Guiding small scale property owners to become land stewards: CCMA
Guiding small scale property owners to become land stewards
This project will engage smaller landholders in catchment management and empower them to adopt environmental best practices through tailored land management workshops. The Small Blocks Big Dreams project is being delivered in partnership with local Landcare networks, providing local support and expert knowledge.
The project will target smaller properties with intensive land uses, specifically:
- artisan/small producers,
- lifestyle/bush block owners and
- livestock owners
This project aims to increase landholder skills, knowledge and confidence in natural resource management and support landholders to implement practice change including pest plant and animal control, soil health and native vegetation improvements. It aims to develop landholders into ‘catchment stewards’ who can act as mentors for their neighbours and the local community.
The Small Blocks Big Dreams project is one of 11 Our Catchments, Our Communities regional on ground projects, funded by the Victorian Government to support catchment stewardship, health, and resilience.
Why is it important?
Broader Focus
Existing programs primarily focus on full-time farmers with large enterprises and specific industries (e.g. livestock and cropping).
However, the region has a significant number of landholders using their land for non-farming purposes and small farms, with decreasing block sizes and a decline in full-time farmers, particularly in the region’s growing eastern wedge.
Natural Resource Management (NRM)
Negative Impacts
This project will address knowledge gaps among small block landholders and empower them to think strategically, make informed management decisions, increase active stewardship, improve land, water and vegetation management and increase community landscape resilience in rapidly changing areas.
Want to learn more about the program?
Contact the Landcare coordinators below to learn more about their individual workshops.
Lifestyle/Bush Block Owners (Information Session 2 April – register below)
Moorabool Catchment Landcare Group – Jackson Cass
0497 770 075
Artisan/Small Producers (Information Session 8 May – register below)
Central Otway Landcare Group – Andy Gray
0414 560 296