The Connecting Country Education Program Starts This Weekend!
Posted on 7 February, 2013 by Connecting Country
‘Local Reptiles: from the Backyard to the Bush’ is the title of the talk that Peter Johnson will be giving at the Ray Bradfield Room in Castlemaine this Sunday 10th February. It’s the first event in the 2013 Education Program. His talk will be preceded by a Welcome to Country from the Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Clans Corporation which will be a special start to whole the program.
Peter Johnson
Peter will be talking about local Box-Ironbark Forest reptiles and will introduce us to some scaly friends that we don’t often get to see or learn about. There will also be time for the inquisitive to ask questions, so don’t forget to bring along some good ones!
The talks will go from 2pm to 4pm and we’ll be finishing with afternoon tea provided by Castlemaine Abundance Kitchen Enterprise (CAKE).
This talk will be followed by the first Forest Soils: The Science Management & History of our Local Soils workshops on the following two Sundays – 17th February and 24th February. There are still a few places left for the workshops but places are limited so if you would like to attend please fill out a registration form (click here to dowload form). We have three great presenters for these workshops, which will introduce participants to the science, management and history of our non-agricultural soils. Continue Reading »
Rural Property Theft Awareness and Prevention Signage
Posted on 6 February, 2013 by Connecting Country
Nuggetty Land Protection Group will launch their Rural Property Theft Awareness and Prevention signage at a community morning tea in the Maldon Community Centre, 3 Francis Street, Maldon on Saturday 23rd February commencing at 9am. The launch will see the unveiling of signs developed in response to issues raised at a Livestock & farm theft meeting held by the group in Maldon in July 2012 and attended by community members from across the local area and surrounds. Continue Reading »
18 Feb – Local Flood Management Meeting
Posted on 5 February, 2013 by Connecting Country
Interested community members are invited to the first public meeting about the development the Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton Flood Management Plan. It will be held on Monday 18 February at 6.30 pm in the Castlemaine Town Hall. This will be an opportunity for local people to have their say about recent floods and future management measures.
The plan is being developed by the North Central CMA in association with the Mount Alexander Shire Council. As well, water industry experts GHD have been engaged to assist in investigating and developing the Plan.
Click here to see full details.
A steering committee containing local community representatives has also been established. If you are unable to attend the public meeting but would like to have your view’s expressed, either contact the project manager at the North Central CMA (shaun.morgan@nccma.vic.gov.au) or let Connecting Country know and we will assist you in contacting one of the community representatives (info@connectingcountry.org.au).
PestSmart Toolkit Available
Posted on 4 February, 2013 by Connecting Country
The PestSmart Toolkit is an ongoing project which is being developed by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IACRC). Information is provided in various forms such as fact sheets, case-studies, technical manuals and scientific reports.
The toolkit now provides information and guidance on best-practice invasive animal management on several key vertebrate pest species including rabbits, wild dogs, foxes, feral pigs, feral cats, carp and tilapia. Information on other pests will be produced in future.
Community Landcare Grants Now Open
Posted on 4 February, 2013 by Connecting Country
Community Landcare Grants ranging between $5,000 and $50,000 are available to support local sustainable agriculture and community engagement projects, as part of the Australian Government’s $2.2 billion Caring for our Country initiative.
Community Landcare Grants aim to help:
- build a skilled and capable Landcare community
- encourage community participation and engagement in Landcare
- share information and learning’s in sustainable agricultural techniques
- reduce the spread of pest species
- encourage the adoption of improved sustainable land management practices
Organisations involved with Landcare, professional farming systems or Indigenous groups are encouraged to apply.
Applications close at 5pm (AEDT) on 20 March 2013. More information including application forms can be found here.
Education Program Update
Posted on 29 January, 2013 by Connecting Country
The 2013 Education Program has now been finalised.
New details added to the program include:
Dr Lesley Hodgeson, Damien Cook and Doug Ralph will present the Forest Soils Workshop.
Parks Victoria, Tooko Wildlife Displays and Elaine Bayes (along with Damien Cook) will run the three education session at the ‘Nature Discovery Afternoon for Kids’.
Dr Rodney Van Der Ree, from Melbourne University will be the keynote speaker at the ‘Designing a Wildlife Corridor: What Works & Why?’ evening talk.
Geoff Park will be joining us on the ‘Connecting Country Bus Tour: What Does Successful Landscape Restoration Look Like?’ to share his insights into what successful landscape restoration might look like.
A list of all events, including the full details of times, locations, speakers and a registration form, can be viewed on the ‘Education Program 2013’ page of the Connecting Country website.
