There has been limited funding for the environment, and no new commitments for landcare in the 2026 State Budget, which was announced this week.
Some of the commitments made across the agriculture, water and environment portfolios include:
- $16.8 million to safeguard the future of Victoria's agriculture sector and support animal welfare. This will include the protection of Victoria’s agriculture sector from biosecurity threats and funding for several volunteer animal welfare organisations to deliver animal care and rehabilitation
- $2.2 million to extend the fox bounty program, to manage the impacts of livestock/wildlife predation
- $1.7 million to improve outdoor spaces and facilities
- $23.7 million (funding through the Commonwealth Government) to complete the Restoring Flows to the Mallee Floodplain program
- $9.9 million for activating healthy forests. This funding will enable the continuation of the Future Forests program, to assist in the management of over 1.8 million hectares of state forest where timber harvesting no longer occurs
Landcare is Victoria’s leading grassroots community movement, caring for land, waterways, habitats and farms.
With more than 600 groups mobilising nearly 90,000 annually, landcare helps to build regional economies, strengthen communities, improve agriculture and biodiversity and protect threatened species.
Participation in landcare continues to grow and the economic benefits of the volunteer movement are growing alongside, however key State Government grants are declining and several major landcare programs are due to end by early 2028.
As the peak body for landcare in the state, Landcare Victoria Inc. is continuing to advocate to the State Government for consistent, reliable and adequate investment to secure the future of community-led landcare in Victoria.
“Funding for landcare from the State Government has been decreasing and inconsistent from year to year. This creates uncertainty for the future and undermines the success of landcare volunteers,” said Jane Carney, Chair of Landcare Victoria.