CLEAN COASTAL CATCHMENTS PROJECT UPDATE

After excellent interest, applications for this year’s Clean Coastal Catchments On-Farm grants the program closed on the 21st of December 2020.

North Coast Local Land Services received much interest from Greenhouse Vegetable and Berry growers across the North Coast Local Land Services region from Port Macquarie Hastings Council, through to the Tweed Shire.

The grant’s aim is to assist farmers who are interested in implementing works that address soil erosion, improve water use efficiency and reduce nutrient runoff to waterways. The level of interest for these grants this year was much greater than the funding available.

From the many excellent applications, all projects have now been assessed and the highest scoring shortlisted to receive a Hort 360 and irrigation assessment on their property.

In anticipation of additional funds becoming available in 2021/22, the project team are short-listing as many projects as possible. Applicants are being notified about their results through March.

Works completed in the previous,19/20 Clean Coastal Catchments program are now fully realised, although some works were delayed by COVID impacts.

Works delivered include irrigation system improvements, improved irrigation scheduling tools in hydroponics, repairing eroding land, and implementing waste nutrient re-use systems.