We opened applications for the first small grants round of the Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program from 3 to 31 March 2021.
Applicants could apply for grants between $5,000 and $50,000. Grants are for community-led, on-ground projects that improve the health of rivers and wetlands in the Basin.
Successful projects were announced on 29 July 2021.
Funded projects include:
- riverbank revegetation
- installing grazing exclusion fencing to prevent erosion
- invasive species control
- re-snagging rivers for fish habitat.
Each of the projects being funded are also listed below.
| Number | Project location | State | Australian Business Number (ABN) | Grant recipient | Short project description | Funding amount (GST exclusive) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meandarra | Queensland | 19 481 749 171 | The Trustee for S & P Grams Family Trust | Sustainable management of Brigalow Creek | $30,661.90 |
| 2 | Hattah-Kulkyne National Park | Victoria | 56 145 404 645 | F.A Murdoch & P.J Murdoch | Fencing Raakajlim Creek and floodplain | $50,000.00 |
| 3 | Borambola | New South Wales | 46 245 524 143 | The Trustee for Narrawa Trust | Erosion control and revegetation along the Murrumbidgee River | $48,000.00 |
| 4 | Bendemeer | New South Wales | 34 953 231 123 | Tamworth Regional Landcare Association | Restoration and rehabilitation of Macdonald River riparian zone | $50,000.00 |
| 5 | Wodonga | Victoria | 75 109 213 121 | Parklands Albury Wodonga Limited | Fencing Wodonga Regional Park’s connected floodplain corridors | $50,000.00 |
| 6 | Hindmarsh Island | South Australia | 47 007 952 114 | Wilderness Escape Outdoor Adventures Pty Ltd | Protecting wetlands and enhancing biodiversity on Hindmarsh Island | $49,190.00 |
| 7 | Clifton | Queensland | 39 942 260 159 | Clifton Landcare Group Inc | Protecting vulnerable floodplain and riverine landscapes from feral pigs | $8,750.00 |
| 8 | Glenarbon | Queensland | 67 446 735 414 | A.B McInnerney & S.F McInnerney | Protecting and regenerating Macintyre Brook | $42,972.00 |
| 9 | Hannaford | Queensland | 70 246 195 206 | Anthony Colin & Amy Nadine Wallis | Fencing waterways to control grazing | $39,557.20 |
| 10 | Googong | New South Wales | 66 445 168 766 | Queanbeyan Landcare Incorporated | Jerrabomberra Creek and environ restoration project | $19,140.00 |
| 11 | Hindmarsh Island | South Australia | 46 927 962 049 | Hindmarsh Island Landcare Group Incorporated | Restoring Shadows Paddock, Lawari Conservation Park | $50,000.00 |
| 12 | Toongi | New South Wales | 75 648 024 197 | A.K Orchard & R.H Orchard | Protection and regeneration of Hyandra Creek | $27,096.53 |
| 13 | Emmaville | New South Wales | 87 079 154 820 | Benton, James William | Construction of stock exclusion fences to reduce run off to the Beardy River | $21,815.00 |
| 14 | Yalca | Victoria | N/A | Kennedy, W.R. | Nature link between Barmah National Park and wetlands | $32,050.00 |
| 15 | Jerilderie | New South Wales | 48 500 202 569 | Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council | Improving the health of Colombo Creek | $20,000.00 |
| 16 | Yarrowford | New South Wales | 47 638 232 252 | B.J Okey & E Okey | Conservation and protection of biodiversity on property | $44,000.00 |
| 17 | Narrabri | New South Wales | 85 324 026 364 | Lower Namoi Cotton Growers Association Incorporated | Restocking the Namoi River with Golden Perch and Murray Cod | $8,000.00 |
| 18 | Renmark | South Australia | 18 082 229 810 | Austland Management Pty Ltd | Engaging community volunteers in the restoration of the Calperum Floodplain | $11,253.00 |
| 19 | Finniss | South Australia | N/A | Cholewa, C. | Installing stock exclusion fencing, weed control and planting along Finniss River | $42,200.00 |
| 20 | Poltalloch | South Australia | 36 539 931 105 | The Trustee for Angas Business Trust | Reed planting in Lake Albert | $14,190.80 |
| 21 | Mulgundawa | South Australia | 13 307 351 688 | P.R Chandler & S.J Chandler | Revegetation and fencing of mud flats and salt marsh at Lake Alexandrina | $20,000.00 |
| 22 | Warrumbungle | New South Wales | 18 246 198 266 | NSW Government Schools | A school and community approach to improving the Castlereagh River’s ecosystem | $50,000.00 |
