Victorian Landcare Magazine - Winter 2022, Issue 84
DELWP is recruiting to fill the position of Aboriginal Landcare Facilitator after the departure of Jackson Chatfield. We thank Jackson for his dedication and commitment to engaging Landcare with Victoria’s Traditional Owners and Aboriginal communities. We wish him all the best for the future.
For more information contact Julie Edwards on 0429 001 565.
A new Landcare Plan for Victoria is underway to establish goals for the decades ahead. Consultation amongst the Landcare community is a top priority.
We are reviewing the Victorian Landcare Gateway website and will be providing a recommendation to DELWP based on feedback from the Landcare community.
We are also developing a knowledge and skills framework for professional Landcarers. This will provide a foundation to build a coordinated, needs-based delivery model to meet the training and development needs of professional Landcare staff.
For more information on LVI or to become a member visit www.lvi.org.au or (03) 9034 1940.
Elisia Dowling was farewelled from the role of Regional Landcare Coordinator in February. We thank Elisia for her work supporting Landcare in the region.
We recently launched the Our Catchments Our Communities Small Blocks Big Dreams program to support small landholders to make their blocks healthy and productive. The program is delivered in partnership with local Landcare groups and networks as they provide specialist knowledge for each landholder group.
Landholders are supported through a series of workshops to learn about weed control, soil management, pest control and native flora and fauna management. The first introductory sessions for owners of bush blocks and small producers kicked off in April and May.
For more information visit www.ccma.vic.gov.au (Get Involved/ Landcare) or contact Stephanie Rosestone on 0497 632 585.
In late February the East Gippsland Regional Landcare Team attended a two-day training session on engagement design. We look forward to putting the ideas into action with the Landcare community.
The team met with the National Feral Fox and Cat Coordinator in March to discuss issues and activities relating to feral cats and foxes within East Gippsland. We are planning to hold some education events on feral animals.
Landcare groups and networks are busy delivering their 2021 Victorian Landcare Grants and planning for 2022 projects. They are also finalising Landcare Australia Limited’s Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery projects along with Biodiversity Bushfire Recovery Grants. We are all enjoying more face-to-face events now that they are possible.
For more information visit www.egcma.vic.gov.au (What we do/Landcare) or contact Carolyn Cameron on 0419 892 268.
A number of the Landcare facilitators working in the region have been busy updating their skills and knowledge. A first-aid training course has equipped many of us with an important skill – especially when working with people of a diverse age range.
The CMA hosted Graeme Lorimer from Biosphere to conduct wetland plant identification training. Five Landcare facilitators were trained in plant identification and biology in wetlands and stream channels.
After several years hiatus due to COVID-19 the Cavendish Red Gum Festival was held on 23 April 2022 on the banks of the Wannon River.
The festival celebrated all that the red gum delivers to the environment and the community. The Mooralla and Panyyabyr Landcare groups set up an information stand to showcase their work.
For more information visit www.ghcma.vic.gov.au (Get Involved/Landcare) or contact Tony Lithgow on 0418 180 996.
The CMA took the opportunity to reconnect with our Landcare community after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. More than 30 people from across our networks attended an event to talk about future projects and opportunities for collaboration.
The 2021 Victorian Landcare Grants projects are in full swing with more than 20 projects underway across the region. Winter and spring will be very busy with planting, workshops, and community capacity building events.
At the 2022 Cascade Connections event that was held in Wangaratta on 27–28 April Landcare facilitators from Corangamite, North Central, North East, and Goulburn Broken CMA regions came together to share and learn from each other.
We were saddened to hear of the recent death of the CMAs inaugural CEO, Bill O’Kane. Bill was a strong supporter of community Landcare and made a massive contribution to establishing the partnerships model that we continue to deliver today.
For more information visit www.gbcma.vic.gov.au (The Region/Community natural resource management) or contact Tony Kubeil on 0408 597 213.
January saw large areas of the Mallee receiving above average rainfall, with Mildura recording its wettest January day in 77 years, with 80.2 millimetres of rain. The January rainfall left many areas having an unusual start to the year with soil moisture available before the start
of autumn. This, combined with the Mallee region recording the warmest ever average temperatures in Victoria over January and February, meant weed growth has been high.
