A national biodiversity hotspot, the Victorian Volcanic Plains (VVP) Bioregion covers 2.3 million hectares, extending across south-west Victoria from Melbourne to Portland. Native vegetation remains on only 4.5% of the area, most of which is on private land. These remnant areas of native grasslands, grassy woodlands and wetlands, are crucial for the conservation of endemic flora and fauna species such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Brolga and Corangamite Water Skink.

The VVP is a highly productive agricultural region and the task of maintaining effective agriculture production while at the same time protecting and enhancing biodiversity remains a challenge for many landholders. To assist them with this work, PlainsTender offers landholders the opportunity to gain financial support for entering an agreement to provide management services that maintain or improve the quality or extent of their native vegetation.

Ecology Partner Pty. Ltd. has been commissioned by VVP PlainsTender to undertake detailed field assessments of areas supporting remnant native vegetation as part of the PlainsTender project. Our technical officers undertake landholder property site assessments based on the habitat hectare assessment process, record threatened flora and fauna taxa, prepare site maps articulating desired management options and record details to be used in a negotiated Draft Management Plan.

The joint initiative between Corangamite, Glenelg Hopkins, North Central and Port Phillip Westernport CMAs, the Victorian Government and the Australian Government's Natural Heritage Trust who have allocated $3.8 million for the project, started in August 2004 and will run for a number of years.

For further information on the PlainsTender please refer to the Corangamite Catchment Management Authorities website.

Click here to view or download the PDF document.