18 March 2016 – Glider symposium in Seymour

Posted on 2 March, 2016 by Connecting Country

Sophie Bickford from Central Victorian Biolinks (CVB) has let us know that they are hosting a Glider Symposium in Seymour on Friday 18 March 2016.  The title of the symposium is ‘Glider conservation knowledge, practice and collaboration in Central Victoria‘.   This is part of the broader ‘Glideways’ project that Central Victorian Biolinks is involved in with the Great Eastern Ranges connectivity conservation initiative.

Attached is a flier for the event that explains more (CLICK HERE).   The full program should be available soon on the CVB website (CLICK HERE).

Bookings are through eventbrite for $10 (CLICK HERE), although tickets are also available on the day for $15.   This charge covers morning tea and lunch.

An official launch of the Central Victorian Biolink project will also occur on the day – with Prof. Kate Auty coming along to do the honours.

[NB: There may be 1-2 people from Connecting Country attending to learn more about aspects that are relevant to our own nest box monitoring program.  Please let us know if you are interested in car-pooling with us from Castlemaine.]

Revised MASC Climate Change Action Plan – Open for Comment

Posted on 29 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

The first draft of the Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Climate Change Action Plan was released for a four-week public comment and feedback in November last year (CLICK HERE to see our original post about this).   Based on the feedback received, and through meetings within Council and with a number of community groups, a revised draft has been released for a final two week public comment period from Monday 29 February 2016 to Sunday 13 March 2016.  As stated in their recent Environment and Sustainability eNewsletter, “The document outlines how Council will reduce its carbons emission and adapt to climate change in a considered way – working toward becoming carbon neutral by 2025.”

It is understood that the next steps – following the consideration of any further public comments – will involve the document being finalised by council staff and then recommended to Council for endorsement and implementation.

While the feedback period is open in early March, further information will be available on the Council’s website under the Have Your Say section (CLICK HERE).  The draft document can also be viewed over this period through their website or it can be directly downloaded here (CLICK HERE – an 8MB document).

The council are encouraging community members to review the document and send in written comments – before midnight Sunday 13 March 2016 – via email to the Healthy Environments Administration Officer, Dallas Giles d.giles@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.  We haven’t a chance to read this revised document yet, but we’ll aim to keep you informed over the next week or so if we see any noteworthy changes relating to Connecting Country’s areas of interest.

Trees of the Mount Alexander Region

Posted on 26 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

A photographic exhibition Trees of the Mount Alexander Region will run at Togs Place café from 26 February until 31 March 2016.

The exhibition has been coordinated by the Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests (FOBIF) and aims to highlight the amazing variety to be seen in our local indigenous trees.  Even those trees of the same genus—for example, Eucalyptus—can exhibit a wild variety of shape and colour, as well as providing a home and other resources for an extraordinary diversity of wildlife.

The exhibition photos have been selected from over 125 that were submitted to FOBIF during December and January. In June 2016 the exhibition will have a second showing at the new local arts venue, the Newstead Railway Arts Hub. At this latter exhibition, at least one photo from each contributor will be included in a continuous slideshow.

Togs Place can be found at 58 Lyttleton Street, Castlemaine. Photos will be for sale, with proceeds going to FOBIF to cover costs.

(Also of interest to tree-lovers, the Bjarne K Dahl Trust and the Royal Society of Victoria are presenting a one-day symposium in Mebourne on 18 March 2016 highlighting eucalypt diversity and conservation.  For further details, see their website – CLICK HERE)

Nature News: Dry times for the Diamond Firetail

Posted on 25 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

Connecting Country, in partnership with the Midland Express, has launched its new monthly ‘Nature News’ feature.  Look out for these these articles by local naturalists appearing in the Midland Express on the first Tuesday of the month (or thereabouts). For the February edition, Tanya Loos shared her experiences about one of our local feathered friends; the Diamond Firetail. This article is reprinted below.  Keep an eye out in the next one or two editions of the Midland Express for an article on local snakes by Bernard Slattery.

Of relevance to the article below, at the Saturday evening forum of our feathered five festival (19-20 March 2016), Andrew Bennett will be discussing his research on how woodland birds are responding to climatic change and Phil Ingamells will share some tips from the experts on how we all can help. Click here for more information on the festival and to secure your spot for the talks.

A Diamond Firetail in the bird bath. Photo by Geoff Park

Dry Times for the Diamond Firetail.  By Tanya Loos.

As our gardens and paddocks wilt in the ongoing dry, access to water for fauna becomes ever more important. One visitor to the bird bath that is sure to delight the senses is the Diamond Firetail.

A small bird of great beauty, the Diamond Firetail sports a neat black and grey suit with white spots, set off by a dashing crimson rump and a coral-coloured bill and eye ring. Here in the Mount Alexander region we are fortunate to have small numbers of this rare bird in the local bushlands.

Diamond Firetails feed on seeds of both grasses and native trees such as she-oak. One day at the Rise and Shine Bushland Reserve south of Newstead, I chanced upon a lone Diamond Firetail foraging with a distinctive series of moves. He trundled along the ground, then leapt up to a grass seed head, grabbed it firmly in his bill, then stood on the grass head to eat the seeds. The process was repeated at the next grass tussock.

Living on seeds alone is thirsty work, and Diamond Firetails need a safe source of water in their bushland or woodland habitat. In dry times, one way to help firetails and other birds is through the provision of a bird bath or two. Bird baths are a wonderful way to enjoy your local birds, but do bear in mind they require daily maintenance to ensure the water is clean, and always topped up.

