Restoring landscapes across the Mount Alexander Region

A mix of biodiversity and agriculture

Posted on 15 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

The recent edition of the Weekly Times has a nice story about Wayne and Gwen Furze from Osborne’s Flat in north-eastern Victoria who’ve been able to manage and protect some important grassy woodland areas on their property while still running a broader productive dairy farm.  Click here to read the full story.  (As an aside, another name still regularly used for Gorse is Furze!)

 

Time to Check Nest Boxes

Posted on 15 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

If you have a Connecting Country nest box on your property (or one near-by on public land), Autumn is the time of year to check your boxes for Brush-tailed Phascogale or Sugar Glider activity.

The best technique for landholders to monitor the boxes on their property involves observing, counting and identifying the Sugar gliders or Brush-tailed Phascogales that climb out of the opening of each nest box on dusk.  Please do NOT climb up with a ladder and physically check inside the box (due to the danger to you, and also the potential disturbance to the animal).  We have further information on this ‘dusk observation’ technique (click here) and also the results from the past two years of nest box surveys (click here and here).

A standardised data sheet is available to record observations (PDF and Word versions). Results can be sent to us via email or post.  Even if you see nothing come out of the box, please let us know, as this is still important information.

If you are unable to observe the nest boxes on your property at dusk – but would like to know what it using them – please let us know.  We may be able to arrange for a volunteer team to come and observe them on dusk instead.

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Phascogales captured on camera at Jan Hall’s property in MacKenzie’s Hill.

 

Community Environment Grants Now Available

Posted on 15 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

Community Environment Grants of between $5000 and $50 000 are now available from the Australian Government to community groups working to achieve an environment that is healthier, better protected, well managed and resilient.

Funding is available to established and emerging groups currently operating in the environmental sector, including Indigenous organisations.  Continue Reading »

 

Celebrating the Loddon

Posted on 13 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

celebrating-the-loddonThe North Central CMA’s Loddon Stressed River project is inviting people to a celebration with lots of activities including a guest speaker, local farm visit, short river walk and a buffet dinner. There will be two events, one in Newbridge and one in Kerang. To find out more, download this flyer.

 

Landcare Awards

Posted on 13 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

landcare-awardsNominees or applicants are now invited to apply for this year’s State and Territory Landcare Awards. The purpose of the awards is to recognise ‘the achievements of those dedicated people who give up their time to care for our precious land and water resources.’ More information about the awards and the entry form can be found here and here.

 

Biological Farming Information Days

Posted on 13 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

The North Central CMA has organised two information days on Biological Farming in Kerang and Echuca West. This flyer has some further details and people are encouraged to register their interest with the North Central CMA on 03 5448 7124 or info@nccma.vic.gov.au. Further details will soon be available on the NCCMA site.

 

20 & 23 April – Muckleford Landcare Events

Posted on 13 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

Muckleford Catchment Landcare has two upcoming events this month that will be of interest to people living locally – including both Landcare members and the general public. The first is the Roadside Awareness Mapping Project which will conclude with reporting day on 20 April at the Muckleford Community Centre. The second is a community meeting on 23 April about Sustainable Soils for Muckleford. Speakers at this meeting will be Judy Crocker, Facilitator of the Mid-Loddon Landcare Network, and Phil Dyson, North Central CMA, and manager of the Farming for Sustainable Soils Program.

To find out more about these events, download this Muckleford Landcare PDF document. The Muckleford Catchment Landcare site can be viewed here.

 

12 April 2013 – Tales from a mothylated spirit!

Posted on 10 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

 

mothbook4This Friday 12 April, the guest speaker at the monthly general meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club is Steve Williams of the Entomological Society of Victoria (ESV).  He will be speaking about the moths of the Box-Ironbark Forests in his talk titled “Things that go bump in the night….Tales of a Mothylated Spirit“.

Steve’s passion is raising native moths through their whole life cycle, from adult to egg to caterpillar to cocoon, and then back to adult again.  He has made incredible contributions to the understanding of this process for Victorian moth species – most of which had not been documented previously.  His amazing photos of the various life stages are a highlight of the recently released Moths of Victoria Volume 4 (published by ESV).