| 23 | Wyangala | New South Wales | 76 934 900 801 | Hovells Creek Landcare Group Incorporated | Erosion control works on farms in the Lachlan River catchment | $50,000.00 |
| 24 | Condobolin | New South Wales | 77 643 671 682 | S.L Beattie & S.C Beattie | Exclusion fencing to protect the Lachlan River | $35,470.00 |
| 25 | Myrtleford | Victoria | 66 026 471 710 | Alan C & Dianne G Durling | Increasing biodiversity in the Gapsted Valley | $16,600.00 |
| 26 | Clayton Bay | South Australia | 23 917 949 584 | The Trustee for Nature Glenelg Trust | Conservation facility for the Southern Bell Frog in the Lower Lakes | $47,950.00 |
| 27 | Canberra | Australian Capital Territory/New South Wales | 21 140 870 885 | The Trustee for Ginninderry Conservation Trust | Murrumbidgee riparian education and restoration program | $47,920.00 |
| 28 | Wentworth | New South Wales | 29 602 568 696 | OzFish Unlimited Limited | Restoring habitat in the lower Darling by installing large woody and rock reef habitats | $46,700.00 |
| 29 | Murrabit West | Victoria | N/A | Hooper, K.J. & J. | Lifting the road level to allow better environmental watering of wetland | $42,676.00 |
| 30 | Miles | Queensland | 29 602 568 696 | OzFish Unlimited Limited | Installation of riparian fencing and revegetation along the Balonne River | $34,950.00 |
| 31 | Wellington Vale | New South Wales | 67 154 912 188 | Coldwood Pastoral Pty Limited | Reducing sedimentation in the Beardy River | $35,520.00 |
| 32 | Barham | New South Wales | 66 300 241 066 | Western Murray Land Improvement Group Incorporated | Pollack Wetland biodiversity enhancement project | $50,000.00 |
| 33 | Glen Innes | New South Wales | 22 494 686 391 | GLENRAC Incorporated | Mitigating erosion and improving biodiversity in Glen Innes waterways | $49,834.00 |
| 34 | Greta | Victoria | 45 751 031 941 | Greta Valley Landcare Group | Rehabilitating wildlife corridors along tributaries of the Ovens River | $50,000.00 |
| 35 | South Australian Riverland | South Australia | 74 783 741 583 | Mid Murray Landcare SA Incorporated | Conservation of the Regent Parrot in South Australian Murray–Darling Basin | $46,600.00 |
| 36 | Tamworth | New South Wales | 29 602 568 696 | OzFish Unlimited Limited | Goonoo Goonoo Creek weed removal and riparian restoration | $50,000.00 |
| 37 | Dubbo | New South Wales | 29 602 568 696 | OzFish Unlimited Limited | Native revegetation along the Macquarie River | $37,850.00 |
| 38 | Tarcutta | New South Wales | 29 602 568 696 | OzFish Unlimited Limited | Habitat mapping and habitat restoration on Tarcutta Creek | $50,000.00 |
| 39 | Inglewood | Queensland | 50 548 405 846 | B.J Meron & J.S Meron | Fencing along Macintyre Brook River and Catfish Creek | $49,885.00 |
| 40 | Bright | Victoria | 15 103 149 121 | Upper Ovens Valley Landcare Group Inc | Weed control and native revegetation on the upper Ovens River | $30,987.00 |
| 41 | Wangaratta | Victoria | 35 090 600 766 | Carboor Bobinawarrah Land Care Group Inc | Land rehydration projects in the Ovens River catchment | $23,980.00 |
| 42 | Torrington | New South Wales | 22 494 686 391 | GLENRAC Incorporated | Controlling invasive species and erecting educational signs | $29,512.00 |
| 43 | Stonehenge | New South Wales | 34 120 495 377 | Jay T Post & Karen L Edwards | Stock exclusion fencing along Beardy Waters | $8,938.00 |
| 44 | Jeir | New South Wales | N/A | van Bommel, L. & Richardson, D. | Erosion mitigation and wetland rehabilitation near the Murrumbidgee River | $19,910.00 |
| 45 | Gunbower | Victoria | 33 691 966 115 | Turtles Australia Inc | Gunbower Island turtle conservation projects | $47,889.00 |
| 46 | Murrabit West | Victoria | N/A | Hooper, K.J. & J. | Improving Redgum Swamp through fencing and channel bank work | $24,150.00 |
| 47 | Wellington Vale | New South Wales | 77 198 466 501 | The Trustee for Newsome Family Trust | Reducing erosion and run off into the Beardy River | $50,000.00 |
| 48 | Glen Innes | New South Wales | 22 494 686 391 | GLENRAC Incorporated | Improving river health and habitat values on the Severn River | $49,957.00 |
| 49 | Michelago | New South Wales | 62 129 024 997 | Australian River Restoration Centre Limited | Controlling Box Elder populations in the upper Murrumbidgee | $50,000.00 |
