Gallagher Australia built on their commitment to support local communities and the environment by launching the Gallagher Landcare Fencing Grants program in 2019.
The now annual Gallagher Landcare Fencing Grants support landowners and groups who are passionate about natural resource management and biodiversity, by making conservation fencing more accessible.
The partnership with Gallagher helps Landcare Australia to support groups with fencing projects that protect waterways to improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, and support landscape restoration. The landcare projects with Gallagher also help to exclude feral animals and keep livestock away from conservation areas on properties.
Now in its fifth year, the Gallagher Landcare Electric Grants program provides permanent electric fencing materials to achieve tangible environmental and sustainable agricultural outcomes, and promote knowledge-sharing through field days, site visits, and farm demonstrations.
The program has supported over 100 conservation fencing projects across the country and continues to grow. Recently funded projects include habitat protection of the endangered Western Swamp Tortoise near the Ellen Brook in WA, and rehabilitation of a deep erosion incision by fencing livestock out of the area in the Clarence Valley, NSW.
Grants Case Studies
2019 Grants Case Studies
Ellen Brockman Integrated Catchment Group launched their project Protecting a Threatened Ecological Community from Feral Pigs and other Pest Animals to protect the Western Swamp Tortoise, one of the most threatened species in Australia.
With the installation of Gallagher Westonfence powered by a MBS1000i Solar Energizer, there has been no fouling of the critical water hole at Wannamal/Mogumber Nature Reserve by feral pigs who were unable to enter the area to predate on the Western Swamp Tortoise.
Basalt to Bay Landcare Network used their project Baas and Bandicoots Predator Proof Paddock to protect the last public land population of Threatened Southern Brown Bandicoots in their area.
Using 8-Line Gallagher Westonfence powered by a Gallagher S400 Portable Solar Energizer, the project not only aimed to increase the breeding success of Southern Brown Bandicoots, but demonstrated to farmers that they can establish small predator proof paddocks for high value conservation and farm assets with the same Gallagher electric fencing systems.
2021 Grants Case Studies
Yinnar, Yinnar South Landcare Group launched their project Fencing out deer to fence out pest animals from the newly revegetated Billy’s Creek area that is home to a number of koalas likely to be the genetically unique Strzelecki or South Gippsland koala.
By installing Gallagher Mega Anchor and Gallagher Westonfence at the Billy’s Creek site, their project has helped to increase biodiversity and contributed to a future wildlife corridor for arboreal animals and birds by allowing them to move between the Morwell and Tarra-Bulga National Parks.
Odonata Foundation undertook their project Fencing out foxes to protect the endangered Southern Brush Tail Rock Wallaby to transform Widgewah Conservation Reserve into Australia’s largest fenced safe haven for the Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby.
Using Gallagher iSeries Energizer fencing due to its remote monitoring capabilities, the group had complete confidence in being able to keep foxes out of the fenced sanctuary, protecting the wallabies with the goal of seeing their population double in size.
2022 Grants Case Studies
Wells Ag Pty Ltd: The Wells Ag family are fourth generation producers of black angus cattle, prime lambs and wool on a 1,300ha farm at Elaine, Victoria. Over the past few years, they have been striving to embed more sustainable practises on the property to improve their natural assets, biodiversity and address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, planting trees and improving soil quality. They have a goal to set aside 20% of their property with trees and have thus far planted 15,000 trees; commenced riparian fencing and completed an initial farm dam restoration project.
Stewart Family: This project sought to create a biolink to an established regenerated bushland area, providing habitat and connectivity for native wildlife. The project was carried out by the Stewart Family in Bambra, Victoria. The Stewart family are fourth generation farmers on a 575-acre property running prime lambs and agroforestry. In the early 1990s they created a whole-farm plan to improve the property from previously 3% woody vegetation with significant degradation and salinity issues; establishing about 50,000 trees and shrubs, increasing woody vegetation coverage to approximately 18%, without reducing agricultural production. Establishing the East Otway Landcare Group in the early 1990s, the Stewarts and their local community formed a committee to fence the Yan Yan Gurt creek and develop a wildlife corridor. Andrew Stewart and his family were the winners of the 2020 prestigious Bob Hawke Landcare Award in 2020.
The Trustee for The Schmidt Family Trust: This aim of this project was to install conservation fencing on a 108ha beef cattle farm in North-East Victoria that adjoins Stanley State Forest. Operated by the Schmidt Family, active members in their local Kiewa Catchment Landcare Group, they wished to improve their farm practises by improving water quality and ecosystems on farm dams; protect the Stanley Forest from stock access; and improve soil health by introducing strip grazing.
