Supporting landholders with conservation covenants across Victoria to deliver on-ground conservation works

The Landholder Support Program is open to all landholders who have a registered Trust for Nature conservation covenant. The Landholder Support Program is limited to one application per landholder with a conservation covenant. 

Applications must meet the following criteria to be considered for the Program: 

• The applicant owns a property protected by a regular Trust for Nature Deed of Covenant (and not an Offset arrangement or under the BushBank Program). 
• The proposed works will occur within the covenant. 

The works are for:  

• weed control 
• revegetation 
• covenant boundary fencing

The application needs to include: 

• details of the works to be undertaken by a contractor including:
  weed control – approximate size of the weed treatment area, treatment method, target species
  revegetation – revegetation method and  species
  covenant boundary fencing – location, length, type
• at least one photo of the site where the works will occur
• a fixed price quote from an appropriately licensed and insured contractor. (price quoted must be considered reasonable for the type of works to be conducted i.e cost effective)
• approximate timeframe for completion of the works (noting that all works must be completed by 31 December 2026)

Applications must include all the information specified in the question ‘What are the evaluation criteria?”.  

Preference will be given to applications that: 

• Demonstrate how the works will enhance conservation values of the covenant, for example, in accordance with covenant Management Plan. 

• Are submitted by landholders that have not received funding for on-ground works via Trust for Nature in the past 12 months (excluding bushfire recovery works). 

• Trust for Nature encourages landholders to seek quotes from First Nations and local businesses and notes that applications where the contractor is a First Nations business may be preferenced. 

No. Trust for Nature cannot assist with preparing quotes, providing contractor details, or negotiating works by contractors. 

All weed species that pose a threat to the ecological values of the covenant. It does not include native species.  

Timeframes for the Landholder Support Program are as follows: 

• 4 March 2026: applications open 

• 31 March 2026: applications close  

• 1 to 14 April 2026: Applications evaluated by Trust for Nature Evaluation Panel (consisting of Director of Conservation, Project Manager, Area Managers) 

• 15 to 30 April 2026: Successful and unsuccessful landholders notified via email 

• 1 May to 31 December 2026: Completion of activities by contractors 

• By 31 March 2027: The contractor invoice, a photo/s of the site following the works and relevant spatial information must be submitted to Trust for Nature 

• By 31 May 2027: Trust for Nature will pay submitted invoices

The Landholder Support Program will distribute up to $5,000 (including GST) for eligible applications. A total of up to $250,000 is available for this Landholder Support Program. 

Quotes from contractors must be addressed to Trust for Nature (not made out to the landholder) and contain: 

• Contractor’s identity 
• Contractor’s Australian business number (ABN) 
• Date that the quote was issued 
• Trust for Nature’s information:
  Trust for Nature
  Level 5/379 Collins Street, Melbourne, Vic, 3001
  Email: landholdersupport@tfn.org.au 
• Description of the services, including the quantity (if applicable) and the price. 
• Total sum of the works, including the GST amount (where applicable) *must not exceed $5,000 (including GST). 

No, provided contractors have appropriate licences and insurances, can provide an ABN and can provide a fixed price quote in accordance with the information above, covenantors are able to engage the most appropriate contractor. 

In addition, Trust for Nature encourages landholders to seek quotes from First Nations and local businesses and notes that applications where the contractor is a First Nations business may be preferenced.   

No, for ease of administrative oversight, the program permits only a contractor to supply and install plants. 

All applications will be assessed against the eligibility criteria by the Evaluation Panel (refer to ‘What are the evaluation criteria?’). 

Yes. Trust for Nature raised funds as part of a Landholder Support Program – Bushfire Recovery Appeal for covenantors and Land for Wildlife members directly impacted by the 2025/2026 summer bushfires. This will open for Expressions of Interest from bushfire impacted covenantors and Land for Wildlife members in the coming months. 

Covenantors impacted by the 2025/26 summer bushfires are encouraged to apply for this Landholder Support Program delivered via the Iconic Estates Program. If you have been impacted by the bushfires, you will be eligible for both this Iconic Estates program funding and Bushfire recovery funding. However, the Landholder Support Program delivered via Iconic Estates is open to covenantors only and not Land for Wildlife members. 

Successful applicants will be notified by email after which time contractors can be booked to undertake works according to the quote submitted in the application.  

Unsuccessful landholders will also be notified. 

Following completion of the approved works by the contractor, successful landholders will need to provide to Trust for Nature: 

• A correctly rendered invoice to Trust for Nature (not exceeding the price in the quote) including:
  Extent to which each sale on the invoice is a taxable sale.
  Account details. 

• Photos of the completed approved works. 

• Information from the contractor / landholder:
  for weed control: track log of spraying or total area treated. 
  for revegetation: total area revegetated.
  for boundary fencing: location of the new or repaired fence. 

Trust for Nature will pay the contractor directly only once (i.e. no deposits or progress payments will be made), noting that the amount in the invoice must not exceed the fixed price quote. 

To apply: 

• Check that your application meets the evaluation criteria, including a fixed price quote from a contractor.  

• Click on the above link to access the application form on the Trust for Nature website (applications will open from 4 March).