve Dimopoulos announced an extra $3.6 million for the Victorian Landcare Facilitator Program, extending the funding for facilitators to early-2026.
Facilitators work to coordinate and engage volunteers in landcare groups for both increased public participation and effective sustainable practices on the land, according to Landcare Victoria eighty facilitators and 10 Coordinators harness the power of more than 600 groups and tens of thousands of volunteers.
This is a welcome relief as Landcare Victoria last Wednesday stated they were ‘let down’ as no new funding was declared in the latest State Budget, leaving facilitators funded until 2025.
With the quick announcement, local groups like Western Port Catchment Landcare Network (WPCLN) were happy to see funding extended for their own facilitator Sue Finley.
“On behalf of Western Port Landcare I am thrilled with this announcement, as it allows the incredible work of our facilitator to continue,” WPCLN president Jillian Goudie said.
“WPCLN has a specific focus on engaging our community and specifically our youth with landcare into 2024 and beyond , and this would not be possible without our very valued and skilled facilitator.
“Our current impressive growth in this area is directly attributed to her dedication and enthusiasm, and we look to grow further as we journey to create a sustainable and safe natural environment into the future.”
