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.
29 July 2012 – Next Cactus Control Field Day
Posted on 25 July, 2012 by Connecting Country
The next Cactus Control field day with Parks Victoria is this Sunday 29th July. It will be held on a property near the corner of the Bridgewater-Maldon Road and Sandhills Lane. This is about one kilometre north of the intersection of the Bridgewater and Baringhup Roads. As usual it will be well signposted.
The starting time is 10.30 am and the day will wind up with the usual cuppa and sausage sizzle at lunchtime.
Green Thumbs Wanted for National Tree Day
Posted on 19 July, 2012 by Connecting Country
Sunday 29 July is National Tree Day and a number of planting events and barbeques have been organised by Landcare groups and other organisations across the Mount Alexander shire and immediate surrounds.
With so much of our local forests cleared or degraded, putting something back is a great thing to do – and every little plant helps. All sorts of plants will get put in the ground on National Tree Day – not just trees.
If you would like to participate in National Tree Day this year, click here to find out where a planting is taking place near you. Or contact Max Schlachter (Mount Alexander area Landcare Facilitator) for more information on 5472 1594.
Conservation and Land Management Pathway Program
Posted on 19 July, 2012 by Connecting Country
The BRIT TAFE Conservation and Land Management Pathways program is designed for people who:
- are interested in the conservation and land management industry
- would you like to learn more about the opportunities that are available in this field
- are thinking about trying a short course to see what might be involved,
- have good field skills but would like to learn about putting this knowledge into reports
- considering applying for the Conservation and Land Management Certificate IV Program in 2013 but would like to try some units and get support in the application process
- need some assistance with the computer skills and report writing to help with your study and/or employment in this field?
Information/ enrolment session: Tuesday 28th August 4.30pm
Location: Arrival centre seminar room Charleston Road Campus, BRIT
Course Commencement: Tuesday 11th September
Delivery will be on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays for 6 weeks.
For more information contact Tony Mission on 03 5434 1759 or email tmisson@bendigotafe.edu.au
Register Now for Volunteer Training
Posted on 11 July, 2012 by Connecting Country
Mount Alexander Volunteer Network is conducting a six month program of volunteer training to support community groups and NFP organisations throughout our Shire.
The training will include first aid qualifications, governance training, effective communication, food safety training, conflict resolution and how to avoid burn-out as a volunteer. The training will be subsidised by the Mount Alexander Shire Council and the cost to individuals will be only $10.
If you would like to register or find out more, contact the Mount Alexander Volunteer Network on 0425 323 005 or emailmavn@cch.org.au.
Future Management of Barkers Creek
Posted on 10 July, 2012 by Connecting Country
Over 40 members of the Barkers Creek, Harcourt and North Harcourt communities met in the Harcourt ANA Hall on June 28. The purpose of the meeting was to find out what is important to the local community about Barkers Creek and discuss the future management of the creek.
The evening started with delicious soup, bread and muffins provided by CAKE (Castlemaine Abundance Kitchen Enterprise). A short presentation about Barkers Creek outlined some of the assets and the threats impacting on the creek, and then attendees were split into three groups to identify what they thought was important along their stretch of the creek
Barkers Creek Project Officer Michael Luke says “We were thrilled at the big turnout for the community workshop. It was a fantastic evening and we ended up with around 25 ideas which will be used in the development of the Barkers Creek Local Action Plan”.
The Local Action Plan will help to plan the three local Landcare groups’ activities into the future, and also to assist in applying for grants and future funding opportunities.
For more information about the project, email michael@connectingcountry.org.au or call 5472 1594. If you are a landholder along the creek and have not contacted us – please get in touch.
13 July 2012: Special Event
Posted on 3 July, 2012 by Connecting Country
On the evening of the 13 July, there will be a launch of Ern Perkin’s new Central Victoria Grasses Identification Guide CD followed by a presentation by Geoff Park on the Moolort Wetlands.
Local naturalist Ern Perkins was the 2008 recipient of the Australian Natural History Medallion which is a nation-wide award awarded to one person per year judged to have made the most meritorious contribution to the understanding of Australian Natural History. His new CD covers all native and non-native grasses known to occur in Mt Alexander Shire. Ern will give a short talk and presentation on the CD and all attendees will receive a free copy (one per household).
The CD has been published with the joint support of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club and Connecting Country.
After the CD launch, Geoff Park will talk on the beautiful wetlands of the Moolort Plains. Geoff is Knowledge Broker at the North Central CMA, on the committee of Connecting Country and also convenor and chief contributor to the Natural Newstead blog. The following text is an excerpt from his blog about the Moorlort Plains:
The Moolort Plains are a very different environment to the goldfields landscapes closer to Newstead. The plains country is part of the Victorian Volcanic Plains bioregion, once dominated by native grasslands and largely untimbered. Silver Banksia, Tree-Violet and Bursaria were some of the predominant shrubs in this verdant landscape, prior to European settlement. A feature of the Moolort Plains are its wetlands and swamps, many of which have been actively managed for conservation values by local farmers.
Long Swamp, Moolort Plains. Photo by Geoff Park, 7 September 2010
The launch and the talk will be held on evening of Friday 13 July at the Uniting Church Hall in Lyttleton St, Castlemaine (building behind the church), and will commence from 7.30pm. The event is part of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club July meeting, but all are welcome and encouraged to attend– both members and non-members. There is no cost for attendance, although a gold coin donation towards the supper afterwards would be appreciated.
Employment – Positions Vacant
Posted on 2 July, 2012 by Connecting Country
Threatened Woodland Birds Project Coordinator Position: Connecting Country.
Do you know your Jacky Winter from your Diamond Firetail?
Are you passionate about making sure they continue to exist in the Mount Alexander Shire and surrounding region of central Victoria?
If yes, then this could be the job for you.
Connecting Country is seeking a suitable candidate to implement its new Threatened Woodland Birds Project as well as assisting with other activities currently being run by the organization. This part or full time fixed term position (0.8-1 FTE) is funded through to 30 June 2013, with the possibility of extension based on future funding success and other considerations. For more information on the project, and also for copy of the full position description, including key selection criteria, click here.
Applications with a curriculum vitae and addressing the Key Selection Criteria should be marked “Confidential – Threatened Woodland Birds Project Officer” and be submitted to “Connecting Country, PO Box 437, Castlemaine, VIC, 3450” by Sunday 15th July 2012 or by email to chris@connectingcountry.org.au. For more information regarding the project and the position, contact Chris Timewell or Krista Patterson-Majoor on (03) 5472-1594 or email chris@connectingcountry.org.au.
Sustainability Officer Postion: Mount Alexander Shire
Mount Alexander Shire is currently advertising for a Sustainability Officer to join their team. For information about the role and a position description click here.