bank mecu - responsible banking

bankmecu's Conservation Landbank is our way of helping to offset the loss of biodiversity resulting from new homes we finance, emissions from vehicles that we finance and to offset the emissions from running bankmecu.

Here's an example how the Conservation Landbank mitigates biodiversity loss as a result of new home construction. If you purchase a 650 square metre block of land to build a new home on with a loan from bankmecu, we set aside the same amount of land to be protected or re-vegetated through bankmecu's Conservation Landbank.

It is the aim of bankmecu to purchase properties for the Conservation Landbank that will contribute to a conservation corridor allowing wildlife to move along it to find the food and habitat they need as adapt to any changes in their environment.

The Landbank is part of bankmecu’s capacity to achieve its carbon neutral operational status. bankmecu's vision is to develop the biodiversity of the property to support wildlife while building and protecting the native bushland.

On behalf of its customers, bankmecuhas increased its Conservation Landbank this year to 657 hectares (about 104 MCG’s) with the acquisition of 220 hectares adjoining its existing Minimay property.

bankmecu now has three properties in its Conservation Landbank in the Wimmera region of Victoria - the 201 hectare Minimay, the 236 hectare Ozenkadnook (Judith Eardley Wildlife Reserve) acquired in May 2010 and newly acquired 220 hectare Minimay North.

Similar to the 201 hectare Minimay property, this parcel of land is significant for its conservation assets such as Buloke woodlands, which support the rare Red-tail Black Cockatoo. In addition, the Landbank also hosts the Golden Sun Moth, Growling Grass-frog and Striped Legless Lizard.

bankmecu has appointed Landcare Australia Ltd to project manage the Landbank while Trust for Nature oversees the quality of conservation works. Crucial to the success of the initiative has been the active involvement of the local community through the Kowree Farm Tree Group.