Funding opportunities

Help to protect natural resources and water quality

Several sources of funds are available to help you make your farm more sustainable and protect water quality for your animals and downstream users. Contact your local Department of Primary Industries office,  catchment management authority and the Sydney Catchment Authority to find out more about current funding opportunities.

Sustainable Grazing Program

This partnership program between the Department of Primary Industries and the Sydney Catchment Authority offers subsidised training, workshops and on-site farm visits to help you improve the productivity and sustainability of your enterprise.

Contact the Sustainable Grazing Program coordinator at the Department of Primary Industries on 02 4828 6636 for more information.

Grazier Incentives Program

Funds are available to:

  • fence according to land capability
  • fence sub-divisions of large paddocks to improve pasture and grazing management
  • create alternative watering points where stock are excluded from water access or paddocks are subdivided
  • set up droughtlots in appropriate areas
  • establish tree lots
  • remediate minor/sheet erosion
  • help with minor earthworks and improve stock facilities to improve water quality
  • improve or install stabilised stock crossings.

For more information contact the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority at www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au or Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority at www.southern.cma.nsw.gov.au

Catchment Protection Scheme

The Catchment Protection Scheme is a joint Sydney Catchment Authority and catchment management authority initiative to repair land degradation in the Sydney drinking water catchments. Funds are available to:

  • fence vulnerable areas including gullies
  • stabilise creek crossings
  • install river bank and bed erosion control works
  • build flumes (a concrete or rock chute to protect an eroded gully)
  • install sediment trapping weirs
  • build contour or graded banks
  • reshape eroded gullies
  • plant native vegetation in treated areas.

For more information contact the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority at www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au or Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority at www.southern.cma.nsw.gov.au

Riparian management assistance grants

The Sydney Catchment Authority provides grants for property owners to protect and conserve riparian zones along priority creeks and associated streams and gullies in the Sydney drinking water catchment. Funds are available in priority areas to:

  • fencing to control stock access to waterways
  • alernative water supplies for stock
  • stock crossings
  • native plant revegetation along waterways
  • minor erosion control.


For more information on current priority creeks and to download a copy of the Riparian management assistance grants guide and application form contact the Sydney Catchment Authority at www.sca.nsw.gov.au or telephone 1300 SCA GOV (1300 722 468)..