AS WE BATTLE through one of the driest times on record, farmers are finding many dams are not fit for purpose when the pressure is on, proving a opportunity to futureproof these dry dams.<\/p>\n
Understanding the big dry is impacting farmers, the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has launched a new pilot project will help farmers and landowners to make their farms and dams more productive, sustainable, and minimise water loss.<\/p>\n
Minister for Water, Gayle Tierney, recently launched CCMA’s Testing the Waters pilot project, which will enable landholders to improve their farms through workshops, field days, and one-on-one site visits.<\/p>\n
Ms Tierney said farmers and landholders are the backbone of our catchments and play a crucial role in our regional economies.<\/p>\n
“This program will give farmers all the support and information they need to make informed decisions about how they manage their dams in the changing climate.”<\/p>\n
This initiative will provide farmers and landowners with access to experts that will help them create individual water stewardship plans that focus on sustainable practises to enhance water quality.<\/p>\n
They will also receive $2,000 to carry out works such as fencing to limit stock access and planting native vegetation in and around the dam.<\/p>\n
The project aims to boost farm productivity by making dams more resilient to climate change and improve water management and quality.<\/p>\n
Ecologists from the Australian National University’s Sustainable Farms initiative trained Landcare facilitators and Corangamite CMA staff to support landholders through the project.<\/p>\n
Corangamite CMA project officers and Landcare facilitators will support 15 landholders through the program this year, with another 15 taking part in 2026.<\/p>\n
They will also operate a second round of the Small Blocks Big Dreams project this year, working with Landcare networks to help small landowners.<\/p>\n
The Small Blocks Big Dreams has previously strengthened more than 150 small landholders in the Corangamite catchment to become land and water stewards.<\/p>\n
The program was designed to assist the increasing number of small landholders moving to the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AS WE BATTLE through one of the driest times on record, farmers are finding many dams are not fit for purpose when the pressure is on, proving a opportunity to futureproof these dry dams. Understanding the big dry is impacting farmers, the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has launched a new pilot project will help […]<\/p>\n