It is too hot and dry for breeding at the moment, but after the rains return and seeding grasses are available, nesting will occur anytime from August. To attract the female, the male Diamond Firetail selects a long piece of grass with a seed head, and holds it tightly in his bill. He then fluffs his spotted flank feathers and sings as he bobs up and down on the perch.

If the female approves, they will mate in the privacy of the nest. The nest is a domed affair, of grasses, seed heads and roots, and may be found in a mistletoe clump or a thick shrub such as Hedge Wattle. A few years ago, I observed a Diamond Firetail nest built amongst the large sticks of the base of a Wedge-tailed Eagle nest!

The Diamond Firetail is less common than it once was, largely due to the removal of suitable habitat. Happily small populations are still being reported in areas such as Muckleford, Guildford, Fryerstown and Sedgwick. If you have Diamond Firetails visiting your garden, or you see some out in the bush, we would love to hear from you!

For more information about the Diamond Firetail and other woodland birds, visit Connecting Country’s website: www.connectingcountry.org.au or contact Tanya on tanya@connectingcountry.org.au.

Links to local newsletters and event information – February 2016

Posted on 24 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

In the past week, we have received electronic newsletter updates from one central Victorian organisation and two local governments.  Each contains information about their recent activities in the field of environmental management, as well as identifying upcoming events that may be of interest to local community members, landholders and Landcare groups.

Mount Alexander Shire Council – CLICK HERE to view the Autumn Edition of their Environment and Sustainability eNews, including information about their Sustainable Living Workshop series for 2016, which kicks off this weekend with a Castlemaine Geology Tour.

Bendigo branch of Conservation Volunteers Australia – CLICK HERE to view their February 2016 e-news.  This is the inaugural issue of their newsletter.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council – CLICK HERE to view their latest Environment eNews, including information about this weekend’s Sustainable Living Festival.

12 March 2016 – Castlemaine Community Science Project

Posted on 22 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

Dr Dominique Hes is a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning.  She has written a a book called Designing for Hope which is about moving “…beyond reducing impact to creating net ecological and social, restoration and regeneration through understanding place/country and its systems.”  Dr Hes is working with a local architectural firm and local landholders on the design of a ‘settlement’ in Reckleben St, west Castlemaine, which is to be to the Living Community standard (see http://living-future.org/lcc for details)  Dr Hes says that this standard of design stipulates that ‘any human community needs to be designed to provide net ecosystem service benefits.’

As part of this early phase of the design process, they are coordinating an ecological assessment of the site as a community science project.  They are keen for interested residents of Castlemaine and surrounds to come along to help, and learn from, expert specialists with the ecological assessment on Saturday 12 March from 10am to 2pm.  On-the-day support for the assessment is being provided by Bendigo TAFE, with food and drink provided by Growing Abundance.  This ecological assessment is to include flora and fauna surveys, tree health assessments and water quality testing.  Follow up surveys for comparison may then be undertaken in 5 and 10 years time to determine whether they have achieved their Living Community standard objectives.

If you are interested in being part of the ecological survey, further details are provided in the attached flier (CLICK HERE).

And, on a similar topic, the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group is hosting a Sustainable House Education Day on Sunday 28 February 2016.  Further details are provided in the attached MASG press release (CLICK HERE).

Apply now! Funding opportunities and other support for your property

Posted on 16 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

During the first six months or so of 2016, Connecting Country is seeking landholders to be part of the program ‘Connecting Landscapes Across the Mount Alexander Region’. We call it Connecting Landscapes for short.

Direct seeding lines winding their way through a property in Faraday as part of the on-ground works program. Photo: Bonnie Humphreys

The Connecting Landscapes team has been working with landholders and Landcare groups across the region for the past three years (since mid-2012) by enhancing existing bushland and undertaking new revegetation on private land.

Now the Connecting Landscapes program is coming into its final phases, and we want to spread news about it far and wide. The map below shows the potential geographic area for our program.

If your property or project area is found to meet the project’s criteria, the activities that we support can include:

• Site management plans – With input, direction and feedback from the landholder, our technical specialists will develop a plan for the property which identifies its environmental values (including flora lists), the threatening processes and agreed management actions.
• Bushland protection – We will support the management of existing remnant bushland areas, and also in younger vegetation areas that are naturally regenerating, by actions such as the installation and repair of protective fences, pest control and supplementary planting.
• Revegetation of paddocks – Using specially-designed machinery, we will sow locally sourced indigenous seed (potentially including Eucalyptus and Acacias) within your property. We also provide tubestock plantings where direct seeding is impractical.
• Weed and Rabbit Control – Our works crew will assist landholders in the control of rabbits and environmental weeds using best practice methods.
• Grazing Regime Change – In some situations, we can support bushland protection and enhancement through stewardship payments for grazing regime change.

Financial costs to the landholder are usually negligible, although some on-going maintenance activities are often part of the works agreement.

Please feel free to let your neighbours and friends in the local area know about this opportunity as well.

For more information or to get involved:

Visit our Connecting Landscapes web page

Complete and return an Expression of Interest form

Call Jarrod or Bonnie at Connecting Country ph 5472-1594, or email Jarrod at jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au

Support for the implementation of this Connecting Country program has been provided by the Australian government.

