‘We are country. Country is us’
Posted on 27 March, 2012 by Connecting Country
Dr Dennis Saunders, Research Fellow CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences and Member Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
There are 20,000 kilograms of micro organisms in a hectare of soil. What happens to them in the process of agricultural production?
The fact is, as Dr Denis Saunders pointed out in his Connecting Country talk on 21 March, that we don’t know.
To explain why this is important, he put a question to his audience: if you were getting on an aeroplane, and saw a mechanic take a few bits out of the wing to put on another plane, wouldn’t you want reassurance that those bits were going to be replaced?’
At the moment we tend to be playing a game with the environment: we are not sure what changes we are bringing about, especially in the area of micro organisms. There is no reliable way of finding out how farming practices are affecting them. Reducing their numbers simplifies the landscape and potentially makes it less resilient to crisis events like flood or drought. Sobering statistics on extinctions suggest that we’re not doing as well as we should in land management.
Dr Saunders began by drawing attention to Aboriginal philosophies founded on the interdependence of land and people: ‘we are country , country is us’. He emphasised that farmers, who work on the land and manage it, are keys to land health: and that they should be suitably rewarded for their efforts, both through schemes like BushTender and through a fair pricing system for products of the land.
Dr Saunders pointed out that we are not presently paying the full price for food and fibre products: production is subsidised to an unknown extent by environmental degradation. An accounting system integrating agricultural and biodiversity values might be a way of getting a grip on how things are changing. ‘Conservation’ has tended to be a matter confined to such areas as National Parks: in fact, private productive land is at least as important.
Interestingly, Dr Saunders expressed misgivings about the word ‘biodiversity’, a potentially confusing term which he preferred not to use. And he warned that we should be careful in our use of language in talking of environmental matters. The tendency of conservation workers to talk down to farmers, and for some farmers to be dismissive of environmental concerns, will not help get a practical consensus about how we can ensure landscape productivity long term.
Seventy-five people came along to the Newstead Community centre for this event. The gold coin donation from attendees for the evening’s food is being donated to Newstead Landcare Group.
The next in the evening series of talks is a Panel Discussion – Can I get paid to farm nature? on Wednesday 18th of April, 6:30pm to 9pm, Campbells Creek Community Centre. For more information about Connecting Country’s 2012 education program click here.
20 March – Biodiversity and agriculture – working together
Posted on 16 March, 2012 by Connecting Country
Dr Denis Saunders, former CSIRO chief research scientist, member of the Wentworth Group, and president of World Wildlife Fund.
Biodiversity and agriculture are often seen as separate entities, however, this doesn’t need to be the case. On Tuesday evening, 20 March 2012, internationally renowned scientist Dr. Denis Saunders will present a free public talk at the Newstead Community Centre on the reasons why. With a long and distinguished career in landscape-scale analyses of agricultural rangelands and studies of Australian bird ecology, Dr Saunders is well placed to deliver this presentation – which will be of great interest to everyone – conservationists and farmers alike.
“Biodiversity – the variety of all life forms and their geographic patterns – is integral to a functioning landscape and provides critical environmental services such as nutrient cycling, water filtration and soil stability. Everyone benefits from a biodiverse environment. When biodiversity is diminished these benefits, such as life support processes, are decreased”, says Connecting Country Project Coordinator Chris Timewell. Dr. Saunders will present a case that agriculture is an enterprise that is critically dependent on biodiversity services and will describe how we might go about integrating them. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.
Denis’s evening talk, the first of Connecting Country’s 2012 Education Program, commences at 6.30pm with a pre-talk supper (gold coin donation to the local Newstead Landcare group). This free event is fully catered and the food will be sourced from locally grown ingredients. All the evening talks and field days are open to all members of the public.
Also coming up on Sunday the 25th of March is a field trip with Connecting Country to Pilchers Bridge where participants will learn about the process of identifying Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) and learn how they can be used in revegetation and biodiversity management. There are still places available for the field trip so register now to guarantee your place.
For more information and to RSVP please contact bryan@connectingcountry.org.au or call the Connecting Country office on 5472 1594. Full details of Connecting Country’s 2012 education program and a registration form can be found here.
25 March – Woody Weed Cutting and Painting Workshop
Posted on 13 March, 2012 by Connecting Country
Golden Point Landcare will be running a woody weed cutting and painting workshop on Sunday March 25th from 11.30am-12.30pm at the Prideaux/Billington property, Chapel Street, Golden Point. The workshop is part of the NCCMA and Victorian Government funded project Private Land Weed Control 2011.
