VIC Bush Bank Program – Private Land Stream

Total BushBank program funding: $77 million.
Private land stream funding: $30.9 million to restore and protect 20,000 hectares of native vegetation across private land in Victoria.
Incentive payment amount is calculated using the BushBank Target Landscape Ranking map.
Funding streams: BushBank includes a First Peoples stream, a public land and public entities stream, and a private land stream.
Co funding requirement: Significant co funding is required to deliver projects. Co funding may come from landowners or funding partners, including carbon markets and philanthropic biodiversity focused organisations. Not all EOIs can be co funded.
Application timing: EOIs remain open and projects are selected in rounds. The next selection round closes July 31 2026.

BushBank Private Land Stream is an initiative that supports private landowners to restore native vegetation on eligible freehold land in Victoria. The program is part of the broader $77 million BushBank program and contributes to climate change action, biodiversity restoration and Victoria’s net zero emissions goal by 2045.

For private land projects, BushBank provides funding and guidance for restoration projects, support to design a Native Vegetation Restoration Plan, and potential access to co funding partners to help deliver projects. Selected sites also receive an incentive payment and are secured through a Trust for Nature conservation covenant. Projects may also involve carbon rights arrangements where carbon co funding is part of the project structure. The program aims to restore and protect at least 20,000 hectares of native habitat across private land in Victoria while creating healthy habitat for native wildlife and supporting long term land stewardship.

Key Requirements

Restore native vegetation on private land: The program supports restoration of degraded and marginal private land through native vegetation plantings that address climate change and support wildlife. It aims to restore more than 20,000 hectares across Victoria through the broader BushBank program, with the private land stream focused on private landowner participation.
Deliver biodiversity and carbon outcomes: Project selection considers biodiversity and carbon benefits, and incentive payments are linked to a target landscape ranking based on biodiversity and carbon value.
Secure long term protection outcomes: Participating landowners must be willing to enter a conservation covenant with Trust for Nature so restored habitat is protected permanently.
Demonstrate value for money and site suitability: Eligible EOIs are ranked for value for money, taking into account alignment with BushBank objectives, biodiversity and carbon benefits, extent of restoration, project risks and co funding opportunities. Site suitability is then confirmed through a site assessment before any formal participation offer is made.
Support project delivery through partnerships: Cassinia Environmental may match landowners with co funding partners and contractors, and may assist with project delivery. Funding options are developed in discussion with landowners based on project benefits, extent, location, restoration costs and co funding opportunities.

What is eligible for funding?

Native vegetation restoration projects on eligible freehold land in Victoria.
Planting of native vegetation to restore degraded land and create wildlife habitat.
Development of a Native Vegetation Restoration Plan that specifies restoration period, planting works, species diversity, density and planting type.
Site preparation and restoration works, including works undertaken by Cassinia Environmental, contractors, project partners or landowners implementing their own projects.
Ongoing management actions required to establish successful restoration and meet project obligations under the relevant agreements.
Projects that may involve carbon market participation and carbon rights arrangements where relevant to project funding.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible entities:

Private individuals who own eligible freehold land in Victoria.
Private entities that own eligible freehold land in Victoria.

Other eligibility considerations:

Land must be freehold land within Victoria.
Landowners must be willing to enter into a conservation covenant with Trust for Nature.
The site must have a minimum 20 hectare woody restoration area, with preference given to larger sites.
The land must have no existing obligation to restore it, whether legislated or under an existing agreement.
The land must be outside the Melbourne Strategic Assessment area.
The land must not be subject to compulsory acquisition or a government development initiative.
The land must not have been illegally cleared.
Land with an existing conservation covenant may still be eligible if other requirements are met.
To receive funding, landowners must enter into a landowner agreement with Cassinia Environmental. A carbon rights agreement may also be required where there is a carbon co funder

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

Industry analysis presentation
Competitor Analysis Presentation
Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

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