14 September 2012 – CFNC meeting on Cryptograms
Posted on 6 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Cassia Read will be the guest speaker at next Castlemaine Field Naturalist meeting on Friday 14 September. Her presentation is entitled Miniature wonderlands of the dry country: What you miss when you don’t walk on your knees.
Cassia has been studying and working in the field of ecology for the last 15 years, starting out with a botany degree at Melbourne Uni and followed by a range of jobs including Fungimap coordinator, researching the evolution of plant architecture, and reporting on the impact of climate change on biodiversity in national parks. She is currently doing a PhD at Melbourne Uni on biological soil crusts of the Mallee and Wimmera.
Cassia is a member of a local group of moss enthusiasts who regularly go on short field trips. The group is working towards producing a guide to mosses in the area. More information on this can be found on the Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests website.
The following is an abstract of her upcoming CFNC talk.
Arid lands across the world share a common ecology with low rainfall, few trees and shrubs, and intriguing carpets of cryptogams protecting the soil (mosses, lichens, fungi and more). Otherwise known as biological soil crusts, these communities of cryptogams are full of interest; they exist at the soil surface in harsh environments and act as ecosystem engineers. Follow me on an exploration of these intriguing microcosms, around the globe and in our own arid lands of north west of Victoria to see their beauty, discover more about their importance and to understand how we can use this knowledge to manage our dry country.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The meeting commences at 7.30pm, and is being held in the hall behind the Uniting Church in Lyttleton St, Castlemaine.
For those interested there will be a short excursion the next morning. The group will meet at the Octopus building on Duke St (opposite the Castle Motel) at 9.30am.
Applications Now Open for Strengthening Our Community Grants
Posted on 6 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Applications for the Strengthening Our Community Grants Scheme for 2012–2013 were opened by the Mount Alexander Shire on the 29 August 2012. Applications close 12 October 2012.
Application forms and Guidelines are available from:
- Mount Alexander Shire website
- 25 Lyttleton Street or 9 Halford St Castlemaine
- Community Development Administration Assistant on 5471 1744
Information Sessions will be held at the following locations and times:
- Maldon Neighbourhood Centre, at the corner Edward and Church Streets, 11 September 2012, 12noon – 1pm
- Ray Bradfield Room, Victory Park Castlemaine, 13 September 2012, 1pm – 2pm
- Ray Bradfield Room, Victory Park Castlemaine, 13 September 2012, 6.30pm – 7.30p
The following information relates to the Sustainability and Natural Environment Category of the Grants scheme.
Aim
To support the implementation of Council’s Environment Strategy 2010-2014 thereby improving the sustainability and resilience of the natural and built environments of the Mount Alexander Shire.
Objectives
Council’s Environment Strategy contains 44 objectives under the themes of:
- Climate change, greenhouse and energy
- Land and biodiversity
- Urban development, planning and sustainable transport
- Waste and resource efficiency
- Water
Proposals for funding under this category should identify which theme the project will address. Applications demonstrating relevance to a particular objective or particular objectives, particularly how the project will assist Council implement an objective or objectives, will be highly favoured. The Environment Strategy is available from www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/environment.
Funding
Grant requests made under the Sustainability and Natural Environment category may range from $500 to $3000 (total amount $40,500). Only in exceptional circumstances will grant requests exceeding these amounts be approved.
Castlemaine Children’s Literature Festival
Posted on 4 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Castlemaine Children’s Literature Festival will be held during the next school holidays (1–7 October). The week is packed with activities for all age-groups and Connecting Country will be presenting a session on Thursday 4 October between 10.30am and 12.30pm. The session is aimed at 7–10 year olds and will begin at Buda with a reading of Rachel Tonkin’s book, Leaf Litter. The group will then go to Kalimna Park for a treasure hunt. The cost is $12 and bookings are necessary. For further details about this session and the rest of the week’s activities click here for a Festival program.
Public Sessions on Invasive Species
Posted on 4 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
The Department of Primary Industries is inviting interested organisations and individuals to come along to one of several free information sessions about Victoria’s proposed invasive species legislation. The new legislation aims to modernise Victoria’a approach to the management of invasive species and provide greater flexibility to respond more effectively to biosecurity threats.