Fritz Hammersley, the project officer, will be demonstrating cutting and painting technique for the control of Gorse, Blackberry and Broom and any other woody weeds and discussing how this method fits in with broader aspects of weed control. This event will not feature chainsaw use. Tools and equipment will be provided.
As the event is on private property and late morning tea will be provided, it is requested that anyone interested in participating RSVP Fritz on 0411566987 or email fritzham@bigpond.com by end of day Saturday March 24th.
Directions to the property will begin with signage on the corner of Llewellyn Rd and Golden Point Road, which is a little to the south of Expedition Pass Reservoir.
Fritz addressing participants at the Golden Point Landcare seed collection and sowing workshop in February. Photo: John Ellis
Nest box Monitoring and other Events
Posted on 5 March, 2012 by Connecting Country
Presenter Bryan McMullan is pictured along with one of the 400 nest boxes that have been strategically placed throughout the region.
Thanks to all those that joined Connecting Country in our nest box monitoring workshop in Chewton on 29 February. Participants were shown how to monitor and accurately identify nest box occupants and discussed how to document the sightings using our data sheet. They also received a visual display on the Brush-tailed Phascogale and the Sugar Glider, and how to differentiate between them.
Many thanks to Glenn Harrison of the Chewton Bushlands for hosting a nest box site visit during the evening and discussing the conservation initiatives that he is undertaking on his property.
The session was well received by all participants and was a wonderful opportunity to network and share ideas. This was the first of four nest boxworkshops – the others will be in Maldon (March 7), Sutton Grange (March 14) and Guildford (March 15). To find out more about these workshops and the other components of Connecting Country’s 2012 Education Program, click here, or call the Connecting Country office on 03 5472 1594.
As in 2011, a number of Connecting Country’s 2012 evening education events will be catered for by the Growing Abundance Project. The aim of this local organisation is to ‘give our community the tools to live more sustainably by reducing food miles and food waste’. To find out more about the organisation, click here, and to view their Low Food Miles campaign, click here.
Two opportunities to hear local nest box expert, Miles Geldard
You can find out more about how nest boxes work, how they can be designed for differnt animals and the ins and outs of constructing and placing them from local expert, Miles Geldard, at two upcoming events.
The first is on Friday 9 March when Miles Geldard will be the guest speaker at the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club. The meeting will take place at 7.30pm in the Uniting Church Hall, Lyttleton St, Castlemaine. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Miles will also give a presentation at Newstead Landcare’s meeting on Thursday 16 June from 8-9 pm at Newstead Community Centre. This presentation will be followed by a cup of tea and then a brief business meeting if you would like to hang around. All are welcome to attend either the presentation or the meeting. Contact Patrick Kavanagh (Secretary) or Frances Cincotta (President) 5476 2691 for further information.
More information about Miles Geldard’s nest boxes can be found on his website Wildlife Nestboxes.
12 April – Building Resilient Ecosystems Forum
Posted on 26 February, 2012 by Connecting Country
A free forum on the theme Building resilient ecosystems in Victoria: what is our vision and how can we achieve it? is being hosted by Deakin University (Burwood Campus) on Thursday 12 April 2012 (week after Easter). Some of the most distinguished names in Victorian science and conservation ecology will be presenting.
There is increasing emphasis on building ‘resilience’ as a goal in land management and conservation. This forum will bring together different viewpoints and experience to explore ideas and questions about resilience and its application to conservation and land management. It will be valuable for a wide range of people – scientists, land managers, conservation practitioners, and community members.
Registration is essential to allow for catering. Click here for more information including registration details.
20 February – Forest Creek Action Plan Launch and Reference Group Meeting
Posted on 16 February, 2012 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country’s first Reference Group meeting for 2012 will take place at 7pm on Monday 20 February in the Ray Bradfield Rooms. This will be an opportunity to meet two new team members: Local Landcare Facilitator, Max Schlachter, and Barkers Creek Clean Up Project Officer, Michael Luke.
Connecting Country will also be launching the recently produced ‘Forest Creek Action Plan’. The plan has been produced through consultation with local community groups who have an interest in restoring the ecological health of Forest Creek, as well as the government agencies responsible for managing the creek, and local residents.
