Connecting Country

The North Central CMA is developing two funding proposals for the Australian Government’s Action on the Ground program that, if successful, will require on-farm trial and demonstration sites to be established throughout our region.

The proposed projects have been designed around on-farm trial and demonstration sites to highlight practices and technologies that reduce agricultural sector greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in the soil.

Expressions of interest are being sought for hosting trial and demonstration sites on properties within the North Central Catchment Management Authority’s region, which includes the whole of the Mount Alexander Shire and immediate surrounds. Please see the attached document for more details about the projects and how to register your interest. The closing date is 6 February 2012.

CSIRO scientist Dr. Linda Broadhurst, in collaboration with Greening Australia, has commenced working on a project to assess the genetic diversity of Yellow Box Eucalyptus melliodora where populations naturally occur across the country. This research will assist in the successful reintroduction of Yellow Box into the landscape by ensuring as much genetic diversity as possible when the species is planted or seeded back into a site.  The outcomes of this study could have many benefits for Connecting Country’s Yellow Box Woodland project.

At this early stage of Dr Broadhurst’s research, Yellow Box seed needs to be collected and analysed from a diverse range of sites extending right across its natural distribution. Dr Linda Broadhurst would like to get the community involved and is asking anybody who is able to collect Yellow Box seed or has some already collected to be part of this important project.

To find out more about the project and how to participate, click here.

Landcare Facilitator Position for the Mount Alexander Region
Connecting Country has commenced advertising for the new Landcare Facilitator position. The position will be based at Connecting Country’s Office in Castlemaine and is a 12 Month 0.6FTE position, with the possibility of extension. More information about the proposed facilitator’s role can be found here. Applications close on the 16 January 2012.

Steering Committee for the Landcare Facilitator
Connecting Country is also seeking people who are interested in participating on a voluntary basis on a Steering Committee which is being established to provide guidance for the Landcare Facilitator. For more information click here.

Connecting Country has produced a report on its achievements for the first two years of funding for the Yellow Box Woodland project. It can be downloaded here.

The report describes the Connecting Country Project and gives a summary of achievements in the three project areas: On-Ground Works, the Monitoring Program and Community Engagement. It covers the period from October 2009 to September 2011.

Funding for the Yellow Box Woodland project has been extended for another year.  Landowners and groups who are interested in undertaking on-ground works on their properties are invited to submit an expression of interest.  The education program for 2012 will be launched in January, and there will be increased opportunities for the community to become involved in monitoring of nest-boxes, birds and vegetation during the year ahead.

The December issue of the North Central CMA publication Groundcover is now available and can be downloaded here.  ‘Groundcover’ aims to keep people up to date with Landcare activities in the North Central region of Victoria.  The December issue includes a short article on Connecting Country’s eucalyptus identification workshops.

Guildford Landcare stalwart and Connecting Country Committee of Management member, Maurie Dynon, has been named The Guildford Globe’s ‘Person of the Year’.

In recognising Maurie’s contribution The Globe notes that ‘if it wasn’t for Maurie’s efforts as head of the Guildford/Upper Loddon Landcare Group, Guildford may well have ended up underwater on any number of occasions. Maurie has spear-headed project after project since 1995, revegetating, restoring and reinvigorating most of the wildlife corridors that constitute the Guildford, Newstead, Vaughan and surrounding areas.’

To see the complete Guildford Globe article click here.