Boosting native seed supply

The Bass Coast Landcare Group has received a $200,000 grant from the State Government's BushBank program.

Member for Bass, Jordan Crugnale MP, announced the grant for the Bass Coast Landcare Group to install a seedbank at the existing Bass nursery.

The group will also collect seed and propagate seedlings annually, undertake a small expansion of the seed-production area, provide seed-collection training to volunteers and Traditional Owners, and produce a propagation handbook.

"This grant is a testament to the outstanding dedication of our Bass Coast Landcare Group, and will set them up to grow more native plants required to rebuild ecosystems and safeguard biodiversity," said Ms Crugnale.

David Bateman, EGM of the Bass Coast Landcare Network welcomed the funding.
"We are so excited to be expanding our capacity to develop a seed bank and increase our indigenous plant production working with our dedicated volunteers through this bush bank grant program."

The BushBank Seed Sector Support Grants will help expand and upgrade seed orchards and provide a more reliable seed supply in areas across the state.

The funding will help seed sector businesses, organisations and Traditional Owner groups create new regional jobs, purchase machinery to improve harvesting, expand and upgrade nurseries and propagate hundreds of thousands of seedlings per year - supporting their work to restore habitat across Victoria.

It will also support First People's participation in the sector, provide workforce training and capability uplift and help establish a strategically located seed centre to build regional capability.

Most native seed used in the BushBank program is currently collected from existing native vegetation, with availability dependent on local, seasonal weather conditions and the health of plants.