Connecting Country Works Crew Positions
Posted on 24 January, 2013 by Connecting Country
We are seeking suitable people to form a Works Crew for Connecting Country’s new program – Connecting Landscapes across the Mount Alexander Region
Do you want to work outdoors? Do you want to make the natural world a better place? If yes, then this could be the job for you.
Connecting Country is seeking enthusiastic people to form its new environmental Works Crew. With funding from the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Biodiversity Fund, Connecting Country is implementing a long term program to protect and enhance native vegetation at a number of sites across the Mount Alexander shire and immediate surrounds in central Victoria.
For more information on the program, and also for a copy of the full position description and application details, click here. The role is a fixed term position, commencing in March and concluding in November 2013.
For more information regarding the project and the position, contact Jarrod Coote on (03) 5472-1594 or email jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au
Grassy Groundcover Gazette
Posted on 22 January, 2013 by Connecting Country
The Grassy Groundcover Gazette is an online newsletter about the conservation, restoration and management of grasslands and grassy woodlands in south-eastern Australia. When it first came out in May 2006, the primary purpose of the newsletter was to keep people in touch who were involved in the Grassy Groundcover Research Project. Since then it has reached a far wider audience.
Three examples of items in the latest issue are the 14ha reconstructed wildlflower grasslands on land that had previously been used for cropping on the western outskirts of Geelong; the restored grassland area at the Werribee Open Range Zoo; and the seeded grassland demonstration plots at Inverleigh, Lake Bolac and Dunkeld.
The restoration of grasslands and grassy woodlands in the Mount Alexander Shire and surrounds faces similar challenges to those described in this Gazette. The information is therefore likely to be of value to people working to restore habitats here. To view the Gazette click here.
National Biodiversity Investment Prospectus Released
Posted on 22 January, 2013 by Connecting Country
Environment Minister Tony Burke has recently released the Australian Government’s first national biodiversity investment prospectus: One Land – Many Stories: Prospectus of Investment 2013-14.
The prospectus sets out the vision for the next phase of Caring for our Country from July 2013. It also sets out the context for future investment under the Biodiversity Fund, the Regional Natural Resource Management Planning for Climate Change Fund, and the Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund.
More information on the prospectus is available at www.environment.gov.au/prospectus and it is our understanding that application guidelines for programs under the prospectus will be released over the coming months.
Local Flood Management Plan: Call for Nominations
Posted on 4 January, 2013 by Connecting Country
The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA), in partnership with the Mount Alexander Shire Council, is seeking expressions of interest from community members for appointment to a Planning Steering Committee. The committee will help guide the development of the Castlemaine, Campbells Creek & Chewton Flood Management Plan. Community members on the committee could include representatives of Landcare groups that occur along one or more of these waterways.
The committee will oversee the plan’s development from a community perspective, ensure the plan aligns with governance requirements and provide important advice to the North Central CMA and Mount Alexander Shire Council on its communication and engagement activities.
The period for community nominations has been open since before Christmas, and there is a period of 1-2 weeks from early January when the CMA is still able to receive them for consideration. An Expression of Interest/Application Form for nominees can be downloaded here.
The Connecting Country Education Program is on Again!
Posted on 21 December, 2012 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country Education Program will be on once again from February to April next year. The 2013 program has the theme ‘learning from experience & learning from each other’. As such, each event will include a local perspective on the issue at hand as well as presentations by experts.
It’s shaping up to be a diverse and interesting program and that we hope you’ll find enjoyable, inspiring, and of course – educational.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL PROGRAM
The program will include the following events: Continue Reading »
Draft Waterway Management Strategy – Our Submission
Posted on 19 December, 2012 by Connecting Country
The Victorian Government was requesting feedback on the draft Victorian Waterway Management Strategy (click here for earlier Connecting Country web post). The DSE website states that the …draft Strategy describes the proposed policy for waterway management over the next eight years (and)…includes guidance on regional decision-making, investment, management issues, and roles and responsibilities of management agencies.
Connecting Country prepared and submitted a letter in response to this draft Strategy. This letter can be viewed by clicking here. As always, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or comments about this post or our submitted letter (chris@connectingcountry.org.au).
Annual Bird Count Weekend in the Mt Alexander region
Posted on 12 December, 2012 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country provided two teams of keen birders to help with the Annual Bird Count weekend on December 1/2. Local participation was organised by the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club who have been involved in the Annual Bird Count Weekend for more than a decade.
Kerryn Herman, Connecting Country’s Woodland Bird Coordinator, commented that by ‘the end of the weekend … we had recorded over 100 species, covering woodland, wetland and pasture habitats and (hopefully) a few more volunteers with a little more confidence in their birding ability’. Click here to read Kerryn’s full report.
