The Mount Alexander Sustainability Group is examining the feasibility of establishing a community-owned and community-sized wind farm in the Shire. A site has not yet been decided on and they are currently seeking community views on all aspects of the proposed project.
You can find more information and how to get involved in the project by reading this document.
The first Connecting Country Reference Group meeting for 2012 will be held on Monday the 20 February at 7pm in the Ray Bradfield Room, Castlemaine. There will be an opportunity to meet our two new staff members – Michael Luke (Barkers Creek Cleanup Project Officer) and the new Landcare Facilitator. The recently appointed Natural Environment officer, Kylie Stafford, from the Mount Alexander Shire will also be in attendance.
We urge our Landcare Group representatives to attend this meeting as this will be a great opportunity to provide further input into the Landcare Facilitator role over the next four years. We will also be launching the Forest Creek Action Plan developed by Max Schlachter.
For catering purposes please RSVP by Thursday the 16th of February to krista@connectingcountry.org.au or call the office on 5472 1594.
The North Central CMA together with the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and the Loddon Shire Council are holding a free public forum ’What’s up with the weather?’ at Serpentine.
You will be able to find out the latest weather predictions and how the DPI Climate Dogs can help you better understand weather patterns.
Guest speakers include:
When: Tuesday 14 February 2012, 8.00 am – 11.00 am (breakfast and morning tea provided)
Where: Serpentine Hall, Chapel Street, Serpentine.
RSVP (for catering purposes) by 10.00 am Monday 13 February 2012 to North Central CMA by emailing info@nccma.vic.gov.au or by calling 03 5448 7124.
Amongst a range of other interesting articles, the latest Farm-Tree and Landcare Association newsletter includes information on:
The newsletter can be viewed by clicking here.
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 North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is hosting the 2012 National Soils Forum in Bendigo. The forum will bring together key landholders, local farmers, scientists and policy makers to discuss how we secure the productive and environmental values of our soils in North Central Victoria.
Date
Thursday 8 and Friday 9 March 2012
Times
Thursday 10am – 5.30pm, Field trips and trade exhibitions
Thursday from 7pm, Civic reception/Gala dinner
Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm, Forum and trade exhibitions
Venue
Quality Resort All Seasons, McIvor Road, Bendigo
Keynote speakers include Dr Julian Cribb, journalist, editor, science communicator and author of The Coming Famine and Dr. Peter Carberry, Deputy Director for the CSIRO Sustainable Agriculture Flagship program.
The forum will include field trips and trade exhibits, and cover climate change, contemporary farming systems, and economic circumstances that place pressure on the land.
The forum is delivered under the North Central CMA’s Farming for Sustainable Soils project – initiative supported by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program.
For further information and registration including details of field trips, contact the North Central CMA on 03 5448 7124 or email info@nccma.vic.gov.au RSVP by February 9, 2012.
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.
Tortula antarctica
Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana sp)
Spear Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Scarlet Robin
Grey Fantail
Quaking-grass (Briza maxima)
Clitocybe semiocculta
Lichen (probably Xanthoria sp) on a Cassinia stem
Wheel Cactus (Opuntia robusta)
Coral lichen with moss (Leptodontium paradoxum)
Slender Dodder-laurel with moss (Leptodontium paradoxum)
Slender Dodder-laurel
Antechinus
Wooly Bear Caterpillar
Black-shouldered Kite
Rainbow Bee-eater
Striated Pardalote
Mistletoe Bird
Spear Grass
Australian Flatwing (Austroargiolestes icteromelas)