Feathered Five Festival March 2016: Diamonds in the hills

Posted on 15 February, 2016 by Tanya Loos

There’s diamonds in those hills – Diamond Firetails, that is. This jewel of a bird is one of the ‘feathered five’, our very special woodland bird species that are a focus for Connecting Country. Over the years, we have supported a number of on-ground projects that strive to ensure these five species and other woodland birds are flourishing in the Mount Alexander region of central Victoria now and in the future.

Our inaugural Feathered Five Festival is a celebration of woodland birds and their habitat with two days of birdwatching, activities and talks over the weekend of 19-20 March 2016. However, you don’t need to be a budding birdwatcher to attend the free Saturday Evening Forum on the 19^th of March in Campbells Creek.

From 5pm until 6pm, Connecting Country staff members will be on hand to answer your land management concerns; Bonnie Humphreys can help you identify any plant, Jarrod Coote will consider whole farm planning and funding opportunities, Tanya Loos knows lots about birds and other fauna,  Alex Schipperen is great with practical things such as fencing and the control of weeds and rabbits, and Asha Bannon will help you link-up with your local Landcare Group. You can bring along any plant samples you’d like identified and you can contact us beforehand if you’d like a detailed aerial photo of your property to discuss. Meanwhile, Judy Laycock will be running some exciting nature art activities with the kids.

Following a tasty dinner from Growing Abundance and music by Castlemaine’s Chat Warblers, we are thrilled to have Professor Andrew Bennett, from Latrobe University and the Arthur Rylah Institute, and Phil Ingamells, from the VNPA, share their thoughts on the future of biodiversity in the area. Andrew has been a scientific advisor to Connecting Country since 2010 and will discuss “Drought then flooding rains; how do woodland birds respond to climatic change?”. Phil Ingamells is sure to inspire us with his talk “Collaborating on ten things we can all do to help nature adapt to a new climate”. A short panel discussion will take place after the talks.

On both mornings of the Feathered Five Festival, bird walks in search of the feathered five will occur in various locations around the Mount Alexander region. Connecting Country’s Woodland Bird Coordinator, Tanya Loos, explains; “in the last year or two, through walks and workshops, we have been encouraging a cohort of budding birdwatchers to get out there and improve their birdwatching skills. This weekend is their time to shine as a number of community led walks will be carried out simultaneously on the Saturday morning – the feathered five drive!”

On the Sunday morning, we’re pleased take part in a guided nature walk with a special focus on woodland birds and their habitat. The walk will take place at a private property in Strangways which is a woodland wonderland, with a lovely grassy understory and grand old eucalypts. This joint Connecting Country and the Friends of Box Ironbark Forest (FOBIF) event will be led by Tanya Loos (Connecting Country) and Andrew Skeoch from Listening Earth.

You can come to one event –or all three! Bookings are essential – by the 17th March 2016. Click here for more information and to book, or call Connecting Country on 5472 1594.

This festival has been made possible with funding from the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and the Australian Government.

Feedback sought by researchers and agencies

Posted on 11 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

We’re often contacted by people who are keen for Connecting Country to distribute information, questionnaires, promotional material for their events and similar material to our blog subscribers.  While we don’t say yes to every request, we do like to make people aware when it is relevant to the local area and to the broad theme of landscape restoration.  Wherever possible, we’ll also try to bundle these together so that you are not being overwhelmed with too many emails from Connecting Country.  Below are three recent ones that may be of interest to you.

Victorian Climate Change Framework – Initial Community Consultation Phase
The Climate Change Program team at Sustainability Victoria have made us aware that the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is building a framework for climate change action in Victoria.  The framework will be released in 2016, and they’re currently in the initial information gathering phase.  Sustainability Victoria is supporting the online consultation process through their ‘participate‘ website (CLICK HERE), where it is stated that “you can share your vision for a thriving and resilient future for Victoria, join a discussion forum on the seven themes for action, or post your ideas to advance a climate ready Victoria.”  Your contributions can be provided through until 29 February 2016.

Attention Conservation Covenantors
If you have a ‘permanent conservation covenant on title’ across your property, or are in the process of obtaining one, then you might be interested in contributing to this research.  Monash University PhD candidate Julie Groce is researching conservation covenanting mechanisms from around Australia.  She has an on-line survey which asks questions related to the landholders’ covenants, the types of management activities they do on their property, and how they get relevant information and support for those activities.  To find out more about Julie and her research, she has provided some further information (CLICK HERE).  To start filling out the questionnaire / survey, follow this link (CLICK HERE).

Future Farm Expo in Swan Hill – 14 April 2016
The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) have let us known that they are organizing and hosting a free regional Future Farming Expo on Thursday 14 April (10am to 5pm) in conjunction with the Swan Hill Rural City Council.   The all-day event at the Swan Hill Town Hall will feature “renowned guest speakers, site visits, a networking lunch and workshops on a variety of topics”.  Although it’s a fair drive from the Mount Alexander region to Swan Hill (or perhaps a train trip), some local landholders may still be interested in attending to to hear about farming succession, farming in a variable climate, farm insurance, breaking into new Chinese markets and Free Trade Agreements to name a few. We understand that full program details will be on North Central CMA website soon.  Early registrations are open now by contacting the North Central CMA on (03) 5448 7124.

Muckleford bird outing

Posted on 8 February, 2016 by Tanya Loos

Beginner birdwatchers and experienced mentors alike joined together to explore the Muckleford forests on Sunday 7 February, 2016.

