Profile
Background
Victoria Plains covers a diverse array of landscapes, from undulating hills with shallow gravel and deep sandy soils, to thickly wooded hills to broad valleys with complex duplex soils. Across these landscapes have evolved different farm management systems facing different environmental and sustainability issues.
There are five Land Conservation District Committees in the Shire (Calingiri-New Norcia, Piawaning-Yerecoin, East Gillingarra, Mogumber and West Koojan-Gillingarra); two incorporated Catchment Groups (Solomon-Yulgan and Wannamal Lake); two TopCrop Groups; a Sustainable Seed Bank Committee; Seed Collecting Group; and Womens Committee.
The Victoria Plains Landcare Management Committee has been operating since the start of 1998. It consists of a representative of each LCDC and Catchment Group, AgWA and Shire Council representatives. This committee works closely with the Victoria Plains Shire Council, local Land Conservation District Committees, Catchment Groups, State Government Agencies and research organisations.
Over the last three and a half years the profile of landcare and the level of activity occurring throughout the Shire has increased. The Landcare Program to date has attracted the following direct funding to the District from government sources:
| Grant Source | Amount | Duration | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Heritage Trust 97/98 | $125,137 | 1997-2000 | Shire & LCDCs |
| Natural Heritage Trust 97/98 | $77,140 | 1998-2001 | Calingiri-New Norcia |
| Natural Heritage Trust 97/98 | $45,200 | 1997-2000 | Piawaning-Yerecoin |
| Natural Heritage Trust 98/99 | $103,680 | 1999-2001 | Calingiri-New Norcia |
| Natural Heritage Trust 98/99 | $96,000 | 1999-2001 | Benedictine Community |
| Natural Heritage Trust 99/00 | $85,650 | 1999-2001 | West Koojan-Gillingarra |
| Natural Heritage Trust 00/01 | $110,406 | 2000-2002 | Solomon-Yulgan Catchment |
| Natural Heritage Trust 00/01 | $178,900 | 2000-2002 | Shire & LCDCs |
| Rural Towns Program | $59,500 | 1999 | Shire |
| Community Conservation Grant | $3,960 | 1999 | Calingiri-New Norcia |
| Greening Australia | $2,000 + equipment | 1999 | Calingiri-New Norcia |
| Wildflower Society of WA Survey | 1999 | Calingiri-New Norcia | |
| National Landcare Program | $3,000 | 2000-2001 | Females Focusing on the Future |
| Rural Urban Link Program Labour | $2000 | Victoria Plains Landcare Committee | |
| State Salinity Council | $197,700 | 2001-2002 | Victoria Plains Landcare Committee |
| Northern Agriculture Integrated Management Group | $120,000 | 2001-2002 | Victoria Plains Landcare Committee |
| Revised Pine Sharefarming Agreement (CALM) | $2000 | West Koojan-Gillingarra | |
| TOTAL | $1,208,273 |