If the weather is favourable, Steve is also planning to set up some lights and other equipment outside the hall to attract some moths over the course of the night’s talk to view afterwards.

Attendance at the talk is free and open to everyone; members and non-members.  It will start from 7.30pm at the Fellowship Hall behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St (just up the hill beside the Art Gallery and Museum).

 

Bus Seats Available for Wildlife Corridor Talk This Wednesday

Posted on 8 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

A reminder for any people planning to attend the Designing a Wildlife Corridor: What Works  Why? talk  in Elphinstone  this Wednesday.

For those who’d prefer not to drive, a free community bus has been booked to transport people from Castlemaine to the Elphinstone Community Hall for the event, and back. The bus will be departing from the Ray Bradfield Room (next to Victory Park) at 6pm and will return to Castlemaine about 15 minutes after the conclusion of the talks.

RSVPs for the bus are essential, as space will be limited. Contact Chris at Connecting Country to book a seat – E: info@connectingcountry.org.au, P: (03) 5472 1594.

The evening will begin with supper at 6:30pm. Talks start at 7pm.

 

Invasive Species Council Survey

Posted on 8 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

Every year across Australia tens of thousands of people give up their time to battle weeds, feral animals and marine pests, very often without payment.  The recent evening on weeds in Maldon hosted by Connecting Country reiterated the weed risk and also the commitment that people and groups make to their control (click here for more info).

The Invasive Species Council wants to build a picture of the work these people carry out, and the organisations they work for, through a national survey.

The information collected will be used to create an Australian database of groups working on these issues, and will be used to help share information on current invasive species threats.

If you are a member of an organisation tackling invasive species in Australia and would like to participate, click here to access the survey.

 

27 April – Property Planning and Management Talk

Posted on 3 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

The Mount Alexander Shire is inviting new residents to a free afternoon talk on property Planning and Management on Saturday 27 April in the Ray Bradfield Room. Download this flyer for further information.

 

Latest edition of Chat

Posted on 3 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

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The latest edition of the North Central CMA publication chat is now available and can be downloaded here. This edition includes articles on the weed of the month ‘Horehound’, the Victoria Climate Change Adaption Plan, the opening of the Lushington Hill Bushland Reserve path, the recent Connecting Country soil workshop and a number of upcoming local events.

 

10 April – Wildlife Corridors Talk in Elphinstone

Posted on 3 April, 2013 by Connecting Country

Connecting Country and the North Central Catchment Management Authority will jointly present a free evening talk session titled Designing a Wildlife Corridor: What Works and Why? next week on Wednesday 10th April.

We’re lucky to have two great speakers on the night:

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Dr Rodney van der Ree releasing a Squirrel Glider.

Dr Rodney van der Ree is a wildlife ecologist and senior researcher at the University of Melbourne. He will be providing recommendations on how to design effective wildlife corridors in our region, particularly for use by Tuans and Sugar Gliders. Rodney has also been involved in efforts to provide connectivity for these species across major roads, including the Calder and Hume Freeways; he will also be summarising the results of these efforts so far.

Philippa Schapper is coordinator of the Superb Parrot Project. The Project began in 1992 when a group of farmers in the Picola area of northern Victoria became concerned about the future of the Superb Parrot in their area. Their ongoing commitment to the Project has seen 20 years of revegetation, primarily on privately owned land, to the extent that the local landscape is significantly different.  She will describe how both the landholders and the local wildlife have benefitted.

The evening will be a source of information, and hopefully inspiration, for anybody involved in land management in central Victoria, and especally those with a passion for conserving native species.  Finger food dinner and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided.

The free talks will be held at the Elphinstone Community Hall (Cnr Bendigo-Sutton Grange Road & Olivers Lane, Elphinstone.  NB: there is no direct access from the Calder Freeway.) (click here for map). We’ll begin with supper at 6:30pm and the talks will begin at 7pm.  RSVPs are not essential, but would be appreciated for catering. Please contact to Max at Connecting Country by email – max@connectingcountry.org.au or phone – 03 5472 1594.