New Fish Field Guide
Posted on 11 December, 2012 by Connecting Country
The new North Central Waterwatch Fish Field Guide is now available. The Fish Field Guide is the second in a series of three field guides being developed by North Central Waterwatch to help the community identify aquatic fauna found in our local waterways. It can be viewed on the North Central CMA website by clicking here Be patient as this PDF document takes a while to open.
The Fish Field Guide provides descriptions of native species in north central Victoria, including their tail shape, fins positions, habitats, conservation, breeding cycles, diet. It also desribes the threats to native fish.
This new guide also highlights threatened species listed under state and/or national legislation, as well as information about fish that have been translocated into the North Central CMA region.
The Fish Field Guide follows the huge success of the North Central Waterwatch Frogs Field Guide which provides information on frogs, including their description, the sound of their calls, breeding times and their habitats.
11 Dec 2012 – Public Forum on Native Vegetation Laws
Posted on 30 November, 2012 by Connecting Country
The state government is considering making changes to the regulations for permitted native vegetation clearance. A few weeks ago, Connecting Country made a submission to the government in regard to a consultation paper about this (see previous blog). A number of organizations are concerned about the implications of the new rules upon areas of remnant native vegetation. For those that are interested, there is an upcoming public forum in Bendigo on the issue.
Draft Victorian Waterway Management Strategy – Call for comments
Posted on 30 November, 2012 by Connecting Country
DSE has recently made available the draft Victorian Waterway Strategy. This document describes the proposed policy for waterway management over the next eight years. It includes guidance on regional decision-making, investment, management issues, and roles and responsibilities of management agencies. An overview of the Strategy, the Strategy itself, and relevant media releases can be accessed here.
The DSE has invited submissions on the draft. The closing date is 7 December.
30 Nov – Indigenous Seed Collection Walk and Talk
Posted on 29 November, 2012 by Connecting Country
The Upper Loddon and Avoca Landcare Network and Seeding Victoria is holding an Indigenous Seed Collection Walk and Talk this Friday 30 November 2012.
The walk and talk is designed to introduce participants to the general aspects of collecting seed: collection, plant identification, seed collection and extraction, cleaning and storage of indigenous plant species.
Where and When: Friday 30 November 2012, 6.00 pm Paddys Ranges (exact location TBA).
For further information view the event flyer here. Or contact Chris Pollock on 03 54 632 563 / 0421 372 545 or email chrispollock7@gmail.com.
5 Dec 2012 – Celebrate International Volunteer Day
Posted on 29 November, 2012 by Connecting Country
Mount Alexander Volunteer Network has organised a Volunteer Expo at the Castlemaine Market Building on Wednesday 5th December 2012. The day will start at 11 am with an official launch followed by a celebration morning tea.
There will also be a Volunteer Thank You Dinner at the Castlemaine Town Hall from 7 pm where people can enjoy a delicious 2 course meal and live entertainment from Ghouls Gambit and acclaimed jazz diva Meg Corson. The dinner will be free of charge for volunteers and community workers. Bookings are needed by Monday 3 December.
Volunteers are vital for the success of Connecting Country and many other local organizations. This is a great local way in which people can be acknowledged for their contribution.
For bookings or enquiries please contact the Mount Alexander Volunteer Network by email to mavn@cch.org.au or telephone 0425 323 005.
New edition of ‘Chat’
Posted on 29 November, 2012 by Connecting Country
The latest edition of the North Central CMA newsletter North Central Chat is now available and can be downloaded here. The issue includes information on a new North Central Waterwatch Fish Field Guide, a new publication about Dung Beetles and a mystery photo from our landcare facilitator, Max Schlachter.
1&2 Dec 2012 – Annual Bird Count Weekend – Helpers requested
Posted on 23 November, 2012 by Connecting Country
The Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club (CFNC) have been involved in the Annual Bird Count Weekend for more than a decade. Now organised by BirdLife Australia, the annual event involves birdwatchers from across Australia recording as many individual bird species and individuals as they can within a set period and within their defined area (for us, it’s within a 40km radius from central Castlemaine). This year’s event is being held on the weekend of the 1 and 2 December.
With the recent launch of Connecting Country’s Woodland Bird Programme, and following our recent bird identification training day, Connecting Country are hoping to put at least one or two teams together for one or both of these days (depending on interest) to help out the CFNC. Or you could join one of the CFNC teams on the Saturday morning. You don’t need to be an expert – each team will have at least one person experienced in bird identification. Birding novices are encouraged! It promises to be a lot of fun and a great way to learn more about birds of the local area. And also provides important knowledge about the health of the local bird community.
If you are interested or would like more information, contact Kerryn (kerryn@connectingcountry.org.au) or Chris (chris@connectingcountry.org.au) by Thursday 29 November.