Spring brings new opportunities with Connecting Country
Posted on 14 September, 2015 by Connecting Country
As winter comes to an end, so does the planting season for revegetation.
Jarrod Coote checking the growth at one of our direct seeding sites.
It’s been a busy few months for the Connecting Country team, who have been planting and direct seeding indigenous species on private lands around the Mount Alexander Shire. Our work aims to creating better links for wildlife movement between the existing important habitat areas.
This year brought a new team of crew members – Lauren, Ned and Jason. The crew, which turns over each year in order to make the opportunity available to as many local people as possible, have been focused on planting, weed and rabbit control and the installation of protective fencing – while also receiving formal and in-house training in a range of natural resource management techniques.
‘Often the diversity is there in the landscape ready and waiting – we just need to give the seeds a chance. Fenced off land allows not only the trees to establish and grow, but also those bushes and ground herbs and grasses that are such important wildlife habitat’ says Alex Schipperen, team leader of the works crew.
‘The beauty of this program is that we have funding available to partner with landholders and create habitat solutions that suit the landholder, and have great outcomes for biodiversity. Bringing areas of native vegetation onto a property also increases productivity by providing shade and shelter for stock, and increased protection for crops, so it’s a win-win situation.’
With the winter rush over, the team are now starting to plan the next round of projects. Land owners across the region who would like to see if their property is well placed to become part of these projects are encouraged to get in touch with Jarrod, Bonnie or Mel at the Connecting Country office on 5472 1594 or send an email to jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au .
This project has been supported by Connecting Country, through funding from the Australian Government.
Investigating biodiversity and its value across all scales
Posted on 7 September, 2015 by Connecting Country
Steve Williams introduces us to a moth “super-food” – Cassinia.
Did you know that Cassinia is a super-food for native moths? Or that lichens are actually the result of an algae and fungi working symbiotically? Twenty-four eager participants learnt this and so much more at Connecting Country’s Biodiversity in the Paddock workshop on Sunday 30th August 2015.
A huge thank you to landholders Peter Hansen and Sally Roadknight for inviting the Connecting Country team to their beautiful property at the foot of Mt Tarrengower to hear from presenters Cassia Read (on moss and lichens), Steve Williams (on moths) and Karl Just and Gordie Scott-Walker (on native flora). Geoff Park (from Natural Decisions and Natural Newstead) expertly kept the flow, whilst highlighting the stunning bird life to be found all around in the property.
A farm tour allowed participants to see for themselves the impressive impact of tubestock planting, natural regeneration through removing grazing, and the effects of erosion control on the creek which funnels run-off from Mt. Tarrengower through their property. Gordie provided us with a detailed list of the reptiles and amphibians, and the hundreds of birds and plant species that he has observed on his parents property, reminding everyone of the gains to be had from regenerating land.
The message of the day from all four presenters was the huge value of biodiversity in the paddock, from the mosses and lichens which hold soil together, to the beautiful variety of moths which feed from and live on all kinds of plants – never has Cassinia arcuata (‘coffee bush’) appeared such a fascinating and valuable plant in the landscape.
Click here for more information and resources from this session.
Also, there are a few places remaining for our next workshop on Sunday 13 September on Conservation Fencing – click here for more information.
The education program is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian government.
Have your say: Landcare in Victoria
Posted on 4 September, 2015 by Connecting Country
You may have already heard about the review of the Victorian Landcare Program happening currently, as announced by the Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville. Community input into the review is encouraged via an online survey available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VictorianLandcare
The Victorian Landcare Program includes:
- Victorian Landcare Grants delivered by each CMA,
- Regional Landcare Coordinators based in each CMA and state-wide support team,
- Aboriginal Landcare Facilitator,
- Victorian Landcare Gateway website,
- Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management Magazine,
- Victorian Landcare Awards
- Victorian Landcare Facilitators (68 facilitator positions – one of which Connecting Country has hosted for the Mount Alexander Region since early 2012 (Max Schlachter’s role))
The input provided during the consultation will be used to inform recommendations for the Victorian Government’s support for Landcare into the future. This is your opportunity to contribute, and any decisions made will only be as good as the information we provide! So don’t forget to write comments if you think the survey doesn’t ask all the questions you want to answer!