The information session in Bendigo will be held at the DPI Centre (Epsom), Midland Highway, Epsom on Wednesday 12 September, 10.30am–1.30pm.
To see the full DPI media release click here.
Latest Edition of ‘chat’
Posted on 4 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
The North Central newsletter formerly known as Groundcover has been renamed North Central chat. The August edition includes information on the Winjallok celebration of 25 years of Landcare, the results of a recent national Landcare survey, and a summary of Australian Framework for Landcare which focusses on the future of the Landcare movement and achievements to date. There are also two articles on Connecting Country. The newsletter can be downloaded here.
9 September 2012 – Afternoon Tea with Dinosaurs
Posted on 4 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
Dinosaurs don’t tend to crop up much in Landcare talks – especially in our area, where the sedimentary rocks are too old to contain the remains of anything that walked on land. But there have been dinosaur fossils discovered in Victoria, and some of them will be making their way to Newstead Community Centre during Landcare Week.
Renowned Australian palaeontologists Dr Tom Rich and his wife Professor Pat Vickers-Rich will be giving a talk on ‘Victoria’s Polar Dinosaurs’ at the Newstead Community Centre on the 9th of September, and they’ve promised to bring some ‘real dinosaurs’ with them.
Victoria’s Polar Dinosaurs roamed the earth over 100 million years ago when Australia was still linked to Antarctica. Much of this southern continent lay inside the Antarctic Circle and the animals that lived there were highly adapted to the extreme climate. Pat and Tom will talk about the “mega- and microfauna” of the time, and discuss possible causes for their demise.
Much of what we know about the animals that lived in ‘Polar Australia’ comes from the work of this industrious couple, especially at Dinosaur Cove on the Otway coast, where they tunnelled for fossils using mining equipment and explosives. Their work over the past 40 years has been recognised internationally and they are also award-winning authors of numerous books about Australia’s dinosaurs. The talk is free and afternoon tea will be provided. Please RSVP to Max by the 5th September.
When: Sunday 9th September
Where: Newstead Community Centre
Time: 3:30pm
8 September 2012 – Landcare Bushdance
Posted on 3 September, 2012 by Connecting Country
As part of National Landcare Week, the Mount Alexander Landcare Bushdance will be held on Saturday the 8th September at the Castlemaine Town Hall.
The Bushdance will be a chance to celebrate Landcare in the Mount Alexander Shire and to thank all of the volunteers who contribute countless hours to enhance our natural environment. The Bushdance isn’t just for Landcare members – everybody is welcome to come along and have a fun night. With Jane Thompson, James Rigby & Friends providing the music, this should be an excellent night.
The Bushdance has been kindly supported by a North Central Catchment Management Authority ‘25th Anniversary of Landcare’ grant.
Supper will be provided, as will tea, coffee and cordial; BYO alcoholic beverages. The night will be free for Landcare members and $5 for non-members. Kids are welcome. For catering purposes, please RSVP to Max Schlachter by 5th September (max@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594).
When: Saturday 8th September
Where: Castlemaine Town Hall
Time: 6pm – 10pm
The Yellow Box Fragmentation Project
Posted on 26 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
Earlier this year we published a post about a CSIRO research project which is designed to determine the genetic variability of Yellow Box across its range, and to analyse how fragmentation is affecting population and species resilience. We noted that the outcomes of this study could have many benefits for Connecting Country’s Yellow Box Woodland project.
An important element in the project is the involvement of members of the public, schools, NGOs and industry in collecting leaf and seed samples as well as some preliminary information about the sampled trees and their local environment.
A website has now been set up to record information about the sample collections. The site is not finished and there is more data to add but interested individuals can now register as users so that they can add their own information to the site. Connecting Country will keep people posted about the progress of this valuable project.
Draft Fire Operation Plan – Open for comments until 31 August
Posted on 24 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
DSE has released the draft Fire Operations Plan for consultation. The draft DSE Fire Operations Plan proposes several burns in our region in the next three years. Relevant maps, the draft plan and other associated details can be viewed at the DSE website (click here).