For those coming from Castlemaine and not wishing to drive, a free bus will be leaving from outside the Ray Bradfield Room in Castlemaine at 6.00pm.  The buses will return to Castlemaine about 15 minutes after the conclusion of the talks.  RSVPs for the bus are essential, as space will be limited.

Connecting Country provides this event as part of its Yellow Box Woodland education program which is supported by the North Central Catchment Management Authority, with funding from the Federal Government’s Caring for our Country program and the State Government’s Victorian Investment Framework. The North Central Catchment Management Authority also supports this event through the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Biodiversity Fund.

 

10 & 11 April – Carbon Farming Field Trip

Posted on 26 March, 2013 by Connecting Country

carbon-farming-projectA two-day  Carbon Farming Field Trip to western Victoria open to farmers and Landcare members has been organised by the North Central CMA and funded as part of the Carbon Farming Initiative Communications Program.  It will take place on 10 and 11 April.  There is sponsorship available to cover the cost of bus travel from Bendigo or Maryborough as well as accommodation and all meals. To find out more about the field trip, download this flyer. An Expression of Interest form is also available. Places are limited and EOI forms need to be submitted by 2 April.

 

2013 Federal Volunteer Grants Open & Other Local Events

Posted on 26 March, 2013 by Connecting Country

Volunteer Grants
The Federal Government’s annual Volunteer Grants have just opened. There is up to $16 million in funding for grants of between $1,000 – $5,000. Groups can apply for funds for fuel reimbursement, police checks, equipment and training to assist volunteers carry out their roles.  For more information and the application form, click here.

Two local Community Training Events in April run by the Mount Alexander Volunteer Network (MAVN)

1. Consumer Affairs: Understanding the changes to the Incorporated Association Act.
Free session at Continuing Education, 30 Templeton Street, Castlemaine on Wednesday 17th April from 7pm – 8.30pm.  For bookings and enquiries, contact Mount Alexander Volunteer Network by email on mavn@outlook.com

2. Avoid Burn Out: From Survive to Thrive
Session costs $10 with light supper provided at Continuing Education, 30 Templeton Street, Castlemaine on Wednesday 1st May from 6 pm-8.30 pm.  For bookings and enquiries, contact Mount Alexander Volunteer Network by email on mavn@outlook.com

 

Don’t take a shotgun to the cactus, even if it is annoying you

Posted on 22 March, 2013 by Connecting Country

Attendees at a Connecting Country education event at the Maldon Community Centre on March 13  heard two dramatically different perspectives on the grisly subject of environmental weeds.

Ecologist Geoff Carr gave a general rundown on the weed problem, which is serious. He quoted the 2007 Census of the Vascular Plants of Victoria publication, which listed all the self sustaining plants in our state [that is, plants not kept alive by gardeners or special care].  Of the 5793 species and subspecies recorded within Victoria, 1496 are exotics, the numbers of which are increasing rapidly and alarmingly.

It was clear from Geoff’s talk that ‘weed’ in this discussion isn’t just a plant you don’t like: it’s a plant which, if let go, will obliterate any competition, and render other plants in the area locally extinct. Not only that: weeds have the capacity to radically alter  water catchments and affect food production. The example he gave, ironically, was from South Africa (from which a good number of our weeds originate): the Cape Town water catchment’s capacity to store water has been reduced by 30% by water guzzling Acacia weeds imported from…Australia! The problem is global.

Seventy per cent of environmental weeds started their life in Australia as garden ornamentals. Geoff posed a good question: why do we have strict control over importation of exotic animals into the country, but appear to have almost none at all over plants which could cost millions in lost production and biodiversity?

Geoff Carr’s talk was not focused on remedies, but Ian Grenda more than made up for that with a wonderfully entertaining account of his efforts at cactus control, laced with a good dose of black humour. Ian is convenor of the Tarrengower Cactus Control committee. His attacks on Wheel Cactus (Opuntia robusta) – a listed Weed of National Significance – have involved experiments with axes and shotguns (details withheld here, to protect the innocent), and the invention of a variety of deadly cactus attack weapons. The most effective weapon he highlighted, however, was community support: every month about 35 local people rock up to cactus control work parties in the Tarrengower/Nuggety area. Positive social interaction and clear practical progress keep morale high. Ian’s conclusion: ‘We’re going to beat it, using the biggest weapon in the world. That’s us—we can kill anything!’

