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.
Shane Howard plays live at the Elpho
Posted on 19 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
Saturday 19th November, 5.30pm
The Elphinstone Land Management Association (ELMA) has received a grant from DSE to hold an information session and recruitment drive at the Elphinstone Hotel. Locals from Elphinstone will receive half price Landcare membership on the night, as well as the opportunity to learn about ELMA’s activities and pick up some free information.
Other Landcare members are welcome to attend this evening with legendary Australian performer and ex-Goanna frontman, Shane Howard, playing live.
The night kicks off at 5.30pm with support from Two Feet of Tofu. Entry is by gold coin donation, there is food available, and free face painting for the kids in the child friendly beer garden.
Inquiries to Beth on 0431 219 980.
Chilean Needle Grass Workshop in Maldon
Posted on 18 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
Chilean Needle Grass. Photo by Karen Stewart.
The Tarrengower Cactus Control Committee is hosting a workshop to help people identify and control the Chilean Needle Grass weed on Sunday 30 October from 10.30am – 12.30pm.
Chilean Needle Grass is one of Australia’s worst weeds. It invades native grasslands, agricultural land, roadsides and urban parks, gardens and recreational reserves. It can displace palatable pasture species and can reduce agricultural productivity by up to 50 per cent over summer. Its seed readily attaches to stock, particularly sheep, and can cause injury by burrowing into the skin. Its presence in wool reduces quality and can be a major cause of downgrading.
It is often difficult to identify Chilean Needle Grass and without knowing what to look for. Farmers, landholders and other community members may not know they have the weed on their property. To help with identification, a healthy flowering weed contained in a sealed perspex box will be displayed. Participants will be able to compare it with native plants.
The organisers are inviting people to come along to enjoy the great outdoors and good company while helping to control a major threat to our natural environment. Dress for the occasion in warm clothes and sturdy footwear. Bring water and sunscreen.
The workshop will be held at the corner of Back Mount Road and Watersons Road, Maldon and finish with a free sausage sizzle and cuppa.
For further information contact Ian Grenda from the Tarrengower Cactus Control Committee on 0412 015 807 or email iangrenda@live.com.
16 October 2011 – Friends of Campbells Creek Community Day
Posted on 14 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
The Friends of Campbells Creek Landcare Group has invited its members and local residents to their annual Community Day which will take place in the Campbells Creek Park on 16 October between 10am and 2pm. The program includes activities such as planting of native grasses, painting of nest boxes and a family BBQ. For more information click here.
15 October 2011 – Frog Night
Posted on 12 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
The Baynton Sidonia Landcare Group is holding a Frog Night on 15 October between 6pm and 9pm.
There will be a presentation by Dr Graeme Watson, a twilight walk through a local wetland and a free BBQ.
To book and find out the venue details, contact Clare on 5423 4152 or email clare@knco.net Click here to view the flier.
16 October 2011 – Frogs Field Guide Launch
Posted on 10 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Waterwatch and Landcare team is launching the Frogs Field Guide.
The guide is for anyone interested in learning more about the frogs that call the north central Victoria region home. It is a handy size, great to use in the field and contains lots of information that can assist with identifying a frog, its eggs or tadpoles.
All frog enthusiasts are encouraged to come to the launch where guest speaker, Ray Draper, will talk about the frogs found in the north central Victoria region. Ray has over 40 years of experience with frogs and has monitored Growling Grass Frogs (Litoria raniformis) throughout western Victoria for the last 35 years. Ray will also talk about a potential threat to frogs, the amphibian Chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium), which can cause a lethal disease in many frog species.
Date: Sunday 16 October 2011
Time: 10:00am – 12:00 pm
Venue: Andersons Mill, Creswick-Newstead Rd, Smeaton
Booking are essential. A picnic lunch will be provided. RSVP to reception@nccma.vic.gov.au or telephone 03 54487124 by Thursday 13 October.
14 October 2011 – CFNC meeting on Dianellas
Posted on 7 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
At the next Castlemaine Field Naturalist Club meeting on 14 October there will be a presentation by Geoff Carr on Dianellas: their biology, ecology and taxonomy. The evening will begin at 7.30pm and the venue is the Uniting Church Hall. All are welcome.
Geoff Carr is a founding director of Ecology Australia and has been a botanical consultant for 30 years. He has an exceptional knowledge of the ecology, taxonomy, distribution, conservation status, horticulture, management and revegetation of the Australian flora, particularly that of south-eastern Australia. Geoff has published over 400 papers, reports and other publications.
There will be an excursion the next day, Saturday 15 October, led by Geoff Carr to sites in Harcourt area with a high diversity of Dianellas. The trip will be a hands-on tutorial focussing on the differences between species (and hybrids). The excursion will begin at the Octopus building on Forest St (opposite motel), and depart at 1.30pm on the dot.
13 October 2011 – Innovative Farming Options Field Day
Posted on 4 October, 2011 by Connecting Country
An ‘Innovative Farming Options Field Day’ is scheduled for 13 October 2011. It will be held at Ko-Warra Native Grasses Nursery (537 Echuca-Mitiamo Road, Echuca) between 9.30am – 4.00pm.
The field day will provide landholders and community members with the opportunity to:
- hear from key note speakers regarding sustainable land practice options on farming land where irrigation has been significantly reduced, or ceased completely,
- see on-farm trials and demonstrations of native grasses, agroforestry, sandalwood and revegetation,
- network with farmers and others to share experiences, lessons and advice.
The field day is delivered under the North Central CMA’s Regional Landcare Facilitator and Adopting Sustainable Farming Practices projects, and is supported by the Commonwealth Government’s Caring for our Country initiative and the Shire of Campaspe. This is a free event with lunch provided.
To register your interest in the field day (and for catering purposes) please RSVP to the North Central CMA by 5 pm Tuesday 11 October 2011 on (03) 5448 7124 or info@nccma.vic.gov.au.