Conservation Land Rate

To be eligible for the Conservation Land Rate, you must:

• Be a Mornington Peninsula Shire ratepayer with a property two hectares or more in area.
• Not already receive the Farm rate.
• Commit to undertake the conservation land management actions outlined in your application.
• Allow relevant Shire officers to inspect your property to establish and maintain eligibility.
• Maintain records of works carried out as part of the agreement such as receipts of expenditure, before and after works photos, annual works plans and property management plans, and provide copies of these to the Shire when requested.

To receive the discount, eligible landholders must commit to undertaking appropriate conservation land management actions. These need to be outlined on your application and will be discussed with you during the initial property visit. It is the responsibility of the landholder to ensure all works are carried out in accordance with relevant legislation, permits, and appropriately qualified and licensed contractors.  

Actions that ARE eligible for the Conservation Land Rate

 Remnant Vegetation and Habitat Protection

• Protect remnant patches of indigenous vegetation on your property – exclude livestock and other property management activities through fencing or other means.
• Retain habitat features like logs and large old trees (dead or alive).
• In areas adjacent to remnant bushland, set aside land to encourage natural regeneration by removing stock and controlling environmental weeds.
• Protect rare or threatened species on your property.
  
  

 To discover more about our local native flora and fauna, visit the Plants of the Peninsula and Wildlife of the Peninsula pages.

Environmental Weed Control

• Control environmental weeds that are impacting on biodiversity and habitat – working towards eradication where feasible.
• Reduce the spread of environmental weeds into remnant bushland by controlling weed vectors such as livestock movement, vehicles and machinery.

• Work co-operatively with your neighbours to reduce localised populations of environmental weeds in your area. This can be done in collaboration with your local Landcare group, see our Landcare on the Mornington Peninsula page.
  
  

For more information on environmental weeds, visit our Environmental & Noxious Weeds page.

Pest Animal Control

• Control pest animals, such as foxes and rabbits, that are impacting on biodiversity values – reduce or eliminate shelter and other resources or engage a licensed pest animal controller.

• Join with your neighbours to undertake broader, landscape scale pest animal control projects. This can be done in collaboration with your local Landcare group. See our Landcare on the Mornington Peninsula page.

For hints and tips on controlling foxes and rabbits, visit our Foxes and Rabbits page.

Revegetation

• Plant indigenous vegetation that is appropriate for your local area to expand the cover of indigenous vegetation and create new habitat.
• Link patches of remnant bush to create habitat corridors.
• Protect revegetation areas from livestock or other property management activities.

For more information on indigenous plants that are suited to your local area, visit our Local Native Plants Guide page.

Waterway and Wetland Protection

• Protect waterways and wetlands from livestock and other property management activities with fencing or other means.
• Retain remnant indigenous vegetation along creek corridors and wetlands.
• Revegetate with appropriate indigenous plants to enhance and expand creek corridors.
• Control environmental weeds that are impacting on biodiversity values.

You may also be eligible for a grant from Melbourne Water for undertaking creek protection activities, for more information visit Melbourne Water's Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways Grants Program page.

Actions NOT eligible for the Conservation Land Rate

• Planting species that are not indigenous to your local area, for example Australian native plants, ornamental plants or cultivars.
• Planting fruit trees, vegetable and other edible/agricultural plants.
• Weed control for the management of pastures and agricultural land.

You can complete the online application form here:

Conservation Land Rate Application Form

What happens next?

A Shire officer will be in contact with you to arrange a site visit to discuss your application, assess your eligibility and provide advice on your management actions.

If you have submitted an application form and are waiting for a response from us, please pay your rates as normal. If your application is approved, we’ll send you a confirmation letter with details of the rate changes and how this will be paid. Approved applicants will continue to receive the Conservation Land Rate each year without re-applying.  You must remain willing to allow Shire officers to re-visit your property and continue to keep records of works completed each year. When a property receiving the Conservation Land Rate changes ownership, the rate reduction will be cancelled, and the new owner will need to apply. 

For further information about the Conservation Land Rate, please contact the Natural Systems team on 1300 850 600.