Both speakers, interestingly, spoke admiringly of the weed enemy: attacks on weeds are motivated not by hatred for any particular plant, but by a desire to protect the variety and health of the rich native plant system we have now. Both also emphasised the need to understand how plants work, and what they do in the environment. And both made it clear that that persistence and follow up work are vital.

 

Mount Alexander Shire – Connecting Country MOU signed

Posted on 21 March, 2013 by Connecting Country

As you may have read in the local paper over the past week, the Mount Alexander Shire Council and Connecting Country formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday 12 March.

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Cr Michael Redden, Mayor of Mount Alexander Shire and Marie Jones, President of Connecting Country signing the MoU. Standing are Amy McDonald, Manager Healthy Environments, MAS and Chris Timewell, CC Director.

Cr Michael Redden, Mayor of Mount Alexander Shire and Marie Jones, President of Connecting Country formalised the commitment to shared goals and collaboration with the signing of the documentation.

“I am delighted to be signing this document because it is another positive way that the community can work together to provide a healthier environment,” said Marie.

The MoU outlines how the two organisations will work together over the next five years, including the provision of support and advice to each other on projects that they have in common.

“This MoU is important for Council, reflecting the sentiment of our Environment Strategy – to work with our partner organisations to make a positive change for sustainability and the environment,” said Cr Redden.

 

The Mapping of Central Victoria

Posted on 20 March, 2013 by Connecting Country

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The Bendigo Art Gallery is holding an exhibition about mapping in relation to central Victoria. It will take place at the Post Office Gallery, 51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo from 22 March to 16 June. The Art Gallery website describes the exhibition as follows: Continue Reading »

 

22 March 2013 – Information Day about Fish

Posted on 19 March, 2013 by Connecting Country

The North Central CMA has organised an information day about fish on 22 March. The event will be held in Cohuna between 9.30am and 3.30am and will include fish ecologists and experts Clayton Sharpe, Anthony Conallin, Justin O’Connor and Ivor Stuart. Continue Reading »

 

Kids Environmental Education event – windy but really fun!

Posted on 14 March, 2013 by Connecting Country

Twenty-five budding naturalists and their parents joined Connecting Country staff and volunteers for a series of three environmental education workshops in the evening of March 1st at Vaughan Springs.

The workshops were intended to increase interest and knowledge of the natural world in our young people – and maybe even some parents too. Brendan Smith from Parks Victoria ran a workshop on some of the creatures found in the Loddon River. Wearing waders and a using kick net (or a pool net that was very scientifically kicked along the bottom of the stream), an amazing diversity of macro invertebrate life forms was detected. Brendan then showed the kids how these samples provide an indicator of stream health according to their vulnerability to disturbances such as pollution. From what we found, it looks like the Upper Loddon is in pretty good shape at the moment! Brendan’s equipment was kindly supplied by the North Central Catchment Management Authority.

Next was Elaine Bayes from Rakali Ecological Consulting, who led the kids through some streamside vegetation, discussing what might live where – and finding out! They learned how to carefully uncover, handle and replace animals such as frogs and yabbies. Life skills for anyone really, and a place to channel undirected curiosity and energy!

For the final presentation, Mark from Tooko Wildlife Displays gave kids the opportunity to handle live pythons, pat a dingo, and learn about a range of other Australian animals. There was great excitement as Mark’s tame Sulphur Crested Cockatoo ‘Elliot’ competed for the limelight with Mark while he spoke about the different creatures on display. Kids left the talk knowing that tortoises breath through their behinds and if a snake is shiny, it has probably just left it’s skin somewhere nearby.

Volunteers cooked up a yummy BBQ dinner as we sat together and enjoyed the end of the week at Vaughan Springs.

The Nature Discovery Afternoon for Kids was part of Connecting Country’s 2013 Education Program. An upcoming event in the program is a talk on designing wildlife corridors in Elphinstone on 10th April (by Dr Rodney van der Ree and representatives from the Superb Parrot Project). Follow this link to the Education Program 2013  web-page for more details.