The morning was warm and  still, and the bush seemed washed clean after the recent downpours to grace the area. We concentrated on a few sites along Mia Mia Track near Newstead, and then finished at the “Quince Tree” site, along Pullans Rd towards Maldon.  The group was rather large, at twenty people, but we saw some great birds, and learnt a lot from one another, too.

Part of the group scans the bush for woodland birds at the Quince tree site

Geoff Park has been featuring the Mia Mia track on Natural Newstead lately, and he kindly provided some local “intel” on some good spots.

As we stood around introducing ourselves at our first stop,  we heard the distinctive call of the Crested Bellbird way off in the distance, and we also saw and heard a Peaceful Dove.

We saw a female Hooded Robin and searched for the male Hooded Robin without success, but a male Rufous Whistler resplendent in his russet-coloured plumage gave everyone excellent views. We also saw plenty of honeyeaters, such as Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters. Another highlight was very good views of a juvenile Rufous Whistler, with a streaked breast.

And then, all at once, there was a small flock of Varied Sittella working the bark on the trees, an adult male Scarlet Robin with a  juvenile Scarlet Robin, a Speckled Warbler hopping along the ground, and some Buff-rumped Thornbills. Not everyone got to see every bird – but most people saw the Sittellas which I am very glad for, as they are a special little bird, almost like tiny treecreepers.

As it was getting hot, we moved to the Quince Tree site a little earlier in the hope of seeing a few more birds. We also carried out our second “2 hectare 20 minute” survey of the day. This method is the gold standard of bird surveying – moving slowly along an area of two hectares, recording all birds seen and heard for exactly twenty minutes. Some of the participants have set up survey sites on their properties, while others are surveying the many group sites we have dotted about the Mount Alexander region. Practicing the method in a group is always worthwhile! For more on bird surveying and group sites – see HERE.

‘Quince Tree’ is the unofficial local name for a public bushland reserve near the eastern end of Pullans Rd in Gowar. It is named for the group of old Quince trees near the site entrance, and it has been a renowned site for Victorian birdwatchers for decades.  The drought hit the birds of Muckleford forest hard, and while the site is not as amazing as its glory days in the eighties, it still has a consistently good number of special woodland birds. This site is actually one of Connecting Country’s official bird monitoring sites and over 60 species have been observed here since 2010 – including Painted Button-quail, White-browed Woodswallow, White-winged Triller, Black-chinned Honeyeater and Little Lorikeet.

As we did the survey, we had some unusual views of White-browed Babblers high in the canopy in a couple of large Mistletoe clumps. Babblers are usually on the ground or in shrubs! We also caught  glimpses of the dozens of Fuscous Honeyeaters in the area, and also Brown Treecreepers. As often happens on bird outings, the highlight was back where the cars were parked.

The babblers emerged from a stand of silver wattles, and one flew very close to our group with feathers in its bill, and then entered a nest in the Quince trees! We were surprised to note that breeding was occurring at this time of year, however, I have since discovered that babblers actually maintain their nests year round as a permanent roosting or sleeping site for the babbler family! The Birds in Backyards profile on White-browed Babblers also states that while most breeding is from June to November, these sociable birds will breed at any time of year – see this link for more information:  [Birds in Backyards]. So we do not know whether the birds are lining their nests for the coming of another brood, or just keeping the roosting nests nice and comfy with a feather lining!

To register your interest for upcoming bird walks, please send me an email or give me a call. Tanya Loos, Woodland Birds Project Coordinator, 5472 1594, or tanya@connectingcountry.org.au

Upcoming events in February 2016

Posted on 2 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

After a quiet period through December 2015 and January 2016, there are an abundance of interesting new activities occurring locally during February and into March that are being coordinated by a range of other groups and individuals.  Some are directly related to obtaining a better understanding the local landscapes from a conservation perspective, and other events address different approaches to sustainable farming.  Below is a summary in chronological order, with links to further information.

Glacial geology – Public lecture (Friday 12 Feb) and Field excursion (Sat 13 Feb)
Professor Julian Hollis will be guest speaker at the February meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club, with the topic of his talk being ‘Permian Glacial Features’.  The talk will commence from 7.30pm in the hall behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St Castlemaine (next door to the Art Gallery and Museum).  Everyone is welcome to attend, and there is no cost for entry.  Professor Hollis will also lead an excursion on the next day to the Upper Coliban Reservoir.

Rabbit Control Day – Sunday 14 February
On this date from 8.45am to 1pm, the Ravenswood Valley Landcare Group are co-hosting an information session and practical field demonstration event on control methods for the European Rabbit.  It is being held at the North Harcourt Hall.  For more information and RSVP details, follow this link (CLICK HERE).

Farm adaptation with Australian sandalwood – Wednesday 24 February
Ben Boxshall and Tim Barden are running an information session in Castlemaine about Sandalwood.  From the event flyer, it says “A unique and versatile crop, sandalwood can allow you to build an appreciating asset using production systems that enhance soils and biodiversity, and complement your existing enterprise.  Sustainable, adaptable and drought-tolerant, this is a land use that can deliver both land protection and profit on a range of sites and soils.”  Entry is $35, and there is more information available from this link (CLICK HERE).

