Victoria’s Landcare networks could be forced to cancel their facilitators next year after the Andrews Labor Government failed to fund the positions.
The news comes as Landcare marks its 30th anniversary as a national organisation this week.
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, said The Nationals first funded Landcare facilitators in 2011.
“Landcare groups and networks currently provide part-time employment for 79 facilitators which support 60 per cent of the 600 Landcare groups across Victoria,” Mr McCurdy said
“Previously facilitators have been funded on a three-year cycle and the Landcare network was bitterly disappointed when the Andrews Government only gave them a year’s worth of funding in the 2019 budget proving their lack of commitment to caring for our environment,”
Mr McCurdy said that Landcare is not only about long term protection for our environment, but engaging community networks who share similar beliefs and values, willing to come together and, volunteer their time for environmental longevity.
“Landcare in the Ovens Valley conducts successful volunteer based tree planting programs which requires the direction of facilitators and their management to ensure its long term effectiveness.
“Landcare’s contribution to building and maintaining our local landscape is too important to be overlooked by the Victorian Labor government funding.”
He said that without Landcare facilitators, volunteers will struggle to develop, submit and manage programs that make up the purpose of the landcare group.
“Labor’s disappointing fund allocation post June 2020 is undermining those community networks that do such a great job on vital local environmental programs.”