This project will start by working with 500+ hobby farmers and small-scale grazing property owners, including farms with horses. They will initially be engaged, recruited and supported through delivery of property planning courses assisting them to develop a basic property management plan for their property founded on a land capability assessment and subsidised soil test analysis. They will have access to information tailored to their local area and circumstances, and also be connected to resources such as incentives, expertise and on-property advice, as well as field days focussed on pasture, soil health, native vegetation and biodiversity management practices that will support implementation of their plans.

The project will then assist 200+ of these property owners to advance to the 2nd level of land management competency through property planning workshops. They will prepare a more detailed property management plan, participate in peer discussions to share learnings and experiences, and further field days on specific pasture, soil health, native vegetation, biodiversity and cultural heritage management practices tailored to their needs and to support implementation of key elements of their plan.

The project will next assist 100+ of the property owners that have achieved the 2nd level to reach a 3rd level of competency with further activities and assistance enabling them to become examples of best practice small-scale grazing property management around Melbourne.

Finally, the project will then assist 20+ of these properties to be set up as demonstration properties showing the practices that protect and maintain pasture, soil and vegetation health typical of their area. They will be used as host sites for field days with their owners as key presenters. Horse properties will be included as this is a common enterprise on many small properties around Melbourne. The field days will be open to all small-scale grazing property owners across the region, extending the opportunity for increasing the awareness, knowledge and skills of many more land managers beyond those directly involved in the property planning courses.