The state’s commitment will benefit landcare groups in Stawell, Halls Gap and Edenhope.

Amanda Kilpatrick from Project Platypus, which acts as an umbrella organisation for the 11 landcare groups of the Upper Wimmera Catchment to deliver large scale projects, said the announcement was exciting.

She said a review of landcare groups had identified some key areas the funding could benefit.

“We’re hoping the funding will allow us to get a lot more on the ground works done,” she said.

“One of the outcomes of the review was support for a facilitator for the landcare groups. Hopefully that can now happen.”

Ms Kilpatrick said the group was also working closely with interested parties in Halls Gap to establish a landcare group in the community.

She said projects landcare groups in the Upper Wimmera Catchment were currently involved with included the planting of 30,000 trees as part of a public plant-out program.

The group has also received funding for drought support programs in the region.

“We’re very dependent on grant funding,” Ms Kilpatrick said.

“It’s our biggest challenger in continuing our programs.”

Ms Kipatrick said the project received tremendous support from the catchment management authority andthe wider community.