- If you value Landcare …
- If you believe Landcare contributes to your community and your local landscape …
- If there are aspects of the Landcare program you want to keep …
- Or if you think there should be changes …
- If you are or have been involved in Landcare …
- If you have an opinion about the future of Landcare …
Have your say!
13 Sept 2015 – Conservation Fencing Workshop
Posted on 3 September, 2015 by Connecting Country
‘Conservation Fencing’ will be the topic of Connecting Country’s third Spring 2015 Education workshop, to be held in the Yandoit area on Sunday 13 September. Registrations are open for what promises to be an educational and practical day!
This is the fence that Rick and Beth built. Guess which side is excluding grazers…
Property owners Beth and Rick Higgins manage a large tract of bush in Yandoit, and over the years have established four exclusion zones, and experimented with differing approaches to revegetation over these sites. This session will use their property as an example to introduce participants to the role of conservation fencing.
Renowned ecologist Paul Foreman, from Blue-devil Consulting, shall introduce us to conservation fencing and its role in improving biodiversity including ways to design, place and measure its impacts on regeneration. With his detailed knowledge of local flora, he will take us on a plot ramble to see what’s there and what’s not and why.
Alex Schipperen, Team Leader for Connecting Country’s Works Crew team, will talk about types of fencing and give a practical demonstration in erecting a small exclusion plot. Alex has over 40 kms of fencing under his belt so he knows what he’s talking about!
We will also be fortunate to have Judy Crocker, Landcare Facilitator for the Mid Loddon Conservation Management Network, inspire us with her successful Bush-stone Curlew project that is protecting current breeding pairs by creating five 4-8ha, predator proof nesting sites in woodland areas.
Further details for the day including transportation will be provided upon registration. The workshop costs $30 or $20 for Connecting Country members. Please contact Jules on jules@connectingcountry.org.au or call 5472 1594 to register. Click here for more information on the workshop series, and CLICK HERE to download a registration form. The program is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian government.
11 Sept 2015 – Photographic Journey to the Last Frontier
Posted on 2 September, 2015 by Connecting Country
The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica is a formidable plate of ice the size of France, uninhabited and deadly. The sheer cliffs of the Byrd Glacier tower above the sea ice and to early explorers formed the great barrier to their exploration endeavours. Ross Island is a home to polar-adapted wildlife such as the Weddell Seal which spends the entire year in Antarctica. As the summer approaches, the frozen surface of the Ross sea begins to fracture and dissolve. Above the colonies of seal, Adelie Penguin and marauding Killer Whale, the fractured and tortured ice tongue of the Mt. Erebus Glacier sweeps off the slopes of the planet’s most southerly active volcano, towering almost four thousand metres into the polar sky.
The guest speaker at the September General Meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club is National Geographic’s award winning wildlife photographer and TV presenter Jason Edwards (see his bio and website HERE). His presentation will focus on the environment and the species that inhabit the Ross Ice Shelf and Ross Island, and the researchers who brave the harsh wilderness to study them.
The event formally starts formally at 7.30pm on Friday 11 September, but you are welcome to arrive from 7pm to have a cup of tea and a chat beforehand. Members and visitors are very welcome, including families – and there is no entry fee. As per usual, it will be held in the Fellowship Room, behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St, Castlemaine (next door to the Art Gallery and Museum).
Federal and State Grant Programs now open
Posted on 2 September, 2015 by Connecting Country
There are at least 3 government grant/support programs open at the moment (as at 2 Sept 2015) for community groups (e.g. Landcare, Friends of) to receive support to implement their environmental restoration projects. We have summarised these below, but please follow the links to their websites for full details and descriptions.
Green Army: Round 4 – Applications close: 2 pm AEST (Canberra time) Wednesday 16 September 2015
The Federal Government’s Green Army is a 6-month programme for 17-24 year olds to train and work in the environment or heritage conservation. Community organisations, Landcare groups, environment groups, Indigenous organisations, natural resource management organisations, local councils and others have been encouraged to apply for projects in their region. The local groups receive a Green Army team to work on their projects, but only receive limited or no funding support for the project itself.
Projects must also contribute to Australia’s national and international environmental priorities and obligations.
