Boost for bushland

Quairading’s Ben and Emma Wilson are one of 49 farming families to benefit from the latest round of funding for the region’s environment.

The couple will use their grant of more than $18,000 to fence and protect 56 hectares of remnant woodland and for feral animal control on their farm.

Natural resource management group Wheatbelt NRM will manage the roll-out of $550,000 as part of the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

The grant will give the third-generation farmers the support they need to protect fragile bushland.

“This kind of support has helped us to protect two pieces of valuable remnant bushland and a revegetated creek line on our property,” Emma Wilson said.

“We plan to build nearly seven kilometres of fencing to protect this bushland from both livestock and feral animals.

“The area is home to native species, including wildflowers, eucalypts, acacias, everlastings and orchids. We also know we have echidnas, tawny frogmouth owls, hawks and lizards.

“Unfortunately we also have a rabbit, cat and fox problem, but with this funding we can bait and trap these populations that are predating these native animals.”

Natural resource management group Wheatbelt NRM will work with the 49 landholders from areas including Goomalling, Yilgarn, Brookton, Lake Grace and Merredin.

The group’s biodiversity program manager Rowan Hegglun said more than 210km of fencing would be rolled out.

“Through this program we’re also working with the community across 23,000 hectares co-ordinating, trapping and baiting to control rabbits, foxes and cats.

“The grants will also help landholders to plant nearly 130,000 trees.”

For more information, contact Rowan Hegglun, on 9670 3100 or 0427 386 274.