‘Polyfaces’ – film screening on Saturday 27 February
Polyfaces is a film produced by the ‘Regarians‘, which has two showings at the Theatre Royal in Castlemaine on 27 February in conjunction with a local food festival.
From their website, ‘Polyfaces’ is a joyful film about connecting to the land and the community. Produced over 4 years it follows the Salatin’s, a 4th generation farming family who do ‘everything different to everyone else’ as they produce food in a way that works with nature, not against it.’.  Trailers of the film are available on the Polyfaces website (CLICK HERE).  We here at Connecting Country have yet not viewed the film.  However the trailer and promos suggest that it has some new ideas to contribute about sustainable farming, soil management and carbon sequestration, which may be of interest to local landholders.

Introduction to Bee-keeping course – Tuesdays from 1 to 22 March
Connecting Country has been chatting with Daniel Bee Shepherd about management options for the occasional swarms of honeybees which take over the nest boxes that we’ve installed across the local landscape for the Brush-tailed Phascogale.  Daniel is passionate about bees and bee-keeping, and we’ve always found him to be very open and forthcoming in sharing his knowledge.  For four consecutive Tuesdays in March, Daniel is running a introductory course on beekeeping through Castlemaine Continuing Education.  Follow this link for further information and registration details (CLICK HERE).

Latest North Central CMA newsletters – Feb 2016

Posted on 2 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

The February 2016 edition of the North Central Chat is available (CLICK HERE).  From Regional Landcare Facilitator Tess Greives, “We have featured ‘Rabbit Buster Month’, so there is a heap of information relating to rabbit management included in this edition as well as the usual Landcare and Waterwatch news, grant opportunities and upcoming events.”

The relatively new North Central CMA e-newsletter ‘Catchment Connections’ also has its February edition available for viewing, with articles on drought program, water quality, unusual wombat sightings, rabbits, wetlands and environmental water flows (CLICK HERE).

Every day a different view – Apply to join our Works Crew

Posted on 1 February, 2016 by Connecting Country

Do you want to work outdoors? Do you want to make the natural world a better place – and to obtain the skills and experience to be able to do this? If yes, then this could be the job for you. Following on from our successful Works Crews in 2013, 2014 and 2015, we are seeking three suitable people to form Connecting Country’s 2016 Works Crew.

Crew member installing a gate fitting kit with a petrol-powered drill

With support from the Australian Government, Connecting Country is using a Works Crew to implement a long term program to protect and enhance native vegetation across the Mount Alexander Shire and immediate surrounds in central Victoria. The majority of the Work Crew’s time will be at a variety of sites in the field undertaking activities such as tree planting, fence construction, weed removal and rabbit control.

Connecting Country’s Works Crew members also receive training in skills that are essential for this job, and will also be useful for their future job opportunities in the field of natural resource management. The experienced Crew Leader will provide relevant in-house training and guidance throughout the crew’s employment period. Accredited external training will also be provided as part of this employment.

To learn more about the experiences of past crew members, there are stories available on the Connecting Country website (click HERE and HERE for examples).

For a copy of the full position description, and for more information on the overall program, go to the Employment section our page (CLICK HERE). You can also contact Alex by phone during business hours on 0423-366-498 or email alex@connectingcountry.org.au.

To apply, send your résumé and a cover letter by email to alex@connectingcountry.org.au by 10pm Sunday 21^st February 2016, or by post to:

Connecting Country,
Confidential – Works Crew Position,
P.O. Box 437,
Castlemaine, Vic 3450.

Please feel free to forward this email to other people that you think may be interested.

Learning to build fences

Preparing a path for the fence line

Community Grants and Free Workshops

Posted on 21 January, 2016 by Asha

2016 Community Grants Program

Applications are open for funding through the Mount Alexander Shire Community Grants Program 2016. Grants of up to $3000 are offered to community groups for projects that can be finished by January 31^st 2017.  Applications close at 4:00pm on Friday 19^th February.  Follow this link for more details and a copy of the application form (CLICK HERE).

Free Workshops – Community Grant Writing

City of Greater Bendigo has a series of free community grant writing workshops coming up. If you want to learn some skills for writing grants it would be worth checking out the dates below. For more details and to RSVP CLICK HERE.

Workshop dates and locations:

Thursday January 28
10am – 11.30am, City offices, 125 High Street, Heathcote

Thursday January 28
2pm – 3.30pm, Huntly Hall, 647 Midland Highway, Huntly

Monday February 1
6pm – 7.30pm, City offices, Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo

Tuesday February 2
10am – 11.30am, Bendigo Neighbourhood Hub, 155 Crook Street, Strathdale

Tuesday February 2
2pm – 3.30pm, Marong Neighbourhood Hub, 39 High Street, Marong

Bells Swamp – A jewel of a wetland

Posted on 13 January, 2016 by Connecting Country

The Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club have just moved into their 40th year.  Way back in 1976, their first ever excursion was to Bell’s Swamp – and they’ve made many visits to it since to view its beautiful old Red gums, to record its waterbirds and to study its wetland plants.

A photo of Bells Swamp by Rakali Ecological Consulting. From the front page of the updated management plan.

This natural ephemeral waterbody just sneaks inside the north-western boundary of the Mount Alexander Shire.  It is intersected by the road between Maldon and Bridgewater – which was an issue in 2010-2011 when the extreme drought-busting rainfall filled the wetlands to over-flowing.  I’ll never forgot the sight of Pink-eared Ducks and Musk Ducks happily paddling back and forth across this road!

