Some recent newsletters and other events – as at 1 July 2016

Posted on 1 July, 2016 by Connecting Country

Hi all. A range of recent items have recently reached Connecting Country’s in-box. Rather than send them out as a series of individual blogs, we’ve lumped them together into a single uber-blog.

Gorse-control Grants
The Victorian Gorse Taskforce (VGT) with the support of the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources is seeking project proposals from community-based organisations. In 2016/2017, the VGT will consider projects under a Small Grants Program, up to $5,000 (GST exclusive). The VGT “will consider funding projects that can demonstrate delivery of the goals of the Victorian Gorse Control Strategy 2014-2019 and a community-led commitment to long term gorse control.” You can download a copy of the application form (CLICK HERE) and guidelines/eligibility to apply (CLICK HERE). Applications open Monday 20 June 2016 and close on Friday 12 August 2016. Contact the VGT for further details.

North Central CMA chat (covering Landcare and Waterwatch news)
The July 2016 edition of the North Central Chat can be downloaded (CLICK HERE – 4MB), and includes:
* Update on the upcoming release of the 2016-17 Community Grants program
* Launch of the north central Victoria Soil Health Guide
* National Landcare Conference details and sponsorship opportunity

Project Platypus planting events in July
Our friends in western Victoria, Project Platypus, have let us know about their upcoming community tree planting weekends this July (CLICK HERE to download their poster). They’ve extended an invitation to Connecting Country staff and supporters who might be interested in seeing a different part of the state. Registrations can be completed online, and there are further details about each plant-out on their website http://www.platypus.org.au/.

Box Ironbark Mosaic Burning Booklet
La Trobe University Research fellow Greg Holland recently provided us with this update on the Box-Ironbark Experimental Mosaic Burning Project.
“…(This was a) collaborative project between La Trobe and Deakin Universities, DELWP and Parks Victoria. The aim of the project was to investigate the short-term ecological effects of planned burns in the Heathcote-Graytown-Rushworth forest. This project was a huge undertaking and has produced some very interesting results that will inform the use of fire as a management tool in box-ironbark forests. Key findings have been summarised in a relatively short colour booklet (CLICK HERE). Please feel free to forward this booklet to anyone you think may be interested….. if you have any questions or would like further information please feel free to reply to this email (Greg.Holland@latrobe.edu.au).”

FTLA newsletter
Two weeks ago, the Farm Tree and Landcare Association (the FTLA) sent us their latest newsletter (CLICK HERE), packed full of information about upcoming Landcare events, grant opportunities and other news.