The Forest Creek Action Plan documents how the creek is valued by local residents and what threats it may face in the future. It also provides information on the social and natural history of the creek. The plan should be of value to anybody with an interest in the history and ecology of Forest Creek and the Box-Ironbark forest landscape more generally.
Forest Creek’s proximity to Castlemaine and its surrounding townships makes it an important recreation area and a showcase for successful ecological restoration. Local community groups have worked very hard and very successfully over the last 20 years to restore the Forest Creek landscape and it is hoped that the Forest Creek Action Plan will help them to continue their work in the future. The iconic degradation of Forest Creek is now an opportunity for iconic restoration!
17 February – Connectivity Conservation and the Great Eastern Ranges Corridor
Posted on 13 February, 2012 by Connecting Country
There will be a presentation by the Great Eastern Ranges Principal Officer, Gary Howling, on connectivity conservation and the Great Eastern Ranges corridor on 17 February in Bendigo.
The Great Eastern Ranges corridor (called GER) is hosted by Greening Australia NSW and is largely funded by the NSW Government, which in turn leverages project funding and in-kind contributions from over 120 regional implementation partners. The GER Initiative has commissioned a number of research activities in partnership with ANU, CSIRO, Birds Australia and others. This is starting to provide insights into the importance of the GER corridor across each of the eastern States.
GER have generously offered to share their findings with the Central Victorian Biolinks initiative, which itself is very new and in a scoping phase. However, a key role of this initiative is to share information that they think may be of interest to people and organisations working ‘on ground’.
Title: ‘The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative – its evolution, achievements, science and future plans’
Date: Friday, February 17th
Time: 9am for coffee and cake and to meet with Gary Howling. 10 – 12 for presentation.
Where: RM Campbell Theatrette, City of Bendigo Library, 259 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo
Please RSVP to sophie@centralvicbiolinks.org.au or ring on 0422 227471
For information on this early stage of the Central Victorian Biolinks project please see www.centralvicbiolinks.org.au
A donation to cover costs will be welcome.
12 February – Golden Point Landcare Seed Collection Workshop
Posted on 8 February, 2012 by Connecting Country
Golden Point Landcare will be running a seed collection, weed identification and control and revegetation workshop at the PSC property (the one with the A-frame), corner Golden Point Road and Commissioner’s Gully Road on 12 February from 10am to 12noon. This property is one of three participating in the Golden Point Landcare Private Land Weed Control Project 2011 through Victorian Landcare Grants and the North Central Catchment Management Authority, and because of its proximity to Commissioner’s Gully Road, offers an opportunity for continued observation of a work in progress.
Ian O’Halloran and Fritz Hammersley will be discussing seed collection, storage and germination for the home revegetator. They will be looking at weeds and identifying the usual and unusual suspects, focusing on effective strategies for control of different types of weeds on a short and long term basis.
Finally, there will be an opportunity to look at the progress of the works on the property and discuss revegetation and long-term weed control options with a focus on the site’s unique requirements. This will include a brief look at the site’s soil, topography, vegetation distribution and history.
The workshop will conclude with a Q/A session and a late morning tea in the log cabin, kindly made available by Julie Moss, the proprietor of the property.
As some of the walk will be adjacent to dead, brittle gorse and blackberry, suitable clothing and footwear are recommended. Parking is available on Golden Point Road.
For more information contact Fritz Hammersley on 5472 1089.
20 February – Connecting Country Reference Group Meeting
Posted on 6 February, 2012 by Connecting Country
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.
What’s Up with the Weather?
Posted on 1 February, 2012 by Connecting Country
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:
- Jane Bunn – WIN TV Weather Presenter
- Graeme Anderson – DPI Senior Climate Scientist
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.
8-9 March 2012 – National Soils Forum in Bendigo
Posted on 19 December, 2011 by Connecting Country
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.
Four Australian Government Grants
Posted on 16 December, 2011 by Connecting Country
There are currently four opportunities for funding through the Australian Government:
- Biochar Capacity Building Program will support research, on-ground testing and demonstration of biochar to provide additional options for land managers to contribute to reducing Australia’s carbon pollution. Applications close on 3 Feb 2012. Click here to find out more.
- Action on the Ground is designed to assist the on-farm trial and demonstration of practices and technologies to reduce agricultural sector greenhouse gas emissions and/or increase carbon stored in soil. Applications close on 8 Feb 2012. Click here to find out more.
- Caring for Our Country 2012/2013 Business Plan. Click here to find out more.