Round Four of the Programme has two streams. Stream 1 is for Heritage Projects which may commence from 1 January 2016. Stream 2 is for all eligible (non-Heritage) Projects which may commence from 1 July 2016. All Projects approved under Round Four must be completed by 30 June 2017. Applicants who were unsuccessful through previous rounds may re-apply under this round. For further details, see the Green Army website (CLICK HERE).
20 Million Trees Competitive Grants Round 2 – Applications close: 2.00pm AEST (Canberra time) 16 September 2015
The Federal Government is seeking applications from eligible groups or individuals interested in undertaking a tree planting project as part of the 20 Million Trees Programme. Applications are invited for projects seeking funding between $20,000 and $100,000 (GST exclusive). This is primarily a programme to plant indigenous trees and shrubs that grow over 2 metres in height, although some understorey plantings, weed control and site preparation can also be undertaken with the funds. The funds cannot be used to build fences or collect seeds. However, as part of this same application, eligible groups and individuals can also concurrently apply to have a Green Army team undertake the plantings, site preparation and associated activities (which can include fence building and seed collection). Projects up to $60,000 must be completed by 30 June 2017, while projects from $60,000 to $100,000 have until 30 June 2018 for completion.
For further details, see the 20 Million Trees website (CLICK HERE).
Threatened Species Protection Initiative – There are two streams of these new Victorian Government grants.
Community Volunteer Action grants – $2 million dollars is available to support small-scale, local threatened species projects that build community connections to the local environment. Projects must be between $2000 to $20,000. Applications are due by 22 September 2015, and projects must be completed by November 2016.
Strategic Action and Critical Partnerships grants – $3 million dollars is available to environmental agencies and organisations, as experts in threatened species management, to undertake work that reduces threats and secures important sites for threatened species. Applications are due by 8 September 2015, and projects must be completed by June 2016.
For more information on both sets of Threatened Species Protective Initiative grants – CLICK HERE.
19 Sept 2015 – Protecting Threatened Wildlife Forum
Posted on 28 August, 2015 by Connecting Country
Our neighbours down south, the Macedon Ranges Shire Council, will host a lively and topical forum on local wildlife facing extinction on Saturday 19 September 2015.
“Protecting Threatened Wildlife” will combine stimulating thought and discussion from two of Australia’s leading ecologists; Dr Peter Menkhorst (Arthur Rylah Institute) and Dr Dan Harley (Zoos Victoria). It will take place from 2pm–4.30pm at the Newham Mechanics Institute, 1292 Rochford Road, Newham.
Held during National Threatened Species Month, the afternoon will see speakers cover a range of topics, including:
- species in the Macedon Ranges that are most at risk from extinction
- what we’ve lost as a result of extensive clearing of native vegetation
- effective strategies being employed to prevent the loss of native animals.
Conservation fencing: it’s what’s inside that counts!
Posted on 20 August, 2015 by Connecting Country
Conservation fencing in action
Like many landholders in Mount Alexander, Beth and Rick Higgins have installed exclusion fencing to restore and regenerate biodiversity on their property, especially the understorey, herbs and grasses – the results of which are dramatic and inspiring. You can come and see for yourselves at Connecting Country’s third Spring Workshop, Conservation Fencing.
There are many reasons install exclusion fencing on your property. You may want to keep out herbivores (such as stock, rabbits or kangaroos) from a revegetation or restoration site, or prevent damage from people, or even keep out introduced predators to have a safe place for native fauna to flourish.
Ian Higgins from the North Central Catchment Management Authority, will be giving us an overview of exclusion fencing and its role in improving biodiversity and taking us on a ‘plot ramble’ to see what’s there and what’s not. He will also discuss ways to monitor success. Connecting Country’s incredibly skilled crew leader, Alex Schipperen, will then talk about the practicalities of installing fencing – including identifying what you are protecting, what are you protecting it from, and how best to do it? We’ll have other special guests on the day too.
When: Sunday 13 September 2015, 10am – 3.30pm.
Where: Yandoit (details provided upon registration). Transport available from Castlemaine.
Cost: $30 per person or $20 for Concession and Connecting Country members. Includes morning tea, lunch by C.A.K.E, session notes and handouts, and follow-up web-based resources.
Registration: Register now as limited places remain. Click here to download a registration form, or contact Jules or Krista at Connecting Country for further information.
