Catchment Connect Project

Published July 24, 2025

Landcare Tasmania members are invited to submit an EOI into the Project Bank for potential funding of Farm Dam Enhancement Projects. Workshops and events also happening across the state!

Catchment Connect - Enhancing Farm Dams for Climate Resilience Project (2025-30)

Following on from Landcare Tasmania's Pilot Farm Dam Enhancement Project in 2025, we are excited to announce that Landcare Tasmania has secured $4 million through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund – Resilient Landscapes Program to deliver a five-year statewide focused Catchment Connect - Enhancing Farm Dams for Climate Resilience Project.

The project supports Landcare members and First Nations communities in Catchment Action Planning and Healthy Country Planning, with $2.4 million in funding for on-ground Farm Dam Enhancement projects that benefit biodiversity, animal health, drought resilience, reduced methane emissions and catchment health. 

Update: We are excited to announce our next catchments for Round 2 commencing in 2026 are: West Tamar, Blythe and King Island.

Future funding rounds (3-4) will expand to include other catchments. If you're interested in catchment planning or enhancing farm dams in your area, we encourage you to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to our Project Bank. If you are located in the Midlands, East Tamar and East Coast catchments, we especially encourage you to submit an EOI as we are considering those catchments for 2027/28.

*Please note that these projects will be managed and delivered by Landcare Tasmania, with participation and ongoing maintenance by the landholder- no funds will be transferred directly to the participants.*

About the Project

The project will deliver farm dam enhancement workshops, catchment action plans, Healthy Country Plans, spatial prioritisation mapping, and on-ground works to improve landscape function, ecosystem services, and drought resilience on farms across Tasmania.

Commencing in 2025, our first round of funding is underway within the Pitt Water - Coal, Leven, and Meander Catchments and their surrounding areas. Landcare Tasmania, with the support from ANU and other local experts and regional NRM bodies has facilitated multiple farm dam field days, developed catchment action plans based on community and stakeholder input, and has begun on-ground works for fencing, off-dam watering systems and revegetation around suitable dams.

We are excited to announce our next catchments for Round 2 commencing in 2026, are West Tamar, Blythe and King Island. We are currently accepting EOIs for these catchments till 8th of June, 2026- the cut off date for Round 2.

Future funding rounds (3-4) will expand to include other catchments. If you're interested in catchment planning or enhancing farm dams in your area, we encourage you to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to our Project Bank. If you are located in in the Midlands, East Tamar and East Coast catchments, we especially encourage you to submit an EOI as we are considering those catchments for 2027/28.

 

What's an Enhanced Dam?

Enhanced farm dams are essentially dams that are fenced to manage stock access and that are surrounded by a buffer of native vegetation. Research from the Australian National University (ANU) has proven that enhanced farm dams are beneficial for farm productivity, stock health, water retention, reducing methane emissions and enhancing biodiversity. Landcare Tasmania has $2.4 million to spend on fencing and revegetating farm dams with Landcare members over the next four years. 

Check out the resources below for more information:

In this video, we interview three Tasmanian farmers, sharing their stories on their unique farm dam enhancement journeys. These stories highlight how simple, well-designed changes to farm dams can strengthen drought preparedness and build climate resilience. This helps farms adapt to changing conditions while supporting healthier landscapes. Be inspired by local farmers leading the way and see what’s possible on your own property.

Thanks to Knowles, Penny, Lachlan and Andrew for sharing your farm dam stories with us!

This project was delivered by Landcare Tasmania, with support from the TAS Farm Innovation Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

 

Want to be involved? Submit an Expression of Interest today!

If you would like to receive support to fence and revegetate your farm dam, there is a three-step process:

    1. Review Future Drought Fund - Farm Dam Enhancement EOI Guidelines for further details before submitting your EOI and the eligibility criteria. This is essential before submitting an EOI.

    2. Become a Landcare Tasmania member*

    3. Enter your EOI into Landcare Tasmania’s Project Bank

    4. The last date for being considered in Round 2, commencing 2026 (West Tamar, Blythe and King Island catchments) is Monday, the 08th of June, 2026.

After the due date, all EOIs will be assessed and shortlisted from the Project Bank and then contacted by Landcare staff for further information and planning, if successful.

Become a member   Find your local group Submit an EOI 

Please Read the EOI Guidelines  How does the Project Bank work?     

Upcoming FDE Events 2026 

*The process to connect with your group has changed. Please head to www.landcaretas.org.au/find-a-group and click on your group, contact the convenor via the details on the page to let them know that you want to join, then click the Connect button. The group convenor will then need to go to the Members Toolbox and promote the member with "Editor" status via the "Organisation Members Administration" button. If you are applying under a group, then the group assumes responsibility for the project, therefore any EOI under a group's name must be approved by the group's convenor and/or committee. For any questions please contact us ([email protected]/ 03 6234 7117)

Click image to enlarge

Illustration modified from Frankenberg, J., Enhancing Farm Dams, Ch. 11 in Stelling, F. (ed), 1998, South West Slopes Revegetation Guide.

 

 

Don't have a dam? Not to worry, as part of this project we will also be running multiple community workshops and events across the state! 

  • 🚜 Farm Dam Enhancement Field Days

  • 🗺️ Catchment Action Planning Days

  • 🌿 Healthy Country Plans

Stay tuned for more details via our Members newsletter, Dirty Hands newsletter and through our socials!

 

This project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Tasmanian Landcare Fund. 

 

Previous Projects

Catchment Action Planning Project - now closed

In 2025, the Catchment Action Planning Project brought together clusters of Landcare groups and community members to look at what has been achieved in the catchment, or sub-catchment, what has become a priority and next steps for taking action on catchment-wide approaches to conservation.

The workshop series was held for landholders and Landcare networks to prioritise focus areas for future on-ground works in the catchment, using GIS modelling that is under development. We aimed to bring together landholders from the whole catchment to identify shared values and threats, facilitating the planning of collaborative activities that will enhance catchment health.  The mapping developed from the Farm Dam Enhancement project, along with local knowledge, helped identify priority locations for action in these catchments.

Consolidated action plans will assist Landcarers and land managers in coordinating their activities and in seeking additional support.

Did you miss out? Tell us about the goals and priorities for your Catchment by submitting an Expression of Interest to our Project Bank.

The Catchment Action Planning Project is part of Landcare Tasmania's Landscape Restoration and Community Outreach Programs, funded by the Elsie Cameron Foundation.

Farm Dam Enhancement Project - now closed

In 2025, Landcare Tasmania, in partnership with the TAS Farm Innovation Hub and the ANU’s Sustainable Farm Program, delivered a number of Farm Dam Enhancement (FDE) workshops for the wider community that highlight the production and ecosystem benefits from improved farm dam management.

The workshops held supported landholders and Landcare networks to investigate the production, ecosystem, and drought resilience benefits from improved farm dam management and implementation. 'Train the trainer' workshops and GIS mapping complemented these community events and target extension practitioners who provide Landcare network support that can be extended to other catchments across Tasmania.

Did you miss out? Let us know about your Farm Dam project by submitting an Expression of Interest to our Project Bank.

The Farm Dam Enhancement Project is being delivered by Landcare Tasmania with support from the TAS Farm Innovation Hub, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

 

Want to be involved? Submit to the Project Bank 

We invite you to become a member and submit potential Farm Dam Enhancement projects to our Project Bank. You can also join your local Landcare Member Group and submit your project ideas through them.