- The Federal Govt. has just advertised the Biodiversity Fund. Under the first round of the Biodiversity Fund in 2011-12, over $30 million will be allocated to activities to help farmers and land managers store carbon, enhance biodiversity and increase resilience across the Australian landscape. Click here to find out more.
19 November – Shane Howard Gig Still Happening
Posted on 18 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Despite the recent fire at the Elphinstone Hotel, the Shane Howard gig will still take place this Saturday night rain, hail or shine. The evening will be an information session, recruitment drive, and fundraiser for the Elphinstone Landcare Group. Gold coin entry.
The evening will start at 5pm. Click here for more details.
Contact Beth on 0431 219 980 if you need more information.
Wheel Cactus Activities – 14 & 27 November
Posted on 14 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Wheel Cactus, Walmer. Photo: Bronwyn Silver
The last field day for the year will be held in Waldrons Lane, Baringhup, on Sunday 27 November, starting at 10.30 am. The Cactus Committee’s AGM will be held after the field day. Everyone is welcomed to attend the AGM.
Also, Ian Grenda is giving the Maldon Action Quarterly Lecture on Monday 14 November, at 7.30 pm. It will be held in the Athenaeum Hall High Street, Maldon. Entry by gold coin donation. Ian will be talking about the history of the campaign against cactus and the role of the local community in this campaign. Again everyone is welcome..
For further information contact Tony Kane timkane@ozemail.com.au.
Two Events to Celebrate 25 Years of Landcare
Posted on 8 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
The 25th Anniversary of Landcare Conference will take place on 15 November at the MCG. It’s a chance for Landcarers and supporters to come together for a day of high level speakers and an extensive range of workshops and seminars.
The day will provide an opportunity to:
- share successes over 25 years with inspiring stories of landscape change
- learn about growing the landcare movement in the next 25 years
- meet Landcarers and likeminded people from around the state
The Hon Ryan Smith, Minister for Environment and Climate Change will deliver the official welcome at the 25th Anniversary of Landcare Conference.
Guest speakers include John Williams, Andrew Campbell, Kate Auty, Alexandra Gartmann and Landcare co-founder Joan Kirner. A history panel lead by Pam Robinson with guests Joan Kirner, Rob Youl, Horrie Poussard and others will reflect on key milestones in Landcare’s past 25 years.
A futuristic panel led by Kate Auty, joined by Alexandra Gartmann and Cate Barham, will discuss the way forward for Landcare for the next 25 years and beyond. Over 25 workshops will be offered on sustainable primary production, a healthy Landcare community and our environment, challenges and solutions. Click here to view the complete list of workshops and speakers.
Registration for volunteers is only $27.50. Register online by following this link:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y39VMSD . For more information go to:http://www.landcarevic.net.au/25years/conference/conference-information or contact David Rooks on tel: (03) 5952 3331, Mob 0418 115 935 for hard copies.
Registrations have been extended until Thursday 10 November.
The second event is a celebration of the North Central 25th Anniversary of Landcare on Friday 25 November 2011 at Bress Winery in Harcourt. This will be an opportunity to catch up with old friends and listen to guest speaker Shanaka Fernando (business entrepreneur of ‘Lentil as Anything’, a-pay-as-you-feel cafe in Melbourne). Also enjoy the mesmerising sounds of Kinja, local violin and didgeridoo duo. Click here to see the details.
10 November 2011 – Chilean Needle Grass Working Group Meeting
Posted on 2 November, 2011 by Connecting Country
Chilean Needle Grass. Photo by Karen Stewart.
Chilean Needle Grass (CNG) is a noxious invader of grassy woodlands and pastures. It is listed Weed of National Significance, and disturbingly there are a growing number of infestations in the local area. Further information on identification, ecology, spread and eradication methods can be found here.
A locally-based CNG working group was established earlier this year to work towards a coordinated approach to reducing the impact and preventing further spread of Chilean Needle Grass and other stipoid grass weeds in Mount Alexander Shire.
The group’s next meeting is on Thursday 10 November 2011 at 4.30 p.m. at the meeting room at the Hub, corner Templeton/Barker Streets, Castlemaine. Everyone interested is invited to attend. Minutes of previous meetings can be found here. Contact Connecting Country on 5472 1594 for more details.
Agenda for CNG working group meeting
CNG Field Day report back: Ian Grenda
CNG CFOC application current status: Jarrod Coote
MAS Council’s roadside management (vegetation) plan: Amy McDonald
CNG Strategic Plan current status: Jarrod Coote
MAS Environment Community Grant 2010/2011: Marie Jones
Mapping of CNG infestations: Marie Jones (Tom Chippindall has offered the use of a GPS resource.)
