Caption: (L-R) Dr Peter Fisher, Victoria Soil Coordinator Dr Peter Fisher with the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub; the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, The Hon. Julie Collins MP; and Melbourne Water’s Karen Thomas.

Regional Delivery Partners Project launches at Officer South

Collaboration drives climate-smart farming at Melbourne Water

Minister Collins, partners and researchers attend launch

Melbourne Water’s new Regional Delivery Partners Project, funded by the Australian Government’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program, was officially launched today by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, The Hon. Julie Collins MP.​

This important initiative will help farmers and agricultural industries adapt to a changing climate, strengthen resilience and adopt practices that improve productivity while protecting our natural environment.​

Melbourne Water hosted the launch at Simon and Michelle Beard’s beef farm, “Linga Longa Park” near Officer South, where one of the project’s experiments will be located, exploring the benefits of mixed-species pastures. Simon Beard explained that mixed species produced better beef and greatly improved soil structure, helping to prevent drought and flooding, but emphasised that more research is required.

Project partners at the launch included the Western Port Landcare Network, Bass Coast Landcare Network, South Gippsland Landcare Network, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Mornington Peninsula Wine and Agribusiness Yarra Valley, along with other stakeholders including Senator Lisa Darmanin (Senator for Victoria) and Victoria Soil Coordinator Dr Peter Fisher, from the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub.​

Dr Fisher noted the value in discussing soil priorities and the importance of soil science education for young Australians with Minister Collins.

The Climate-Smart Agriculture Program supports sustainable, climate-smart practices and natural resource management across Victorian agriculture.​