The wetland is also highly valued by local Landcare groups. The Mid Loddon Landcare Network – in conjunction with local ecologists Damian Cook and Elaine Bayes – produced a Draft  Management Plan for Bells Swamp in 2010 and have recently updated it to include the information that Damien has continued to collect since the flood in 2011. The plan is a comprehensive guide to its geology and its current vegetation, flora and fauna values.  The plan also identifies the threats to these values and proposes management actions to address them.  Judy Crocker, Landcare Facilitator for the Mid Loddon Landcare Network, says “Bells Swamp is a very important place for the local community, and as such the Landcare Network was keen to develop this management plan.  It’s still in draft form because we consider the plan to be a work-in-progress, and we’ll add in more information as we learn more about the site.  We’d love to receive feedback on this document from the local community, and to receive support to implement the management actions.”.

To read a copy of the draft management plan, follow this link (CLICK HERE).

Chris, Connecting Country.

Drought, Fire and a Riparian Action Plan

Posted on 13 January, 2016 by Connecting Country

In the past week or so, we’ve been made aware of the following three items – which will be of interest to many of you.

Help Shape Drought Support
The Victorian government’s DEDJTR Drought Response Team has set-up on-line forum to help shape drought support. As part of the drought package announced in November, the online forum is providing an opportunity to comment on what other support can be provided to make a difference for those affected by drought.  The forum is live and will remain open until 31 January 2016. They are encouraging people to have a look and also to share with anyone affected by drought.  You can find the forum at: http://www.oursay.org/victoriandrought

Fire Recovery Resources
After the fires in Victoria in early 2014, a web page was set up on the Victorian Landcare Gateway for landholders. The intent is for the page to act as a library of fire recovery information, which can be added to as more resources become available. It includes a range of practical information on land management issues that land holders may confront after fire. Well worth a look!
http://www.landcarevic.net.au/resources/for-land-managers/fire-recovery-resources-for-landholders/

Regional Riparian Action Plan
In December 2015, a five-year Regional Riparian Action Plan was launched by the Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change, and Water. You can find a summary by following this link (http://delwp.vic.gov.au/regional-riparian-action-plan) or download a copy here (CLICK HERE).   The plan involves on ground works to improve the health of land that runs along river banks and wetlands. This includes fencing to manage stock, revegetation programs, weed management and construction of off-stream watering systems.

Our “new look” education events in 2016

Posted on 29 December, 2015 by Connecting Country

As 2015 draws to a close, many of us in the Connecting Country office have been thinking ahead. For the past six years, we have run a popular education program predominantly featuring a series of technical workshops and guest-speaker events. In 2016 we plan to continue with our education program – only this time a little differently….

Local birds, and particularly the ‘feathered five’, is our focus for 2016. The feathered five comprise the acrobatic Brown Treecreeper, the elegantly spotted Diamond Firetail, the post-sitting, tail-wagging Jacky Winter, the handsome Hooded Robin, and the mysterious ‘oooom-ing’ Painted Button-quail. Connecting Country has picked these five woodland birds as ambassadors for habitat restoration efforts across the region.

Our inaugural Feathered Five Festival will kick off the year on the 19th and 20th March 2016 – a two day celebration of bird-watching, walks and talks.

Then there will be biannual nest box checks, a ‘sticky beak’ tours of on-ground work projects, regular bird walks, landcare link-ups, and one of our favorite events, the Camp Out on the Mount.

In August, in partnership with the North Central Catchment Management Authority, we’re very pleased to host a Farm Expo which will cover diverse topics such as holistic grazing, water on farms, biodiversity in the paddock, and small farm diversification.

We’ll be celebrating Landcare week in September in a big way with our local grade five and six students at the ‘Mount Alexander Schools Landcare Day‘.  We’ll also be supporting local groups to get involved in the Landcare Open Day.

In conjunction with the Castlemaine Festival of Gardens, in November we will be celebrating gardens too – wildlife friendly gardens. There will be workshops and resources made available as well as a inspiring open garden or two to explore.

In 2016 we’d also like to be more active in the press and on-line. Watch out for our monthly ‘Nature News’ articles in the Midland Express.  We are developing some exciting and informative on-line videos for our Connecting Country vimeo page. And you can always keep in touch via our Connecting Country Facebook Page  – do ‘like’ us!

More information about all of these activities will be available in the new year.  The best way to stay informed is via the Connecting Country webpage and our regular emails and blogs. Alternatively you can contact Krista for more information on 5472-1594 or krista@connectingcountry.org.au.  (NB: The office is closed from 25 December 2015 and re-opening on 4 January 2016.).

In the meantime we wish everyone a safe and enjoyable festive season, thanks for your support throughout 2015 – and don’t forget to top up your bird baths!!

A warm hello, a huge thanks and a Landcare Verse from Max

Posted on 23 December, 2015 by Connecting Country

A warm welcome to our new Landcare Facilitator: Asha Bannon

Local, Asha Bannon, is thrilled with the opportunity to support our local groups.

Connecting Country is pleased to announce that Asha Bannon will be taking on the Mount Alexander Region Landcare Facilitator Role from the beginning of 2016.

Asha is a local resident with a particular interest in wildlife conservation and community engagement. After completing a Bachelor of Environmental Science at Deakin she moved back to Mount Alexander Shire in order to study the local bird communities. Her Honours project focused on the relationships between birds and time-since-fire in Box-Ironbark ecosystems. Asha is a strong believer in the power of community groups when it comes to land management and conservation, and she is excited to be working with and supporting our local Landcare Groups.

