Private Land Stewardship -- Report Cards and Commitments

Melbourne Water, a state government owned 'corporation' that manages the water supply to Melbourne (Australia), runs a Melbourne Water Stream Frontage Program for private properties that have streams running thru them. It's a grant for weed work, planting site preparation, seedlings (must be indigenous), management of plantings (at our place we need to fence the plantings off from wallabies), fencing, offstream watering points for stock. A three year contract is signed. Service is personal and flexible; money is granted up front but must be returned if not used. See www.melbournewater.com.au. As I understand it the money for the program is raised from a 'drainage charge' - actually the funds are for managing the water supply and distribution - pipes etc. - that is charged to every household and business in Melbourne and paid for at the time of paying for our water use. This is interpreted broadly - not just engineering aspects of managing supply - including arguing that water quality is improved by having healthy riparian areas. The users downstream benefit from this improved quality delivered at least partially via the grants on private land. As small landholders, and members of a local 'landcare' group where we are all trying to improve the quality of our land and native vegetation and wildlife, we find the program excellent.

Karen Alexander Clematis,
Australia

Hi Stephanie,

The Mackay/Whitsunday NRM group are working closely with landholders in their region of Nth Queensland to move them through levels of stewardship. They are using an ABCD scale and using incentives to drive the process. Have a look at http://www.mwnrm.org.au/programs/cross-industry_applications.html the program is working well I believe.

Regards
Lisa