| 50 | Mitta Mitta | Victoria | 39 664 295 866 | Mitta to Murray Landcare Inc | Fencing and revegetation across the Mitta Mitta River catchment | $49,630.00 |
| 51 | Mansfield Shire | Victoria | 35 322 427 739 | Up2Us Landcare Alliance | Fencing and erosion management along the upper Broken River | $47,200.00 |
| 52 | Inglewood | Queensland | 32 606 492 728 | Yogi Farms Pty Ltd | Protection of waterways and habitats along the Macintyre Brook River | $49,000.00 |
| 53 | Narrabri | New South Wales | 24 344 310 591 | Anthony Robert Duncan | Stock exclusion and riparian weed management on the Namoi River | $36,000.00 |
| 54 | Bullatale | New South Wales | 97 432 352 896 | E.P Dudley & M.S Dudley & S.R Dudley | Removing flood banks on creeks adjoining Murray Valley National Park | $50,000.00 |
| 55 | Deepwater | New South Wales | 22 928 117 305 | R.K Johnston & S.R Johnston | Reducing the flow of nutrients into Yoongan Creek | $50,000.00 |
| 56 | Mypolonga | South Australia | 54 681 965 797 | Wetland Habitats Paiwalla Association Incorporated | Reducing the spread of Yellow Waterlily and Willows | $12,000.00 |
| 57 | Forbes | New South Wales | 58 000 185 035 | Droubalgie Pastoral Co Pty Ltd | Weed control and stock exclusion fencing along the Lachlan River | $50,000.00 |
| 58 | Cooladdi | Queensland | 20 319 926 560 | B.A McDonald & C.J McDonald & K McDonald & M.M McDonald | Fencing tributaries of the Paroo River and reducing sedimentation | $38,835.00 |
| 59 | Barmera | South Australia | 22 178 514 247 | Berri Barmera Landcare | Improving habitats for threatened species in the South Australian Riverland | $50,000.00 |
| 60 | Dubbo | New South Wales | 40 300 173 822 | Department of Education | Sustainable fishing and aquaculture | $20,000.00 |
| 61 | Brimin Collendina |
Victoria New South Wales |
11 341 305 378 | Rutherglen Landcare Group | Blackberry control on Murray River floodplain | $49,000.00 |
| 62 | Griffith | New South Wales | 83 705 339 833 | Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists Incorporated | Installing new walking path, interpretive signage and access control in Campbells wetland | $49,911.75 |
| 63 | Harrogate | South Australia | 41 989 081 371 | Joshua Hayward | Protection and ecological improvement of Bryce Creek | $35,000.00 |
| 64 | Glen Innes | New South Wales | 22 494 686 391 | GLENRAC Incorporated | Revegetation to protect catchment headwaters near Glen Innes | $49,980.00 |
| 65 | Monak | New South Wales | 29 602 568 696 | OzFish Unlimited Limited | Installing fish habitats in Bottle Bend waterways | $43,700.00 |
| 66 | Leeton | New South Wales | 29 602 568 696 | OzFish Unlimited Limited | Restoring fish habitat, controlling Willow trees and re-stocking native fish in the Murrumbidgee River | $50,000.00 |
| 67 | Condobolin | New South Wales | 38 073 366 944 | Beattie Enterprises Pty Ltd | Stock exclusion fencing on the Lachlan River | $16,000.00 |
| 68 | Whorouly | Victoria | 37 690 177 307 | Burgoigee Creek Landcare Group Inc | Removing woody weeds and improving erosion mitigation structures at Burgoigee Creek | $50,000.00 |
| 69 | Emmaville | New South Wales | 89 613 064 476 | Delubra Pastoral Pty Ltd | Reducing erosion and controlling livestock grazing at the Severn River | $50,000.00 |
| 70 | Wodonga | Victoria | 41 859 508 365 | Martin Dennis Page | Fencing, weed removal and native revegetation of a billabong | $43,380.00 |
| 71 | Deniliquin | New South Wales | 92 495 678 269 | Edwards Wakool Angling Association (EWAA) Inc | Restoring aquatic vegetation along Mid Murray waterways | $40,000.00 |
| 72 | Tolderol | South Australia | 34 165 571 089 | Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning Association Incorporated | Providing critical habitat for threatened species at Tolderol wetlands | $49,250.00 |
| 73 | Dubbo | New South Wales | 27 305 735 364 | Connective Indigenous Corporation | Riverbank rehabilitation to protect threatened species | $23,900.00 |
| 74 | Deniliquin | New South Wales | N/A | Macknight, D. | Improving water flow and habitat in a section of the Edward River | $50,000.00 |
How grants were assessed
A selection advisory panel assessed applications in accordance with the grant opportunity guidelines and made recommendations for funding to the Minister for Resources and Water. Find out about their skills and experience.
