Glencore have again partnered with Hunter Local Land Services, this time investing $450,000 over 3 years to the Halls Creek Catchment Health Improvement Project.
Glencore first partnered with Hunter Local Land Services in 2011 when they invested a whopping $1.5million over 3 years in the Wybong Catchment Health Improvement Program (CHIP).
Then between 2014 and 2015 the invested a further $250,000 in the Glendonbrook Riparian Enhancement project to encourage landholders to implement farm practices to protect and rehabilitate riparian land.
In 2017, they helped develop and implement a Professional Wild Dog Controller (PWDC) Program with a further investment of $150,000 over 4 years. The PWDC Program is being undertaken in the Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter Local Government Areas.
Now they have committed to the Halls Creek Catchment Health Improvement Project which will see Hunter Local Land Services and Glencore working with landholders in the Upper Hunter to improve the health of Halls Creek and its catchment.
Landholders will be supported to improve their land management practices through whole farm planning, extension activities, capacity building and funding for on ground projects.
The area included runs from the Liverpool Ranges to Sandy Hollow, encompassing Halls Creek and its tributaries. Hunter Local Land Services Project Officer Adam Bush said the catchment has been identified as a priority area.
“Under our Hunter River Management Plan, Halls Creek has been highlighted as an area for increasing woody vegetation to improve stream bed and bank stability,” said Adam.
“This program will provide funding to address this key natural resource management issue, that will benefit the sustainability of local properties for landholders as well as increasing the area’s biodiversity.”
“We will also focus on increasing the resilience of native vegetation, increasing vegetation connectivity, reducing pest and weed invasion and improving pasture management across the catchment area.”
The program will include training days such as farm mapping and drone operation skills for producers, the development of local best management practice case studies, the establishment of a focus group to build capacity of local landholders and the funding of on ground projects that improve the health of the catchment.
On-ground works will be delivered across priority areas of the Halls Creek catchment with a focus on projects that improve riparian and grazing management, soil health and large-scale biodiversity connectivity.
“Glencore is pleased to support Hunter Local Land Services as it implements a range of initiatives to help local landholders improve the health of Halls Creek and its catchment”, said Craig Strudwick, Community Relations Manager for Glencore’s coal business.
“Glencore puts significant effort into minimising our own environmental impacts on the land we mine, and we actively seek to support additional projects that can deliver important conservation work in the regions in which we operate.”
Information on the incentives available can be found on Hunter Local Land Services website. For more information please contact Adam Bush, Hunter Local Land Services Project Officer on 6540 2415. |