Landowners like Kaarst Kruen and Lachlan Cook may have different motivations for wanting to revegetate their properties – but both have utilised the Victorian Government’s BushBank Private Land Stream to help make it happen.
Kaarst began restoring his 48-hectare property in Barwite immediately after purchasing his property in 2021 aiming to create a haven for endangered species. Lachlan’s site will be a biodiverse carbon project which he will register for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). In both cases, BushBank is helping to fund the revegetation with a diverse range of locally native plants and permanently protecting their efforts with a Trust for Nature conservation covenant.
Two years into the project, key Delivery Partner of the BushBank Private Land Stream, Cassinia Environmental, is pleased with the progress that has been made. Key achievements include establishing a project team, developing essential documentation, collaborating with partners, engaging with Traditional Owner groups, securing 40% of the target hectares, and restoring 2,540 hectares.
You can view the February 2025 BushBank Program Update here:
BushBank – Program Update – February 2025
Cassinia Environmental CEO, Nathan Smith, says ‘landowner recruitment and site progress is steady, with fifty BushBank sites in progress and 8,038 hectares secured’. The project’s flexibility and multi-year approach to site preparation and revegetation are positive aspects noted by landowners and partners.
Importantly, BushBank is delivering threatened species and ecosystem benefits, with sites providing habitat for multiple threatened species and ecosystems. Examples include the Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, through habitat restoration in the Wimmera and Malleefowl with large areas of habitat added in the Mallee.
Cassinia continues to work closely with First Peoples groups. Significantly, 53% of seed and 6% of seedlings were purchased from First Peoples organisations in 2024. Cultural heritage advice has been sought on BushBank sites, and efforts are underway to build First Peoples’ capacity in the sector and involvement in the project.
Cassinia is collaborating with the native seed supply industry to ensure BushBank Private Land Stream can deliver on its targets. It is estimated that 15 tonnes of native seed will be required to deliver the project in the coming years. This presents a great opportunity for landowners with native vegetation on their property to get paid for collecting seed.
Through the BushBank Private Land Stream, landowners with at least 20 ha of land to restore can play a key role in restoring habitats and fighting climate change. Landowners are encouraged to find out more at www.cassinia.com/bushbank.
This project is funded by the Victorian Government’s $77 million BushBank Program, which is restoring more than 20,000 hectares of land across Victoria to create healthy wildlife habitat and capture carbon.
Media release here (word doc): MediaRelease-BushBank-Feb2025-final