Max says he is “thrilled to be passing the facilitator baton on to someone who I know is passionate about caring for the local environment, and the people that live in it”. The rest of us are thrilled too and we’re sure you’ll enjoy getting to know Asha over the coming months. You can contact Asha on asha@connectingcountry.org.au and 0418 428 721.

And a huge thanks and farewell to Max Schlachter

We’ll certainly miss Max’s willingness to ‘jump’ in and have a go at anything!

After a lot of consideration Max decided to finish his time in the Landcare Facilitator role at the end of this year. While a difficult decision to make, he felt that now is the right time for him to hand over the keyboard to a new person. Max shared that “it’s been a wonderful job to do and I’m very grateful for the time that I’ve had in the position”.

We are all very grateful for everything Max has brought to Landcare in the Mount Alexander Shire for the past four and a half years. His enthusiasm for community-based environmental work is hard to beat, as is his ability to really listen to groups and help them achieve what they want to achieve. Max has brought some exciting new ideas to region including the Camp-out at the Mount, Landcare Link-up Events, and Schools Education Events. He has supported all 30 of our local groups with projects ranging from Green Corps teams and the blackberry taskforce, to brochures about Chilean Needle Grass.

Max leaves our local groups in a very good position for 2016 – thanks to his efforts we’ll have two Green Corp teams working with 23 different groups, a successful 20 million trees grant supporting four groups, three very exciting school education events and a landcare open day for Landcare Week engaging all groups in the shire. The other good news is that Max will still be living locally so is not disappearing; and no doubt you will still see him at Landcare and Connecting Country events in the future.

We’ll leave it to Max for the last word:

Max’s Landcare Verse

It’s hard giving up a job you love,
Even if there was no shove.
So just before I take my cue,
Here’s a verse to say “hooroo”.

Baynton Sidonia is a group
Whose seminars are of repute.
They’re bringing back the local flora,
Noted on by first explorers,
But not seen much in recent times –
That Banksia seed is hard to find.

Langley isn’t far away
A ‘stone’s throw’ as they sometimes say.
It’s there you’ll find the Jimmy Poulter,
A creek that has been finely altered.
Once a mess of woody weeds,
Now the home of native trees.

Just up the track in little Barfold,
Where Needle Grass has got a foothold,
Jan and Barb and all the rest
Are giving it their honest best.
They’ve done a trial, and bought a Squirt,
Even made a book of what they’ve learnt.

Metcalfe doesn’t have a shop,
But don’t go through without a stop.
Or else you’ll miss the beaut cascades –
A water park that nature made.
The houses there have a lovely trait,
Landcare signs on every gate.

Malmsbury boasts a sprawling common
That might have sat there all forgotten,
Until the likes of John and co.
Decided it should not be so.
Pathways, plantings and willow-free,
Is that a platypus I see?

Down the road to Taradale,
Famous for its lofty rails.
The Gorse has copped some hefty flack,
Ninety feet below the track.
Landcare here has waxed and waned,
So does the moon; we don’t complain.

ELMA’s home is Elphinstone,
The place that rock’n’roll calls home.
The members have some vision in them,
They’ve planted up an arboretum.
And now the pub is back, hooray!
Let’s all hope it stays that way.

Over the Calder to Sutton Grange
(you’ll notice that the rocks have changed)
They’ve got their planting down to an art,
From Pilchers Bridge to the Mt Alex Park.
On Tree Day no one else comes close
To planting half what they can boast.

Still amongst the granite tors,
A group that very rarely bores.
Apples, quarry’s, pines and oaks,
Stone Henge too, and that’s no joke.
High up on their list of goals:
“We’ll fix the bridge, then take the tolls”.

Just up the road, but not too far,
North Harcourt Sedgwick Landcare starts.
Of weeds and rabbits they’ve done fair share,
These pioneers of Vic Landcare.
Forty thousand trees in one weekend?
What can’t be done with help from friends.

Here the Bushlands deserve a mention,
Chewton’s very own invention
Glen and Cate, Karen and others,
All helping the land as it recovers.
Radiata is going out
And Bluebell Creeper is getting a rout.

Golden Pointers love Forest Creek,
From the Res down to the Monster Meet.
At 21 years they’ve seen a bit,
Smiling and working with plenty of grit.
The birth of democracy and killing of weeds
Are things that they combine with ease.

Post Office Hill was spared the fate
Of being sold for real estate.
Instead its history is preserved
By POHAG – now there’s a word!
Working close with Chewton’s young,
It’s hard to tell who has more fun.

Down the highway, down the road
Is Chewton Landcare’s own abode.
Whitehorse Gully is looking splendid,
Thanks to those that love and tend it.
Now Parks has groomed the infestation,
Wattle Gully is the new sensation.

Castlemaine Landcare doesn’t dally,
With the work at Happy Valley.
Powered up on bakery treats,
Volunteers can do such feats.
The blanket made of Gorse is gone,
And native plants have come right on.

Float downstream like a fallen leaf,
You’ll soon arrive in Campbells Creek.
A creek with Friends, and Landcare too,
Climb the gorge for a better view.
The word ‘persistence’ hardly begins
To capture the spirit of Mr Higgins.

Moving up the hill a fraction,
McKenzies Hill is full of action.
Nesting boxes now abound,
Where hollows once could not be found.
And what about the structure plan?
You’d better have a word with Jan.