Landcare groups are in full swing delivering great projects, funded through the 2021 Victorian Landcare Grants. Activities include pest plant and animal control, revegetation, community events, and species research on the Mildura Ogyris, an endangered butterfly under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
For more information visit www.malleecma.vic.gov.au or contact Nelson Burand-Hicks on 0427 540 469.
The autumn months are superb in Central Victoria, but there’s no time to stop and enjoy the crisp fresh air, as it’s grant season. The 2022 Victorian Landcare Grants are underway, and we wish all the applicants in our region the most success with their submissions.
Landcare groups to the east of Bendigo have begun discussions with their new Landcare facilitator, Kristie Smith, who is providing guidance, support and communication expertise to this emerging network. Kristie is currently working from the North Central CMA.
Groups and networks are back in action, engaging new volunteers and hosting meetings, field days, stalls at the sustainability festival, and soil demonstrations.
The Mount Alexander Intrepid Landcare Group has published its annual calendar of activities. Highlights include a visit to Newstead Natives, a cultural awareness/First Nations perspectives workshop, and linking in with local Landcare working bees.
For more information visit www.nccma.vic.gov.au (Get involved/Landcare) or contact Tess Grieves on 0438 357 874.
The region had a lot to celebrate when the Healthy Rivers Program was announced recently. More than $2.4 million was awarded to 14 of our Landcare groups and networks. The investment will help to protect riparian areas in the Murray Darling catchment and is a testament to the dedication of our Landcare members in protecting and enhancing biodiversity.
Higher than average rainfall over summer hasn’t dampened the spirits of our Landcare community who are progressing their 2021 Victorian Landcare Grants projects.
For more information visit www.necma.vic.gov.au (Solutions & Resources/Landcare & community groups) or contact Richard Dalkin on 0409 683 467.
The CMA was officially integrated into Melbourne Water on 1 January 2022. This means Melbourne Water is now responsible for supporting the region’s many Landcare groups and networks and environmental volunteer groups. All other CMA initiatives, including environmental and agricultural projects and the implementation of the Regional Catchment Strategy are also now hosted by Melbourne Water.
The Port Phillip and Western Port 2022 Victorian Landcare Grants will be administered by Melbourne Water and all Landcare administration and support, including regional forums and training, will continue to be coordinated by the Regional Landcare Coordinator.
Landcare staff and volunteers participated in the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation introduction to Aboriginal cultural safety training in April and May. Groups also took part in a grants writing workshop ahead of the 2022 Victorian Landcare Grants.
For more information contact Barry Kennedy on 0447 821 559 or email barry.kennedy@melbournewater.com.au
The ball has slowly started rolling again for Landcare in the region, with groups and networks hosting workshops and farm walks. South Gippsland Landcare Network has been busy running various events on dung beetles, weed identification, and planning for revegetation projects. Local nurseries have received many plant orders, hopefully indicating a busy planting season ahead.
Landcare legend Belinda Brennan is moving on after 15 years working in the region. We thank Belinda for her unbounded passion and energy. Our groups and networks are more efficient, resilient and successful thanks to her hard work and dedication.
We were saddened to learn of the death of local dairy farmer David McAninly – a Landcare pioneer in the Yarram district. He worked tirelessly to help the environment and the community. His legacy will be felt in the district for many years.
For more information visit wgcma.vic.gov.au (Getting involved/Landcare) or contact Kathleen Brack on 0428 619 671.
Wimmera Landcare groups will be enjoying more community plant-outs this winter after a couple of interrupted years. It is great to see more activity, including junior Landcare tree planting, happening in the region again.
A number of local school groups have been working with Landcare groups to learn about nest boxes, wildlife monitoring with cameras, and environmental DNA.
Landcare facilitators are playing an important role in supporting groups to reconnect again. To help foster the next generation of volunteers and facilitators, Landcare and other natural resource management opportunities will be promoted at the 2022 Western Victorian Careers Expo in late June.
The Wimmera Landcare team continues to explore opportunities to strengthen relationships and coordination with Barengi Gadjin Land Council through regular partnership meetings and the sharing of information and ideas.
For more information visit wcma.vic.gov.au (Get involved/Landcare) or contact Joel Boyd on 0429 949 196.