New funding for bushfire-affected Cherry Gardens landholders
Landholders who were affected by the Cherry Gardens bushfire in January this year are receiving almost $90,000 in grants, made possible through the State Government’s Catchment Recovery funding. The grants are part of a $2.7million package announced earlier this year to support landholders across the Cudlee Creek and Cherry Gardens fire scars.
The Cherry Gardens bushfire destroyed over 27,000 ha, impacting private properties and public reserves, including Scott Creek Conservation Park and Mount Bold Reservoir.
Environment Minister David Speirs, said the $2.7m Catchment Recovery funding, provided to the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board by the State Government, will support landholders to undertake much-needed land management practices.
“The Catchment Recovery funding is supporting landholders in both the Cudlee Creek and Cherry Gardens fire-affected areas to build new resilience into their properties, and secure biodiversity and productivity goals as they recover from the bushfires.
“I look forward to hearing more about the outcomes of this grants program and am confident that it will showcase positive examples of private landholders working across boundaries, with their neighbours, and other partners, using local contractors to assist the recovery of the landscape and local economy,” he said.
Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board General Manager, Michael Garrod, said the board is working closely with the landholders to understand their land management needs and to help them tackle fire-related land management issues on their properties.
“Work to be undertaken by these landholders will include revegetation, pest plant and animal control, watercourse rehabilitation, pasture management, and erosion control.
“The board is committed to recovering our landscapes and addressing the inevitable land management issues that result from a bushfire. It’s a big job and these grants are one more step in a long recovery process. We will continue to work with the State Government to ensure landholders get the support they need,” he said.
Catchment Recovery is part of the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board’s broader bushfire recovery project, and aims to empower landholders to manage for more resilient landscapes to better deal with climate change and future extreme events.
Further support will be rolled out over the next 18 months including grants for landholders affected by the Cudlee Creek fires, who were previously not ready for the land management support on offer. Supporting the development of Bushfire Recovery Action Plans for landholders, and investment in creek-lines and paddock tree renewal will also be high priorities for Catchment Recovery.