DSE CNG Program: Claire Coulson
Where to now?
Other business
2 November 2011 – Promises and Pitfalls of Large Landscape Conservation
Posted on 31 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
Victoria Naturally has invited interested people to a presentation entitled Promises and pitfalls of large landscape conservation: lessons from North America and Australia this Wednesday, 2 November. The speaker will be PhD student Carina Wyborn. The flyer below has the full details.
CACTUS KILLERS WANTED
Posted on 25 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
The Tarrangower Cactus Control Commitee will hold their next community field day on Sunday 30 October at the corner of Watersons Road and Mount Back Road. The starting time is 10.30am and the morning will finish with a sausage sizzle about 12.30.
The final field day for the year will be on Sunday 27 November. It will be held at a property in Waldons Lane, Baringhup. The Cactus Control Committee’s AGM and Christmas break up will be held on the same day.
For further enquiries, contact Tony Kane timkane@ozemail.com.au
Wheel Cactus from the Tarrengower area. (Photo curtesy of DPI.)
A Helping Hand for Vulnerable Phascolgales
Posted on 24 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
Local resident and volunteer Cathy McCallum wrote the following report about Bryan McMullan’s recent visit to Baringhup.
On Friday students and staff from Baringhup Primary School and Baringhup Landcare learnt a lot more about phascogales from Bryan McMullan. Bryan is the Nesting Box Monitoring Project officer for Connecting Country and he was happy to explain his role and the vulnerability of this delightful native marsupial at the same time as he managed to erect the specially designed nesting boxes into position three metres up the trunks of our magnificent red gums along the river.
Bryan was replacing two nesting boxes swept away when the Loddon River flooded in January 2011. He placed another six boxes in Baringhup properties, one of them rescued from Rob & Kerry Jennings property after the floods. Another box has completely disappeared. The students showed a keen interest in the phascogales’ plight with many questions asked and skillfully answered by Bryan. The boxes will house any adolescent phascolgales who move into our area after being ousted from their habitat by the dominant members of their family.
Phascogales forage over a very large area, the female 20 -70 ha and the male 100ha which means only small populations can exist in large areas of habitat. When the autumn check of the existing nesting boxes took place, Bryan was pleased to report the nesting box program had already provided habitat for an extra seven families of phascolgales. We are all hoping that one day these beautiful marsupials will find a home in a box in Baringhup.
Bryan explains the Nest Box Program to Baringhup Primary School students.
Two Upcoming Events in Newstead
Posted on 21 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
23 October – Grasslands morning with Newstead Landcare
Victoria’s beautiful native grasslands were the ecosystems that attracted European settlement in the 1800s. Unfortunately, as a result, they are now one of our most diminished natural splendours and resources. But they still live in the area and can be seen and helped. Join Newstead Landcare for their October field day as Nathan Wong, PhD researcher into native grasslands and Grassy Ecosystem Co-ordinator for the Trust for Nature, introduces some rare treasures. Nathan will take people to native grassland remnants in 3 very different states of being, and describe the processes at work and what the grasslands provide. A rare opportunity indeed!
The field day will be this Sunday October 23rd, car pooling from Newstead Community Centre at 9.30 am and returning at about 12.15pm. All are welcome to attend (gold coin donations appreciated). Bring a mug for morning tea. A very brief AGM will be held during morning tea, before the return to Newstead.
15 November – Are there Platypus in your local creeks? Would you like to know more about them?
The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) along with the Newstead Landcare Group invites you to join them at a Platypus information night.
The Australian Platypus Conservancy will present an illustrated talk about the amazing platypus and how you can help monitor them in the Loddon River system
Date: Tuesday 15th November 2011
Time: 6.30pm–8.00pm (including a light supper)
Venue: Newstead Community Centre
Admission is free and everyone is welcome. Don’t miss this great opportunity to come along and learn more about the habitat and biology of this unique animal.
RSVP by 5.00pm Friday 4 th November 2011 to info@nccma.vic.gov.au or telephone (03) 5448 7124, indicating that you wish to attend the Newstead Platypus information session and outline any dietary requirements.
This information night is presented as part of the North Central CMA’s Upper Loddon and Campaspe project, Victorian Landcare Program and North Central Waterwatch.