This workshop is the third of four in the Spring series which aim to give participants skills and knowledge on working with nature to improve biodiversity. Places are still available for the Biodiversity in the Paddock session to be held on Sunday the 30th of August (click here for more information) and for the last workshop, Back from the Brink, covering controlling weeds and other threats in restoration projects (25 October). Click here for more information on the workshop series. The program is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian government.
Krista Patterson-Majoor, Community Engagement
Award winner at the Sustainable Agriculture forum in Castlemaine
Posted on 17 August, 2015 by Connecting Country
Local orchardist – Katie Finlay – was recently crowned the 2015 Victorian Rural Woman of the Year, and now is in the running for the National Rural Woman award. At the Castlemaine forum for discussing their draft Regional Sustainable Agriculture Strategy, the North Central CMA has organised for Katie to be the guest presenter. Katie will speak about her journey towards sustainability. (As noted in a previous blog – click here – the North Central CMA are also seeking feedback on their draft Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Plan on the same evening and at same event).
From North Central CMA manager Tim Shanahan “Increasing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices across the region will strengthen the future of the industry while protecting natural resources such as land and water.”
Further quotes from Tim, additional details about the event and to read a summary of the draft Sustainable Agriculture strategy, follow this link (click here).
The Castlemaine forum is one of five being held across the region. It is on Monday 31 August 2015 from 7.30 pm at the Campbells Creek Community Centre, Elizabeth St – with a light supper served from 7pm. To attend, RSVPs have been requested for catering purposes (email info@nccma.vic.gov.au or by phone on 03 5448 7124).
Managing our biodiversity under climate change
Posted on 12 August, 2015 by Connecting Country
Climate change will affect all life forms, either directly or indirectly, and not just humans. How can local plants, animals and other species be helped to adapt to a changing climate? How do we decide what to prioritise?
Scientists, government agencies, community groups, landholders and others are grappling with these and other questions relating to the impact of climate change on biodiversity.
Connecting Country has been made aware of two upcoming events designed to help address some of these tough issues.
Symposium: ‘Managing Victoria’s Biodiversity under Climate Change’
This symposium to be held on the 8-9 October 2015 in Parkville is being organised by the Victorian National Parks Association, the Royal Society of Victoria and the University of Melbourne. Over these 2 days, a series of expert speakers will briefly outline likely impacts of climate change on Victoria’s ecosystems. Their presentations will address a likely scenario, or a series of scenarios, in the year 2050. Each talk will be followed by 20 minutes of discussion facilitated by a similarly qualified person.
For further details on the topics to be covered, and for registration details, see the attached link (click here).
Feedback on ‘North Central Region Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Plan’ (and ‘Regional Sustainable Agriculture Strategy’)
These two documents have been developed by the North Central CMA over many months, and are now available in draft form for public feedback. Five public forums are being held to discuss them, with one of these in the Mount Alexander Shire at the Campbells Creek Community Centre on the evening of Monday 31 August 2015. Guest presenter at this event will be Katie Finlay, an orchardist from Harcourt who was recently named as the 2015 Victorian Rural Woman of the Year. Katie will speak about her journey towards sustainability.
Copies of the press release (CLICK HERE) and the invitation flyer (CLICK HERE) from the CMA are available.
Feedback on these two documents is being accepted by the North Central CMA up until 14 September 2015. To view copies of the draft documents follow these links (HERE for climate plan [8MB] and HERE for the Sustainable Agriculture strategy summary [1MB]), or visit the North Central CMA website (here and here, respectively).
Did someone mention the f-word?
Posted on 10 August, 2015 by Connecting Country
The CFA’s Owen Gooding addressing participants; “you don’t need to be a expert or a scientist to understand the fire and the bush around you”
Fire. For many of us it conjures up a range of feelings; “confused … worried … fearful … ignorant … conflicted … overwhelmed …” . For those of us who attended Connecting Country’s Living with Fire and Wildlife workshop on Sunday the 2nd of August we now feel better informed and more confident when it comes to thinking about fire on our properties.
A brilliant team of presenters included Owen Goodings, Julie Whitfield and David Cheal gave a strong and united message that we can enhance biodiversity and manage fire risk at the same time. Andrew and Sarah’s stunning bush block in Strangways provided the perfect backdrop to our discussions.
