Change In Land Use

What is Change in Land Use (CLU)?

A CLU is considered an alteration of farm enterprise across a significant proportion of any high priority farm.

What is a High Priority farm?                  

• those with a water-table depth of less than 2 m for 2 consecutive years in last 10 years; or
• where reclassification of marginal rice soils has reduced the suitable rice area from greater than 50% to less than 50% of the farm; or
• salinity hot-spot areas as defined in works carried out by CSIRO (Christen et al, 2004); or
• farms with visible salinised areas greater than 10 ha

How would Change in Land Use benefit my farm?

A CLU would benefit your farm by:

·        aiding in the re-alignment to a desired enterprise

·        potentially increasing farm income

·        increasing productivity

·        providing a greater diversity of crops

·        spreading the risk across a broader enterprise

·        reducing water-table levels and net recharge

·        reducing the likelihood of soil salinisation (with careful management)

·        adding to farm aesthetics through the establishment of more permanent plantings

What funding assistance is available for Change in Land Use?

An incentive of 80% to a maximum of $50,000 per farm is available for high priority farms for significant change in land use that reduces net recharge. 

What activities are eligible for this incentive?

The activities to be funded under this incentive are flexible, and innovation is encouraged.  The following activities are some of the examples that would be considered eligible:

• changing from flood irrigation to row cropping or pressurised irrigation
• establishing permanent plantings
• converting from annual crops/pastures to perennial crops/pastures
• costs associated with converting from cropping to grazing enterprise e.g. fences, yards, stock watering systems etc.
• declassification of rice ground could be included by the landholder as part of the package
• purchase of seed and transportable infrastructure/capital (stock, portable pumps, trucks / machinery, etc.) are not eligible activities for this incentive

What are the requirements?

1. Completion of EM-31 surveying
2. LWMP compliant Whole Farm Plan, if applicable
3. A Business Plan
4. Signing of a management agreement including a progress reporting schedule
5. The landholder must complete a CICL approved education program (and pressurised irrigation workshop if applicable)
6. CICL will withhold $5000 of the incentive until landholders have completed this course

How do I apply for funding?

• Complete the Interim Application Form (see below)
• With assistance from CICL, prepare a full application
• The application for this incentive will be assessed on the principles of reduction in net recharge, wider community benefits and value for money
• Applications will be assessed by the Coleambally Environmental Committee for suitability on a competitive basis
• The landholder will be able to be paid up to $50,000 in installments on the provision of legitimate receipts

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