You can read our general feedback for applicants to find out what features made a strong application. Applications were more likely to receive funding if they:
- clearly linked their project activities to the objectives of the program
- demonstrated strong community engagement
- provided sufficient detail to address all selection criteria, including sub-criteria.
An independent probity advisor was involved throughout all stages of the selection advisory panel’s deliberations. The probity advisor identified no material risks that have not been effectively managed throughout the selection process. Read the probity certificate.
Chair – Dr Peta Derham
Assistant Secretary, Healthy Rivers Branch, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
Emma Bradbury
Ms Bradbury joined the Murray–Darling Association in May 2014 in the role of Chief Executive Officer and is a former councillor at Campaspe Shire Council. Ms Bradbury has extensive business management experience, having been director of a hydraulic engineering and mine maintenance business in Queensland’s Bowen Basin for 15 years and Campus Manager of Bendigo TAFE, Echuca Campus. Ms Bradbury has a background in mixed farming and local government, and holds a Bachelor of Social Science and Graduate Diploma in Education.
Gabrielle Coupland
Ms Coupland owns and operates an irrigated mixed farming business in the southern Riverina of NSW. Ms Coupland has taken on leadership roles in community, agriculture and irrigation and is currently the Chair of the combined NSW Murray Local Land Services Landholder Community Advisory Group and Aboriginal Advisory Group. Ms Coupland served as Chair of Southern Riverina Irrigators until October 2018.
Ms Coupland has lived and worked across Australia with a career in the agribusiness supply chain in areas such as financial education, advocacy, marketing, wool valuing and auctions, grain storage and succession facilitation. She has a Masters in Business Administration and an Associated Diploma of Applied Science (Wool and Fibre Marketing).
Phil Duncan
Mr Duncan, a Gomeroi man from Moree, has more than 39 years of experience working with Aboriginal people, communities and liaising with governments. He has provided high level policy and strategic advice to key Aboriginal representative organisations, state and Australian governments as well as key external stakeholder groups. Mr Duncan currently serves as the Chair of the Basin Community Committee, is on the board of the Natural Resources Access Regulator and is a consultant with Alluvium Consulting.
Michelle Hobbs
Ms Hobbs is an Associate Lecturer and PhD candidate at Griffith Sciences – Griffith University. Ms Hobbs’ research interests include freshwater ecology of inland and tropical rivers, particularly invertebrates and fish. Ms Hobbs has several years of industry experience as an environmental consultant. This work has investigated population and community ecology of marine and freshwater systems and water quality assessments. Ms Hobbs has remote field experience including the Murray–Darling Basin, northern Western Australia, far north Queensland and Papua New Guinea, as well as international experience in the Philippines, Laos, Indonesia and Canada.
Ms Hobbs has also worked in policy (water quality) and wildlife conservation at the Department of Environment and Science (Queensland Government), contributing to policy strategies, community consultation and stakeholder engagement. In 2020 Ms Hobbs was a member of the Technical Advisory Group for the Native Fish Management and Recovery Strategy for the Murray–Darling Basin Authority. Ms Hobbs identifies as an Aboriginal woman and is of the Bidjara nation of Central Queensland.
Rachel Kelly
Ms Kelly has been a Policy Manager at the Ricegrowers Association since 2015 and is Vice–Chair of the NSW Irrigators’ Council. Ms Kelly has a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Business Management) from the University of Canberra and is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program, which she completed in October 2018. Prior to her current roles, Ms Kelly practiced law with an Echuca law firm, working predominantly within the areas of agribusiness, water law and litigation. Ms Kelly also held the role of Legal Officer at Murray Irrigation Limited for the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program in New South Wales.
Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee hearing
The Committee examined the legislative authority for the program on 2 August 2021.
Read more about the hearing, including answers to questions on notice.
Download the Small grants round 1 grant opportunity documents
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, 2021
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Download the general feedback for applicants
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 2022
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.
Download the probity certificate
The probity certificate may not meet Australian Government accessibility requirements as it was not prepared by the department.
| Document | File size |
|---|---|
| Murray–Darling Healthy Rivers Program – Small grants round 1 – probity certificate PDF | 183 KB |
If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.