Julie Whitford: “we have a obligation to look after ourselves but also the many other things that live on the land”.
We all gained a lot from the day – from a better understanding fire behaviour in the bush, to comprehending the complicated interactions of our flora and fauna, to having an idea of suitable plants for around the house.
More information, resources, and a excellent summary from workshop participants Helen and Ian Scott is available here. A new forum topic has also been started for those who would like to continue the conversation; click here to get involved.
Our huge thanks to our presenters, our hosts, and to Chris Johnston for her expert facilitation that made the day flow so smoothly.
Preparations are currently underway for our next workshop; “Biodiversity in the Paddock”. Here is your opportunity to learn a little more about the often hidden gems of your property – the mosses and lichens, ants, and moths and how they all fit into the bigger landscape picture. Places are filling fast, click here for more information and to reserve your spot.
The ‘Working with Nature to Improve Your Property’ 2015 Workshop Program is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian government.
Magic moments of winter bird monitoring
Posted on 8 August, 2015 by Tanya Loos
One of the joys of bird monitoring is the experience of magic moments: special points of time and place that stand out in the mind as truly special. Connecting Country’s winter bird monitoring has been completed for the 2015 year, involving two surveys at each of the 54 sites, which totals 108 ‘twenty minute – two hectare’ surveys. Here are a few of the magic moments from this winter’s wet and windy efforts!
While looking for the typical, tiny bush bird shapes in the foliage on the side of a hill in Metcalfe Conservation Reserve, I was completely taken aback by the sight of a huge Wedge-tailed Eagle taking off from the ground just metres in front of me, closely followed by another, younger bird. They had been eating a dead kangaroo, and the pair perched nearby in a paddock tree watching me closely as I completed the survey.
Speckled Warblers are not often encountered; they are a small, ground-foraging woodland bird somewhat like a scrubwren, with attractive streaky plumage. One lucky afternoon I had brilliant views of two foraging in rocky grassy undergrowth at the Nuggettys, then observed another at a direct seeding site in Maldon, foraging on the ground with thornbills and Scarlet Robins.
This year I have had the fortunate opportunity to set up a number of new bird monitoring sites (eight in total) with landholders who have past or present Connecting Country revegetation projects on their properties. After surveying a direct seeding site in the Blue Hills area, myself and the landholders went for a walk and we were rewarded with a brilliant session; dozens of bird species including Hooded Robins, Jacky Winters, Brown Treecreepers and culminating in a pair of Crested Shrike-tits doing a courtship wing shivering display. Magic!
This striking male Crested Shrike-tit was photographed by Geoff Park, and featured on his blog Natural Newstead.
If you are interested in a revegetation project on your property, call Jarrod Coote at the Connecting Country office on 5472 1594 to find out more.
And for those of you who are enjoying the birds on your property; watch this space, as we will be going out on another outing in early September.
by Tanya Loos, Habitat for Bush Birds Project Coordinator.
Biodiversity in the paddock – looking beyond the grass…
Posted on 7 August, 2015 by Connecting Country
A new world seen through a land lens
If you know where and how to look, you will discover that your paddock is home to a plethora of living creatures and plants.
At our next Spring Workshop, Biodiversity in the Paddock, our team of expert ecologists will guide you through the landscape to identify what makes up ‘biodiversity’. On a stunning property in Maldon, landscape ecologist Geoff Park, moth expert Steve Williams, botanist Karl Just and moss and lichen expert Cassia Read will take us on a hands-on foray for the obvious to the often overlooked. We will examine the big picture and right down to the small and discuss how we can improve, and monitor, the health of our landscape.
When: Sunday 30 August 2015, 10am – 3.30pm
Where: Maldon (details provided upon registration). Transport available from Castlemaine.
Cost: $30 per person or $20 for Concession and Connecting Country members. Includes morning tea, lunch by C.A.K.E, session notes and handouts, and follow-up web-based resources.
Registration: Register now as limited places remain. Click here to download a registration form, or contact Jules or Krista at Connecting Country for further information.