DSE are accepting submissions from the public until August 31 2012. Submissions can be emailed (dsemg.district@dse.vic.gov.au) or posted to:
Fire Management Officer
Murray Goldfields District, DSE
PO BOX 3100, Bendigo Delivery Centre 3554
Some other local organisations have already stated their positions regarding the proposed burns (e.g. see FOBIF website), while other organizations are considering their response (e.g. Elaine Bayes of the Fired Up Group can be contacted on elaine@australianecosystems.com.au).
The Connecting Country committee of management are meeting early next week, where our organization’s response to the fire plan will be considered.
26 August 2012 – Cactus Field Day
Posted on 24 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
The next Cactus Field Day is this Sunday 26th August. The Tarrengower Cactus Control Committee will be hosting it at a property on the Baringhup Road opposite its intersection with Hayes Road. As usual it will be clearly signposted and the day starts at 10.30 am. So rug up well and come along for a great morning in the fresh air as well as for a hot cuppa and sausage sizzle.
7 September 2012 – Campaspe Grassy Woodlands Field Day
Posted on 22 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
The North Central CMA is hosting the Campaspe Grassy Woodlands Field Day, which will be held on 7 September near Toolleen. This is on National Threatened Species Day and the week also coincides with National Landcare week.
On the day, ecologist Garry Cheers will take people on a walk to discover woodland birds and identify calls and habitat and Ian Higgins, North Central CMA’s botanist, will explore the vegetation found in the threatened grassy woodlands and highlight the importance of native grasses.
A free breakfast and morning tea will be provided. More details about the field day are in this flyer.
Connecting Country and Landcare in the Spotlight
Posted on 20 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
Landcare Australia Limited – the corporate arm of Landcare in Australia – use the slogan: ‘Everyone, everywhere, Landcare’. That has indeed proved the case in our Shire recently, with three important presentations made by Connecting Country to different audiences in the last two weeks.
The first was to the Victorian Minister for Environment & Climate Change, Ryan Smith, on a visit to a Yandoit grazing property undertaking a Connecting Country Yellow Box Woodland project. The visit was part of a wider tour of the North Central Catchment with our focus being on Landcare.
The state government supports Landcare through the Victorian State Landcare Team. It includes the ten Catchment Management Authority-based Landcare coordinators and the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s (DSE) Landcare team. It also funds the 68 new Local Landcare Facilitators (of which Connecting Country’s Landcare Facilitator is one) and administers the Victorian Landcare Gateway website.
Our presentation to the minister provided an overview of the Connecting Country project and the landscape restoration works that were set to occur on the property. We also highlighted the importance of government support to Landcare groups who want to be able to focus on their on-ground projects – rather than the ever-increasing paperwork.
The second presentation was to members of the Board and Natural Resource Management Committee (NRMC) of the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA).
The CMA’s Regional Catchment Strategy is the umbrella plan under which Connecting Country’s Biodiversity Blueprint and individual group’s local action plans and projects sit. This tour was an opportunity to show the Board and NRMC a current Landcare project – Muckleford Landcare’s Chinaman Creek Valley Community Plan – and demonstrate how Connecting Country is working with Landcare groups to produce local action plans which will be used to guide future projects and attract funding to the area. The tour also visited another landholder in Welshman’s Reef who is being funded through the Yellow Box Woodland program. He was very enthusiastic about the inspiration and support Connecting Country has given him to enhance the biodiversity on his land.
Jarrod, Chris Max and Marie from Connecting Country with Brian Rebecchi on his property at Welshman's Reef
23 August 2012 – Community Engagement Policy and Framework
Posted on 20 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
Mount Alexander Shire Council has organised two meetings to discuss its recently developed Community Engagement Policy and Framework. Both sessions will be held on Thursday 23 August, with an afternoon session in Maldon and an evening session in Castlemaine. All interested members of the community are invited to attend. For further information please see attached invitation or contact Karen Evennett on 5471 1721.
20 August – Reference Group meeting
Posted on 20 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country has a Reference Group meeting from 7pm on 20 August 2012 at the Garden Room at the Buda Historic Homestead (42 Hunter St, Castlemaine). Registered members of the Reference Group and representatives of local Landcare groups are particularly encouraged, but other members and interested community members are also very welcome to attend. The theme of the evening is primarily around our two new projects, with a presentation by the respective project coordinators. There will also be an opportunity for landholders, groups and other community members to become involved and to provide their feedback and suggestions for the projects. Supper and drinks to be provided. See the agenda by clicking here.
