GROUNDWORKS PROJECT
UPDATE
Groundworks South West
Land Management Tender is a funding program designed to deliver integrated,
on-ground Natural Resource Management (NRM) throughout the South West region.
It is delivered by the Blackwood Basin Group and the Peel-Harvey Catchment
Council, with funding from the Australian and State Governments and administered
by South West Catchments Council. The BBG is coordinating the Lower South
West-Warren and Wheatbelt-Woolbelt components of the program.
Round 1 of Groundworks
received a great response from land managers throughout the South West! We
were able to provide $140,000 in on-ground funding to the Lower South West-
Warren area and $1 million to the Wheatbelt-Woolbelt. Thanks to this funding,
a wide range of on-ground works are currently underway for salinity containment,
improving water quality, improving biodiversity and more!
Round 2 of Groundworks
is currently underway and it has been advertised extensively over the last
month in local and regional newspapers and over the radio. Considerable interest
in the funding has been expressed and a variety of on-ground works have been
proposed. In order to help landholders and NRM Officers submit successful
tenders under Round 2, the Groundworks Team held "How to Tender Your
Tender" workshops in June and July. The workshops were held in Katanning,
Williams, Manjimup and Augusta and were very successful, with 35 participants
from the NRM and farming sector.
Tenders submitted under
Round 2 are due no later than the 27th July and all projects must be completed
by 30th June 2008. Successful and unsuccessful applicants will be informed
by 31st August 2007 and funding agreements are due to be finalised prior to
30th September.
For more information about
the Groundworks project, contact Project Coordinator Nerilee Boshammer on
9765 1555 or nerileeb@westnet.com.au.
GROUNDWORKS
WORKSHOPS A BIG SUCCESS
Round 2 of Groundworks
South West Land Management Tender opened on the 5th of June, providing landholders,
community and catchment groups and local governments throughout the South
West with the opportunity to apply for funding for on-ground landcare works.
In order to aid interested people in the submission of their tenders, the
Blackwood Basin Group held informative and interactive "How to Tender
Your Tender" workshops throughout the Lower South West-Warren and Wheat
Belt-Wool Belt areas. These workshops were designed to provide landholders
and Natural Resource Management Officers with information about the Groundworks
tender process. Workshops were held in Katanning, Williams, Manjimup and Augusta
and were attended by 35 landholders and NRM Officers from throughout surrounding
areas.
Workshop
participants were provided with information about the Groundworks program background,
fundable activities, the Groundworks tender process and Market Based Instruments
in general. They then took part in activities designed to aid them in the formulation
and submission of tenders. Time was also dedicated to a question and answer
session and providing feedback on project ideas.
The workshops proved a huge success, leaving participants feeling more confident
about the Groundworks process. Participant feedback illustrated that the workshops
were 'well explained and practical' and presented 'easy to understand information'.
Participants were impressed with the diversity of on-ground works scenarios
discussed and felt that the workshops provided 'useful advice and discussion
which is always effective'.
"It was great to
hear about the different project ideas that people had and to help them work
through some of the potential issues facing them. The workshops proved very
valuable, not just for the landholders and NRM Officers who attended, but
for the Groundwork's Team.", said Groundworks Coordinator and workshop
facilitator Nerilee Boshammer.