Kalimna Park is right in town,
A lovely place to stroll around.
The Eltham Coppers flutter there,
Not knowing that they’re very rare
Its Friends are mighty loyal ones,
Forty years and still not done.

The folks that live in Barkers Creek
Are pretty jolly when they meet.
Working bee or social occasion,
Either way it’s a celebration.
But one thing really hits a nerve –
Naming rights to their reserve.

In Muckleford there’s Landcare too –
Where roads are straight and corners few.
They’re planting out to hold the water,
Calling roadside weeds to order.
Pride of place, the Buloke grove,
Safely fenced from browsing foes.

Down the hill and down the map
Is Guildford Upper Loddon’s patch.
The group has members far and wide,
And utes with writing on the side.
The weeds that way will wilt with worry,
Just from catching sight of Maurie.

The Friends at Vaughan have more than springs,
They’ve got a slide that fairly zings.
Families flock to the leafy arbor,
Especially those with railway ardour.
And when you’re bored of these amusements,
Sit still; observe the leeches movements.

Sandy Creek’s without a hall,
But Landcare’s there for one and all.
The group’s seen plenty through the years,
Though nothing beats the one-eyed steer.
And a project name that really tickles –
‘Up the Creek Without a Prickle’.

Newstead Landcare loves its river,
And all the joys that it delivers.
They’ve got a plan for restoration
Of its natural vegetation.
But maybe what is best of all,
Knowledge shared in the local hall.

To some a MULGA is a tree,
But it means something else to me.
It’s Maldon Urban Landcare Group,
And like a tree it’s got strong roots.
With an eye on Maldon’s past,
The weeds are getting quite a blast.

Over the hill in Nuggetty,
Live members of the NLPG.
Land protection is their game,
But history too is in the frame.
Locals old and locals new,
Help each other to get through.

On the farm and at the river,
Baringhup Landcare’s on a winner.
Healthy soils for growing food,
And wildlife habitat renewed.
The local kids have played their part,
Every one knows how to plant.

Cactus Warriors are a special breed,
Of people fighting a Triffid weed.
There weapons take on many forms –
Needles, barbecues and market stalls.
But what keeps members coming back?
The chance to wear a sparkly hat!

Well that’s the lot, for now at least,
A better crowd you’ll never meet.
Goodbye, and thank you, it’s been a blast
From my very first day, to this, my last.

My numbers the same (0422 130 055), though it’s hard to rhyme,
Please give  me a call any old time.

And please note down my email too –
mschlachter@outlook.com.au

Rrrrr – Rabbits, Restoration, Rushes and Riparian reading materials

Posted on 20 December, 2015 by Connecting Country

Over the past week or so, there has been a flurry of new documents available to read and use.  All of them are relevant to the appreciation and restoration of the landscapes of the Mount Alexander Region and beyond.

Rushes of the Castlemaine District
In conjunction with the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club (CFNC), local botanist Ern Perkins has just released a guide to the rushes of the Castlemaine district.  This is a fantastic easy-to-use key to all of the native and introduced Juncus species that you’re likely to encounter locally.  This document is attached (CLICK HERE), and complements the many other local guides that Ern and other field nats have produced over the years.  Some of the others brochures are available on the CFNC website (click here) – with more to be uploaded over the coming weeks and months.

National Standards for Ecological Restoration in Australia (final draft)
This (4th) version of the standards represents the views of 12 NGO partners and over 100 practitioner, research, conservation and agency commentators from around Australia.  One of the coordinators of its development, Tein McDonald from SER Australia, states in her email to us that “(a)t a time when climate change looms large and willingness to counter it is increasing – these Standards are a crucial tool to encourage all Australians to reduce damage and repair ecosystems to the highest and best extent that we can.”

The final draft of this document is now publicly available for viewing (click here).  It is open for comments through until 15 February 2016.   The final version will be accompanied by an online interpretation that will be illustrated by examples.  Both are scheduled to be launched on 15 March 2016.

Regional Riparian Action Plan
This is a new five-year plan to improve the health of Victoria’s rivers, wetlands and estuaries (click here).  According to DELWP, the action plan outlines priority riparian management  outcomes to be achieved across regional Victoria from 2015-16 to 2019-20, with these priorities informed by regional waterway strategies developed by the CMAs.

The action plan aims to accelerate on-ground riparian work, such as stock management fencing, revegetation, weed management and the provision of off-stream stock watering infrastructure. It also has new initiatives to improve the management of riparian land.

Rabbit Threat Abatement Plan – draft for feedback
The Australian Government’s Minister for the Environment has released the draft Threat abatement plan for competition and land degradation by rabbits for public comment. Also released is an associated background document.  Further information is available from their website (click here).  The public comment period closes on 16 March 2016.

North Central Chat for Nov/Dec 2015

Posted on 11 December, 2015 by Connecting Country

The North Central Chat is a regular newsletter covering Landcare and Waterwatch activities from the North Central CMA region.  The combined November & December edition is now available on the CMA website, along with all past editions (CLICK HERE).  Topics covered in this issue include:

• A report on the November 2015 ‘Chicks in the Sticks’ event
• Drone footage capturing Gorse removal  – by the Castlemaine Landcare group!
• Cool Cows Workshop
• Engaging the next Generation of Landcarers
• River Detectives Program 2016 registrations now open
• Events and Grant Funding opportunities