New Program: Connecting Landscapes
Posted on 19 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
Calling all Landholders
Connecting Country is pleased to announce that it has been successful in obtaining funding from the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Biodiversity Fund to implement our new program, Connecting Landscapes across the Mount Alexander region.
This five year program will work with private landholders to create and enhance wildlife habitat connections between the large blocks of crown land forest that occur through the Mount Alexander Shire and immediate surrounds.
Connecting Country will establish its own on-ground works crew to help landholders undertake management activities on their properties, such as pest animal and plant control, protective fencing and supplementary plantings. Other aspects of the program to be implemented by Connecting Country will include community talks and field day events, flora and fauna monitoring and other related activities.
We are seeking expressions of interest for potential site projects with Landcare groups and private landholders that fit the funding guidelines. An Expression of Interest Form can be found here and full details about the project can be found here.
For further information or to get involved, contact the Project Manager, Jarrod Coote, on 5472 1594 or email jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au
Also information will be available at Connecting Country’s Reference Group meeting to be held on the evening of August 20th 2012.
16 August 2012 – Restoring the Moolort Wetlands
Posted on 14 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
Nick Layne from North Central CMA will be giving a presentation on Restoring the Moolort Wetlands at a Newstead Landcare Group meeting this Thursday. These wetlands are west of Newstead and adorned with numerous stunning Red Gum swamps which, when full, become home to countless waterbirds, including Brolgas. This is a chance to learn about these magnificent swamps and their wildlife as well as the exciting new project to restore them to their full glory.
The meeting will be held at the Newstead Community Centre at 8 pm on Thursday 16 August. A gold coin donation will be appreciated. For further information contact Patrick 5476 2755.
Connecting Country Woodland Bird Monitoring – Winter 2012
Posted on 10 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country’s woodland bird monitoring is on again. Since 2010, bird surveys have been performed in winter and spring in over 50 locations across the Mount Alexander Shire region. As a result there have been confirmed records of rare and threatened birds. The good news is that with the new Woodland Birds Project, Connecting Country will be able to continue developing these bird data sets using expert knowledge, community engagement and participation.
Garry and Brenda Cheers, will be managing the Winter 2012 bird survey and landholders that have been involved in the past can expect a phone call from Garry soon to arrange access to previously sampled sites. A report on the progress and results of the bird monitoring will be available soon.
10 August 2012 – Long-term Flora and Fauna Monitoring
Posted on 7 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
Ern Perkins with Chris Timewell at last month's launch of Ern's Central Victoria Grasses Identification Guide CD.
Local naturalist Ern Perkins will be the guest speaker at the Castlemaine Field Naturalist Club meeting this Friday 10 August. His subject will be Long-term Flora and Fauna Monitoring.
The talk will address a topic of special interest to Connecting Country. Long-term monitoring of flora and fauna has been an important component of the Yellow Box Woodlands project and will continue to be important in the organisation’s two new projects, Connecting Landscapes and Woodland Birds.
The meeting will be held at the Uniting Church Hall in Lyttleton St, Castlemaine (the building behind the church), and will commence from 7.30pm. All are welcome and encouraged to attend– both members and non-members. There is no cost for attendance.
13 August – FOBIF’s AGM
Posted on 2 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forest’s AGM will take place at Castlemaine Continuing Education Centre at 7.30 pm on Monday August 13.
The formal part of the meeting will be followed by a short talk by Damian Kelly on the challenges and rewards of bird photography. Readers of the FOBIF website will be familiar with Damian’s brilliant photos of local bird life, and he will illustrate his talk with some recent examples.
Dusky Woodswallow. Loddon River at Newstead. Photo by Damian Kelly, April 2012
8 August 2012 – Celebrating 25 Years of Landcare
Posted on 2 August, 2012 by Connecting Country
Twenty-five years ago the Landcare movement was officially launched at Winjallok and next week the Winjallok Landcare group will be celebrating this event with a planting session. The day will begin at 9 am at the Paradise Hall, St Arnaud-Navarre Road, Paradise. Further details are in this flier.