Minister for the Environment Tony Burke announced $710,600 for a Glenelg Hopkins CMA EcoTender to address the decline of grassy eucalypt woodland and natural temperate grassland communities — both nationally endangered within the Victorian volcanic plains (VVP).

The VVP roughly covers the eastern half of the Glenelg Hopkins region, from Dartmoor north to Ararat and east across Moyne into the Corangamite CMA region.

The area supports a wide range of native plants and animals which have felt the impact of increased farm size and pressures for greater agricultural productivity.

Glenelg Hopkins chief executive Kevin Wood said the program would protect vegetation, rivers and wetlands in the Glenelg Hopkins region through the addition of 1250ha of land under EcoTender.

“By enhancing or protecting remnant native vegetation, rivers and wetlands, we create an opportunity for native plants and animals to improve their capacity to find habitat and continue to co-exist in a farming landscape,” Mr Wood said. “This creates better opportunities for endangered species to extend their range and viability.”

Glenelg Hopkins CMA will be calling for expressions of interest in the program in the near future, Mr Wood said.

“Private landholders will be asked to tender to undertake actions to reduce threats and increase biodiversity and farm sustainability.

“This typically involves pest plant and animal control, erection or maintenance of fences to exclude stock and revegetation.”

In 2010/11 Corangamite CMA and its partners undertook 717 hectares of on-ground works to improve soil and salinity in priority areas of the VVP, involving 83 landholders.

Mr Burke said the Glenelg Hopkins project was one of 43 funded across Australia which would protect the environment and safeguard iconic natural places, plants and animals.

“Through Caring for our Country the Gillard government is investing in a healthy, better protected and more resilient environment,” he said.

“The great part of Caring for our Country is that it supports volunteers and community groups to make a real difference to their local area.”