Group currently in recess.
IDEAL was formed in May 1992. The main concern was about possible future problems with the rising watertable and the resulting salinity, combined with an interest in planting more trees to replace lost vegetation.Our area centre around a Rural Finance Closer Settlement irrigation areas which was opened in 1961 after the Eildon Weir was enlarged.
Originally there were 81 orchard blocks of approximately 45 Acres on the red loam soil and 82 dairy blocks of approximately 100 Acres. Only about 15 commercial orchard blocks remain for a variety of reasons, including wet years in the 1970?s.Our soils tend to have an impermeable clay layer a 2 feet depth. There is a small township consisting of a Primary School, Uniting Church, Recreational / community centre and 2 stores.
 
The Invergordon and District Environment and Landcare group key role at the moment is the development of a community newsletter which goes out to all 250 homes in the region.
 
 
Achievements so far
· Purchase of an EC meter to measure salinity levels in the 96 bores in the region. The group was the first to have paid monitor and the bores have been read monthly for 4 years, with the results going into our IDELA newsletter.
· Tree planting has always been an important role with approximately 23,900 trees planted. We are particularly proud of the Lower Major Creek revegetation with approximately 10kms of fencing and 10,000 trees planted.
· We have collected seeds and propagated the plants for sale which has enables us to fund other projects and still remain financial.
· We have been involved with the Waterwatch program of monitoring water quality of our waterways, hosted visitors such as the Governor of Victoria and his wife who planted trees to mark the occasion
· Entered the Theo Charles Jones Tree award and received a ?highly commended? award
· Erected signs at our boundaries and on members properties gates
· Taken part in the Remnant Grey Box Protection Project
· Taken part in Fox control programs in the use of Fox Off
· Provide a collection site for recycling aluminium cans
· Have been involved in a Paterson?s Curse control program
· Held clean up days with the general community
· Ran the Saltwatch program at the local school
· We have rehabilitated the old Rubbish tip site