Incentives for sustainable management
Incentives may be available for landholders to implement management plans including on-ground works and practices:
- Low-interest-rate loans are available from the Queensland Government through QRAA.
- Grants and incentive packages are available from the Queensland Government, Australian Government, NRM groups and some industry sectors.
- Incentives are available for landholders undertaking management activities as part of statutory covenants.
- There are opportunities to tender for financial assistance through NatureAssist, for help with on-ground management of a nature refuge agreement.
- Industry incentives
- QRAA
- Regional NRM group incentives
- Tax deductions and rebates
- Additional opportunities for incentives
Industry incentives
The following industry groups may offer incentives or provide links to funding opportunities:
- AgForce
- Australian Prawn Farmers Association
- Biological Farmers of Australia
- CANEGROWERS
- Cotton Australia
- Dairying for Tomorrow
- Flower Association Queensland Inc
- Growcom
- Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland
- Queensland Aquaculture Industries Federation
- Queensland Chicken Meat Federation Inc.
QRAA
QRAA administers government financial programs and services to increase the productivity, profitability and sustainability of rural enterprises.
These include low interest loans:
- for establishing a primary production enterprise (First Start Loan)
- to achieve a productive and more sustainable enterprise (Development Loan)
- to cover capital costs of activities associated with management of natural resources (e.g. rehabilitating degraded areas, establishing additional water points, fencing for landcare purposes, controlling exotic weeds and animals) (Resource Management Loan).
The Department of Environment and Resource Management provides technical advice and policy direction related to resource management.
Regional NRM group incentives
Some regional NRM groups may offer funding incentives to landholders for on-ground works (such as fencing out different land types or riparian areas, grazing management and weed control).
Find out what your regional NRM group is doing.
Tax deductions and rebates
Under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 and Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, the Commonwealth Government provides primary producers with landcare operations tax concessions for water facilities as well as for specific activities such as:
- fencing to separate land classes to control degradation
- providing water-supply facilities and conveying equipment
- planting trees
- eradicating pests and weeds.
The tax laws include other special provisions for primary producers:
- Information is available from the Australian Taxation Office - Primary producers' essentials.
- The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provides comprehensive links to information about taxation issues relevant to primary producers
Additional opportunities for incentives
Additional opportunities for incentives are available through:
- Queensland Government grants
- the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- the natural resource management incentives database.
Last reviewed 14 March 2011
Last updated 3 August 2010
