In the heart of northeast Victoria within the Goulburn-Broken catchment, three properties are being transformed through the Victorian Government’s BushBank Program. Located in the Earlston area, they represent a powerful landscape-scale restoration initiative with real benefits for biodiversity, building habitat connectivity and taking climate action.
The properties were identified by Cassinia Environmental, the Victorian Government’s key delivery partner for the private land stream of BushBank, and purchased through the BushBank Revolving Fund held by Trust for Nature. The aim is simple but impactful: purchase degraded or vulnerable land, restore it through revegetation and other land management actions and then sell it, protected by a conservation covenant to landholders committed to long-term stewardship. The proceeds from each sale go directly into purchasing and restoring the next site, creating a cycle of regeneration across the landscape.
This model is showing exciting results with close to 360 hectares planned for restoration across the three properties. Importantly, they sit within a critical ecological corridor, surrounded by remnant patches of Grey Box and Ironbark woodlands. Their strategic location enhances landscape connectivity, linking habitat across property boundaries and supporting threatened species like the Swift Parrot, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Brush-tailed Phascogale, Bearded Dragon and the Grey-crowned Babbler.
Neighbouring landowners Libby and Steve are a great example of what’s possible in this landscape. Over the past decade, they’ve turned their property into flourishing native habitat. Now, with BushBank projects extending alongside their land, the impact of their restoration efforts will be multiplied – creating a stronger, more resilient ecosystem across property boundaries.
Cassinia’s work at these sites will focus on re-establishing Lower Slopes Woodlands, Box Ironbark Forests, and Alluvial Terraces Herb-rich Woodland mosaics. Activities include direct-seeding and planting of over twenty native canopy and understory species, weed and pest control, and careful protection of remnant vegetation.
A key partner in making this work possible is Land Life, which funds a large portion of the restoration. Collaborating closely with Cassinia, Land Life contributes to the design, implementation, and monitoring of the site, ensuring its long-term success and ecological integrity. In return, the growing vegetation generates valuable carbon credits that are sold on the international market, creating a powerful link between local conservation and global climate action.
The BushBank Revolving Fund enables Cassinia Environmental to partner with Trust for Nature to build a connected, restored, and protected landscape – property by property. The commitment of partners like Land Life Company and local landholders who care deeply about the future of their environment ensure the benefits will be felt for generations to come.
The Victorian Government’s $77 million BushBank Program is restoring more than 20,000 hectares of land across Victoria to create healthy wildlife habitat and capture carbon. For more information or to express interest in a BushBank project on your property, visit www.cassinia.com/bushbank.