This workshop is the second of four in the Spring series which aim to give participants skills and knowledge on working with nature to improve biodiversity. The final two workshop cover using exclusion fencing to restore habitat (13 September), and controlling weeds in restoration projects (25 October). Click here for more information on the workshop series.
Krista Patterson-Majoor, Community Engagement
20 Aug 2015 – Local Butterflies
Posted on 6 August, 2015 by Connecting Country
Julie Whitfield catching butterflies
Julie Whitfield of Bendigo is an environmental consultant with a passion for butterflies, and she will be guest speaker at Newstead Landcare’s next meeting, on Thursday 20 August 2015.
As a recipient of a prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship, Julie recently had the opportunity to explore conservation projects for butterflies in the USA and the UK with the dream of bringing these models back to Victoria to apply with our local community groups. Julie will provide a presentation on these experiences and on the butterfly species likely to occur in the Newstead area, and their role in local ecosystems.
Mount Alexander Shire has a few populations of the extremely rare Eltham Copper Butterfly which has an extraordinary relationship with a particular ant species and Sweet Bursaria shrubs. Julie will introduce you to this marvel as well as to some of our more common local butterflies.
The Newstead Landcare group have extended an invitation for all interested people to attend the talk on Thursday 20 August from 8 pm at the Newstead Community Centre (gold coin donations appreciated). No need to book in – just come along, discover and be inspired!
Further tributes to Doug Ralph
Posted on 5 August, 2015 by Connecting Country
Photo by Beth Mellick.
For those that attended last week’s AGM of the Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forest (FOBIF), it commenced with a memorable photo-montage of the late great Doug Ralph. Doug was the founding president of both FOBIF and Connecting Country, and he is sorely missed. I’m sure that he would have had a wry smile following revelations from the guest speaker at the AGM that native Slime Moulds are spread throughout the local forests and woodlands. Bernard Slattery, a FOBIF committee member, wrote a moving tribute to his good friend Doug which was published in the June 2015 edition of ‘Park Watch’, the superb magazine of the Victorian National Parks Association. A scanned copy of this article is provided (click here).
He passing was also noted in the Victorian Parliament, with the following text taken from Hansard on 17 March 2015:
Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan)—I would like to memorialise the life and passing of Doug Ralph, a Castlemaine resident and dedicated Green. Doug’s family was part of Castlemaine since the gold rush, and Doug grew up in the area, as did his three children. He worked at various jobs over the years, including 12 years at the Castlemaine Bacon Company, but he also worked on developing part of the goldfields trail between Castlemaine and Daylesford. He was active in so many community affairs and environmental issues, from the Chewton progress association to the Mount Alexander diggings association, the South Castlemaine Kindergarten committee and the 1851 re-enactment committee. He was also involved in permaculture, Landcare, the environment and so many other areas.
We had a wonderful memorial event for Doug in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens the weekend before last, when hundreds of citizens came together and shared stories—some inspirational and some quite funny—about the impact Doug had had on their lives. It is clear that his passing has left a great gap in the community’s life. It was described as the falling of a great tree in the forest, but hopefully as the light comes in and the seeds he laid start to grow we will all rise up and fill the gap he has left.
Thank you to Bron Silver for providing the pictures for this blog, and for also making me aware that Wikipedia now has a ‘Doug Ralph’ page – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Ralph.
Spot the “Yellow Hooded Planter”
Posted on 3 August, 2015 by Connecting Country
Rip lines across the landscape – all ready for the new trees and shrubs.
Saturday 25 July 2015 saw an enthusiastic crowd gather in a seasonally cold paddock in Walmer to take part in Connecting Country’s Community Planting Day.
The paddock underwent an amazing transformation. Bare rip lines were planted with fifteen hundred milk carton guards and native plants. 1,500!! What an amazing achievement. Thank you to all who came for the event.
Among the crowd, the recognisable “yellow hooded planter” could be seen, Very active in the planting season, she can be spotted most weekends undertaking one kind of native plant activity after another. Marie, you are a gem!
The mysterious Yellow Hooded Planter.
Local children’s author and artist Trace Balla came along and shared her story of how nature shapes and inspires her creativity. More than a few people would have come away keen to weave a basket out of sheoak or sedge as beautifully as Trace has done! Trace reminded us all of our inherent connection to nature, and the deeper reasons why we are doing what we can to restore nature’s balance.
