Auspiced by Murrindindi Shire Council, the $130,000 in funding is set to enable the Farm Forestry Innovation Working Group to deliver a project that takes the region one step closer to a sustainable future.
Member Christopher Thorn said the grant would be of significant benefit to the group’s Farm Forestry Project.
“The grant funding will be used to analyse and identify the current state of farm forestry in Murrindindi to ensure we are not replicating existing activities and learning from past activities in this space,” Mr Thorn said.
“The aim is to establish resources to educate farmers, businesses and the community of the value of growing high-quality trees to enable the creation of high-value timber products.”
Mr Thorn said the funding would allow the group to achieve a number of outcomes, including:
- To identify and encourage innovation of future opportunities for a long-term sustainable industry plan best suited to the shire
- To establish a Farm Forestry Interpretive Centre that would provide resources to educate and potentially facilitate farm forestry, and
- To seed a small social enterprise, which would work with local groups to demonstrate processing timber from farm forestry projects.
The project will also assess the potential for small to medium-scale plantations on farming land, supporting income diversification through products such as sustainably harvested timber, firewood, carbon offset credits, eucalyptus and native food production.
What is farm forestry?
Farm forestry is the practice of strategically planting trees on farms, as more trees on a farm can protect environmental values and improve economic returns.
Potential benefits include enhanced water quality, improved soil health, creation of wood products for use on farm, improved shade and shelter for livestock, and enhanced biodiversity.
Murrindindi Shire Council acting chief executive Andrew Paxton said council’s support of the project was future-focused.
“By auspicing the group’s grant application, council has enabled the opportunity to progress, helped with good governance and reporting required through the grant, while allowing community leaders to focus on delivery,” Mr Paxton said.
“The project reflects the type of innovation and collaboration that Shaping Murrindindi’s Future sets out to support.
“This initiative represents more than just a shift in land use. It’s about building a future-focused, resilient and place-based industry that offers new jobs, business opportunities and a sense of local pride in Murrindindi’s forestry legacy, and future.”
The project will be a shire-wide initiative, with a particular focus on Yea to Alexandra, Taggerty, Buxton and Marysville.
“It is expected the project will result in better agricultural and environmental outcomes for those who participate in farm forestry and provide information and solutions for those wanting to know how to establish, manage and then process and capitalise on farm forestry activities,” Mr Thorn said.
“The aim is to create awareness, jobs and timber production that creates economic opportunities, as well as tourism and business opportunities.”
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