2023 Grants Case Studies
Fencing River Flats
Grant Recipient: Mitchelson Holdings
Location: Quamby Bend, TAS
This property’s owners, founders of Colynn and Quamby Bend Landcare have spent over 27 years restoring and protecting their land by the Meander River.
To help stabilise riverbanks damaged by severe 2016 and 2022 floods, this project installed 1.5km of Gallagher electric fencing. To better withstand future flooding, the fencing used 3.5m electric fence wire (3-stand turbo braided) with insulated line posts and portable solar energisers.
Stock watering points were relocated, access was restricted, invasive weeds removed, and 2,500 native plants were planted during this project. Furthermore, the conservation of a 15,000m² riverbank area has improved habitats for native flora and fauna (evidenced by more scat), such as the eastern barred bandicoot, Tasmanian devil, wombat, wedge-tailed eagle, and sea eagle.
This project involved 19 people: 5 landcare volunteers, a high school Agricultural Science class, and others. Landcare Tasmania, NRM North, and Gallagher Territory Manager Justin Cooper provided professional and technical support. More than 170 hours went into this project, improving community and social involvement.
“Our students gained invaluable hands-on experience working alongside industry professionals, building a semi-permanent electric fence that not only protects the environment but also enhances their practical skills. Seeing our students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to a project that directly benefits the community is incredibly rewarding. This experience has truly bridged the gap between education and industry.”
-Liam Fox, Grade 7-12 Agriculture Co-ordinator
Bungala River Estuary & Wetlands Project
Grant Recipient: Wayne Gibbs
Location: Normanville, SA,
A rural property at the mouth of the Bungala River, near Yankalilla Bay and surrounded by heritage-listed sand dunes, had fencing installed. South of the Bungala River, the project area is in a non-flood area used for grazing.
Property owner Wayne Gibbs and the Friends of Bungala River have worked closely together to create community-based environmental management of the Bungala River and Salt Creek through maintenance and revegetation projects. Closely aligned with the Bungala River Estuary Action Plan, the project addresses key threats such as poor water quality, sedimentation, erosion, agriculture, rural development, invasive species, and urbanisation.
The building of the fence has protected the Bungala River Estuary wetland from livestock, thus far preventing further damage to the riverbanks and riparian zone and reducing erosion. The removal of cattle and clearing of over 5000m² of invasive weeds has resulted in a significant increase in native vegetation.
Friends of Bungala River’s 20 volunteers planted 250 seedlings (Red Gums, sheoaks, melaleucas, acacias, wattles, native pines, and grasses) and propagated 1,000 more, improving fauna habitat and soil erosion. Over 1,000 hours of work from 200 volunteers (working bees and site tours) have been put into this project.
“Our Group has grown significantly since the erection of the fence with more volunteers now being involved in the monthly working bees. The Friends of Bungala River group are extremely grateful for the support that Gallagher Fencing have provided to enable the project to continue to evolve.”
-Wayne Gibbs Project Co-ordinator
Otways Headwaters and Dam Riparian Protection from Grazing
Grant Recipient: Andrew & Bronwyn Stevens
Location: Ferguson, VIC
This project aimed to protect 1km of sensitive riparian habitat at the creek’s headwaters near the Great Otway National Park, which supplies Colac with freshwater, and improve a farm dam’s water quality.
Central Otways Landcare and Otways Agroforestry Network members, landowners Andrew and Bronwyn Stevens, recognised substantial erosion and water source damage from cattle. They set aside land to environmental conservation, whilst relocating water sources for cattle to reduce erosion and invasive weeds, enabling native bushland regeneration.
800 meters of Gallagher electric fencing was installed to prevent cattle from accessing the farm dam and creek. Landowners added fencing to more paddocks containing waterways using additional Gallagher insulated line posts and droppers because of their simple installation. Due to its distance from existing infrastructure and lack of power, a Gallagher energiser was installed at this project’s location.
Post-installation, the fence successfully confines livestock, fulfilling the project’s goals of safeguarding headwaters and enhancing dam water quality. In addition, major work is, and continues to be, carried out to eliminate invasive weeds such as blackberry and ragwort, preventing their spread into the riparian habitat. Local farmers have been incredibly supportive of this grant, resulting in increased volunteer engagement from the Central Otways Landcare Network.
“The project has really highlighted the improvements in fencing technology, and the ease of use, and helped us create better animal management infrastructure and exclusion areas around waterways, especially during wet weather periods.”
-Andrew Stevens, Otways Headwaters and Dam Riparian Protection from Grazing
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