Hand-woven baskets from Trace’s collection.
A big thank you again to all who came, first timers and the old hands. Your participation makes Connecting Country a real possibility.
Juliet Walsh, 2015 Community Planting Coordinator
This project has been supported by Connecting Country, through funding provided by the Australian Government.
Your property could be next! To find out if you are eligible for funding and other support towards habitat restoration on your property, call Jarrod or Bonnie of the Connecting Country team on 5472 1594.
A sea of new plantings – and soon to be woodland bird habitat.
Draft Castlemaine Community Plan – open for comment until 21 Aug 2015
Posted on 1 August, 2015 by Connecting Country
The Mount Alexander Shire Council has informed us that the final draft of the Castlemaine Community Plan is open for review. CLICK HERE to see a copy of the draft plan. Of particular relevance to Connecting Country is the section titled ‘In Balance with Nature’.
“Comments are invited on the draft before it is finalised and launched in a few months time. All feedback is requested to be submitted by Friday 21 August 2015.”
Feedback on the plan can be sent to s.jones@mountalexander.vic.gov.au (prior to 10 August 2015) and g.atkin@mountalexander.vic.gov.au (between 10 and 21 August 2015).
Note: This is Community Plan is a different document to the council’s Environment Strategy 2015-2015 that we have highlighted recently on this website. The Environment Strategy was adopted by the councillor’s at their meeting on 28 July, with some amendments. The amendments appear to increase the transparency of the review and evaluation process, and also increases opportunities for community contributions. Further details are available in the ‘Unconfirmed’ Minutes of the council meeting (CLICK HERE to go to relevant section of their website, or CLICK HERE for a direct copy of the unconfirmed minutes). At the time this blog went live, the final approved version of the Environment Strategy does not appear on their website.
Grant Program Open – 20 Million Trees
Posted on 31 July, 2015 by Connecting Country
A second round of the Australian Government’s ’20 Million Trees’ programme has just opened. Funding of between $20,000 and $100,000 is available to plant trees and associated native understorey species. According to the programme’s website:
“The 20 Million Trees Programme will support projects that involve the community in re-establishing native vegetation, provide habitat to support our threatened species, sequester carbon from the atmosphere and help to create greener spaces to improve the liveability of Australia’s cities and towns. Priority for Round Two will be given to projects with positive outcomes for threatened species and threatened ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act.”
For Round Two, applicants have the option to apply in the same application for up to three Green Army Teams to assist with the implementation of their 20 Million Trees Project. Guidelines and other key information is available online (CLICK HERE). Applications for Round 2 can be submitted from early August using the online form. Applications must be submitted by the closing time of 2.00pm AEST (Canberra time) 16 September 2015.
The application process is very detailed for these projects so make sure you have a look at the guidelines and other information first up. As always, please feel free to get in contact with Mount Alexander Region Landcare Facilitator, Max Schlachter, if you would like to discuss your project ideas (max@connectingcountry.org.au or phone 03 5472 1594).
Salinity Snapshot
Posted on 31 July, 2015 by Connecting Country
Cass Davis, Regional Waterwatch Coordinator with the North Central CMA, has made us aware of the recently released ‘Salinity Snapshot Report. This report is an overview of the results of samples tested for salinity by volunteers from waterways across the state as part of Waterwatch Victoria’s Saltwatch Week event in May 2015. The sites tested within the Mount Alexander Shire and surrounds from the Campaspe and Loddon catchments gave overall readings ranging from fair to good (with one score of ‘excellent’). Decent results, but still with room for improvement! CLICK HERE for a copy of the report.
North Central CHAT – July 2015 available
Posted on 31 July, 2015 by Connecting Country
Tess Grieves, the recently appointed Regional Landcare Coordinator with the North Central CMA, has told us of the highlights of this month’s edition of the ‘chat’:
- 2015-16 Community Grants Program NOW OPEN, closing COB August 14th
- Green Army Team have hit the ground in the Loddon Plains catchment
- Waterwatch salinity snapshot
- Upcoming events & conferences
It also includes a nice wrap-up of the successes of the 40,000 Trees planting day coordinated by the consortium of Barkers Creek Landcare groups.
CLICK HERE for a link to the July 2015 edition of the ‘chat’.