Threatened Species - Woodland Hollows

Overview

The Healthy Landscapes - Woodland Hollows incentive funding focuses on preserving woodland habitat to protect hollow-dwelling threatened species including:

• Barking Owl
• Powerful Owl
• Masked Owl
• Squirrel Glider
• Corben’s Long-eared Bat
• Yellow Sheath-tailed Bat

Incentive funding is being offered to eligible landholders to undertake targeted on-ground enhancement and conservation works to aid in habitat protection and threat abatement. Priority will be given to sites aiming to protect large hollow-bearing trees.

Applications close on 21 October 2022.

Project information sheet

• Threatened Species - Woodland Hollows information sheet (PDF)

Priority area map

What type of activities may be funded?

The Healthy Landscapes - Woodland Hollows program will provide funding and technical support for the following activities, subject to site assessment and project ranking:

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, landholders must meet the following criteria:

• The project area must be located within the Central West Local Land Services region. Priority will be given to applications within the targeted area in the map above.
• The project area must have a minimum width of 25 metres. Paddock tree protection must be a minimum of 25 metres x 25 metres or outside tree drip line.
• The applicant must comply with the project standards relevant to their activities determined at the site assessment .
• The applicant must have $10 million public liability insurance.
• Non-payment of rates and other Local Land Services fees and accounts will result in application ineligibility.
• Applicants must successfully participate in the online training program prior to on ground works commencing.
• All project infrastructure works must be completed by 31 May 2023.

How to apply

Applications close October 21, 2022 and will be assessed in the order they are received. To apply, complete an Expression of Interest form and submit:

• In person: hand deliver to any Central West Local Land Services office.
• Via email: submit as a PDF attachment to: incentives.centralwest@lls.nsw.gov.au

Assessment process

• Once all details have been completed, and the application form returned, a Central West Local Land Services officer will contact you to discuss your project and organise a site visit. Any incomplete applications will be returned to the landholder.
• Funding availability is limited and offered based on a Central West Local Land Services team review of the environmental services ratio scores and cost per hectare of all proposals.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

For further information

For further information contact:
Catie Guise | Acting Senior Land Services Officer - NRM  
PO Box  897 | 46 Sherriff Street | Forbes NSW 2871
M: 0429 982 197  E: catherine.guise@lls.nsw.gov.au

Disclaimer: Funding is limited, which may mean some incentive projects will not be funded. Central West Local Land Services reserves the right to refuse funding for incentive projects or components which provide insufficient environmental benefit for their cost. Assessment of environmental benefit is at the sole discretion of the Central West Local Land Services. Funding amounts listed are GST exclusive. Funding amounts, activities and project standards are subject to change without notice.

Project standards (terms and conditions)

• Project implementation timeframe. All project infrastructure works must be completed by 31 May 2022. Duration of agreement is 10 years after the completion of on-ground works.
• Stock-proof fencing. New fences must be constructed with new materials and be maintained in a stock-proof condition for the duration of the agreement. Conventional fencing must be a minimum of 6 wires and electric fencing a minimum of 3 wires. No apron or barbed wire is to be used in the construction of the fence to ensure safe passage of wildlife Plain wire is to be used for sections where there is a potential for flooding. Boundary fencing is ineligible for funding.
• Individual paddock tree fencing. Planted individual paddock trees must be guarded to protect from grazing animals for the duration of the 10-year agreement. As a minimum, guards need to be 1.8m high made from sheep mesh or equivalent with 2 steel posts supporting and a minimum 1m diameter.
• Alternate stock water supply. Available only where stock access to water will be lost because of project work (e.g. project fencing has removed access to a creek or dam). Funding is limited to a maximum of one alternative watering point where access to a watering point has been removed as a direct result of project activities. Troughs must at a minimum be concrete with a fully enclosed valve chamber and must be maintained in operational condition for the life of the project. Any polythene pipeline must be buried to prevent damage by fire or UV light. It is recommended that new water pipes and fittings are a minimum of 2 inch/50 mm internal diameter. Water infrastructure must be maintained for the duration of the agreement.
• Grazing management regime. Sites can be strategically grazed up to twice annually, with a maximum graze duration of up to three days. The grazing strategy employed should maximise groundcover, according to land capability. Strategic grazing to manage fire hazards or weeds is permitted if required.  If supplementary planting, stock are to be excluded from the project area for three years after the completion of supplementary planting on-ground works. Grazing is not to be undertaken during flowering and seed set during spring and summer.
• Management of project area for ground cover. The grazing strategy employed should maximise groundcover according to land capability. Project areas must be managed to increase perennial plant density and diversity. Groundcover is to be maintained at an average minimum level of 70% across the whole project area for the duration of the agreement. The grazing strategy employed should aim for 100% groundcover.
• Minimise ground disturbance. The site should be managed to minimise ground disturbance that could lead to soil erosion for the duration of the agreement.
• Supplementary planting and/or revegetation. Plant/seed establishment activities will be coordinated by Central West Local Land Services, including purchase of seed and/or seedlings. A supplementary planting/revegetation plan will be developed for the project site by Central West Local Land Services and will include site design, species list, the position, width and length of the planting arrangement and site preparation requirements. Landholders will be required to organise for their own site preparation, planting of seedlings and ongoing maintenance as per supplementary planting plan and advice from Central West Local Land Services. Project areas containing supplementary plantings are to have stock excluded for a minimum of three years to enable successful plant establishment.
• Habitat features. Dead standing, fallen timber and rocks are important habitat features and must be retained on the project site. Movement of these features within the site is permitted only if they present a hazard.
• Cultural heritage survey. Cultural heritage sites identified within the project area will be maintained and protected. Project activities and ongoing site management must not cause damage to any known cultural heritage sites. Cultural heritage sites discovered within the project area will be recorded in the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System.
• Pest plant and pest animal control. All pest animals and pest plants must be controlled on the site for the duration of the agreement. Chemical control must only be with a registered herbicide and in accordance with the directions on the label. If spraying along riparian areas, only chemicals registered for use around waterways are permitted.
• Permits and approvals. All relevant permits and approvals for farm water supply dams must be obtained from or approved by appropriate government agencies prior to the commencement of any works.
• Legislative requirements. Applicants must comply with all legislative responsibilities imposed by any other relevant Act in developing and implementing the project.
• Native Vegetation. Under the Local Land Services Act 2013, any land under this project area cannot be used as a set aside for the duration of the agreement term. The project area may be eligible to undertake Environmental Protection Works in accordance with the Local Land Services Act 2013 and will require an approved project variation.
• Monitoring and evaluation. Applicants are required to adhere to and maintain monitoring records for the duration of the agreement, as per the Central West Local Land Services monitoring program. Staff will establish monitoring sites and methods appropriate to your project.
• Field day activities and access to the project site. The project site is to be made available for Central West Local Land Services to conduct educational field day activity and provide information for case studies if requested and allow access to Local Land Services staff and any associated contractors for the purposes of on-ground scientific monitoring for the duration of the project.