Applications open for Alpine program
The Alpine Valleys Community Leadership annual program has opened applications for its 2022 program intake.
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Now in its 22nd year, the program aims to develop the leadership capacity of community-minded people and emerging leaders through experiential learning.
Alumni from the program have stepped-up into diverse leadership roles in community organisations and in their workplaces.
Program executive officer Jacqui Bramwell said the need for leadership at the local level was as great, if not greater, than it had ever been.
“In the light of the emergencies in our region, we have renewed our annual program content, and increased our focus in the 2022 program on leadership in a crisis, adaptive leadership, and working more closely within communities including project management for community projects,” Ms Bramwell said.
The program will start in February and run for 10 months through to November.
Applications close September 30. An Information pack and application form are available from: www.avclp.org.au
Boost for Finley’s Southern Growers research site
The Federal Government has awarded $517,471 to Southern Growers’ research and development facility at Finley as part of the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development program’s third round.
Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley said the new funding would allow the Smarter Irrigation project to expand activity at the 80 ha research facility by purchasing new locally-made equipment, to boost the site’s trial and demonstration areas.
“This means the [Southern] Growers can better replicate what’s actually happening in farm fields, leading to improvement of our region’s irrigation systems,” Ms Ley said.
“It will also drive a longer-term lift in employment and economic activity for our region, leaving a legacy our farmers can draw on for years to come.”
NSW Senator Perin Davey said it was important for economic development funding to go to projects designed to look at ways to maximise agricultural production with changing weather and climate cycles.
“Private groups like these provide an important link between research and extension and allow trialling of farming systems and technologies as well as crop alternatives,” Senator Davey said.
The latest $5.4 million in grants under this round builds on the $28 million previously announced and the nearly $39 million approved through rounds one and two of the program.
For more information, visit: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/water/mdb/programs/basin-wide/edpgrants
Tackling roadside weeds
The Victorian Government has announced a further $11.5 million in funding over the next four years for the Roadside Weeds and Pests Control Program, providing greater protections for agriculture, farms and the environment.
This year 56 councils will receive between $5000 and $75,000 to manage invasive plants and pests along municipal rural roadsides, with the program to be revised annually.
Weeds like serrated tussock and blackberries cost the Victorian economy more than $900 million each year as they have the potential to spread very quickly, resulting in serious negative impacts on agricultural production, as well as contributing to the spread of fires.
Recent drought has accelerated the presence and spread of new and emerging weeds that can threaten native biodiversity.
In the past 12 months, Gannawarra Shire Council inspected about 600 km of roadside and treated 266.5 km for weeds and pests.
Species targeted include rabbits, foxes, boxthorn, blackberry, briar rose, silver leaf nightshade, olive, wild cherry and khaki weed.
Local Government Victoria and Agriculture Victoria work closely with local councils in ensuring plans to tackle weeds and pests are tailored to their local area and appropriate funding is allocated to fulfil each strategy.
For more information, visit: www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/fundingprograms/roadside-weeds-and-pest-management
Call for Sheep Sustainability Framework chair
Expressions of interest are being sought for the role of Sheep Sustainability Framework Steering Group chair.
The SSF was initiated by Australia’s sheep industry leaders — Sheep Producers Australia and WoolProducers Australia, with secretariat and support services provided by Meat & Livestock Australia and Australian Wool Innovation — to demonstrate sustainable practices, identify areas for improvement, and better communicate with customers and consumers.
The SSF measures and tracks industry performance against key priorities to present evidence that Australian sheepmeat and wool have been produced responsibly to build trust and confidence in the industry.
It demonstrates that Australia has a commitment to improvement and a clear path towards more sustainable practices where needed.
The SSF also helps industry better understand its opportunities, challenges and impacts in key areas such as animal care, the environment, economic resilience, and people and community to ensure Australia can demonstrate it is a global leader in sustainable sheep production.
The estimated time commitment is 16 hours a month and the term of the role is two years.
For more information and to register an expression of interest, contact Sarah Hyland at shyland@mla.com.au by Friday, October 1.
Nominations open for VFF committees
The VFF is seeking nominations for its newly formed policy committees — Farming Systems, Infrastructure and Transport; and Workforce and Social Infrastructure.
VFF returning officer Jane Lovell said the new committees had been formed to improve the organisation’s ability to respond to the issues that matter most to farmers.
“These committees are going to advise on issues such as animal welfare, biosecurity, roads, fuel security and labour,” Ms Lovell said.
Ms Lovell said this was an excellent opportunity for VFF members to be involved in shaping government policy in Victoria and federally.
“We are asking members to put their hands up to contribute to VFF policy development and help to shape the future on topics such as animal welfare policy in Victoria or help to solve the devastating labour issues facing the agricultural industry.”
Nominations for the positions of members and chair of the committees close at 5pm on October 7.
More information about the committees and nomination forms can be found on the VFF website.
Urgent need to act on broadband problems
Rural Councils Victoria says businesses, families and organisations across rural and regional Victoria could miss out on vital broadband and mobile improvements unless they urgently alert government to problems.
“Communities only have until September 20 to have their say on mobile and broadband problems across the state,” Rural Councils Victoria chair Cr Mary-Ann Brown said.
“It is vital for families, communities, jobs, education and businesses that rural and regional areas get the broadband services they need.”
In June, the Victorian Government announced a survey as part of its $550 million Connecting Victoria program, asking Victorians to identify where mobile and broadband are most needed.
The survey can be accessed at: https://engage.vic.gov.au/connecting-victoria