Hello Woodend Landcare members and blog followers,

For our last post of the year, we’d like to send out our warm greetings for the festive season and and huge thanks for your support throughout 2011.

Below is an abridged version of Peter’s last present report for 2011… it provides a great summary of the year.

We look forward to seeing you at a working bee or other event (like the sustainable living festival) soon. If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact us at woodendlandcare@gmail.com

All the best, Krista (blog editor)

PRESIDENT’S REPORT NOVEMBER 2011

This year is fast disappearing and it might seem that we haven’t achieved very much in the last 12 months. In terms of putting in thousands of indigenous plants, that may be true, although we did some minor plantings with the Scouts at the ‘Billabong’.

But we did accomplish some very worthwhile things, including an expanded work area for “The Thursday Crew”. They have been operating in areas all around Woodend such as Urquhart St., near the Aged Care facility, Sullivan’s Road, Quarry Road and along the creek west of High Street, removing lots of woody weeds and generally enhancing the environment. They also did a working bee at Jo’s place which she greatly appreciated. The Crew does most of our woody weed removal and we appreciate their regular efforts greatly. Thanks to Stewart and the guys.

We also completed the “Exotic Tree Project” in the paddocks between Pyke Street and Bowen Street. All 21 trees seem to have taken to their new homes happily and we can look forward to some beautiful shade trees and autumn colour into the future.

Our monthly working bee program was curtailed during the winter, but a significant amount of work was done in maintaining our existing plantings. A lot of work was also done “behind the scenes” including on-going negotiations with the Macedon Ranges Shire Council.

We conducted a project aimed at involving the wider community with environmental issues and specifically “The Creek”. This involved a lot of work and it did provide some benefits in terms of raising the profile of the creek and of our group. It also gave us some insights as to the extent of community support and the likelihood of greater community involvement. Whilst some good ideas came out of the various forums, it became clear that apart from MRSC, most people regarded Landcare as the de-facto managers of all things to do with the creek.

We did not seek or receive any large grants during the year, but our budget has been ably managed by Kate and we are in good financial shape. There were numerous small budget items delivered including the David Currie plaque, working bee safety signs, gate signs and the exotic trees.

Short term future plans include having two more members ACUP trained and some chainsaw safety training.  We also hope to run some more plantings at the Scout Billabong. Maine Environmental will shortly be finalizing their willow removal program which will hopefully leave relatively few intact willows along the creek except for the thicket near Tennyson Street. Those trees will only be eradicated if we can manage to fund a dedicated removal project [which is being planned] .

Anna Murphy from the Department of Sustainability and Environment is updating the Black Gum Action Plan and she visited Woodend recently to swap information on the best ways to ensure the survival of our endangered tree. Exactly what will come of this is unclear, but there may be opportunities for funding to undertake projects without needing a major labour input from our volunteers – possibly the Tennyson Street willows.

Finally, I need to thank our great committee. All have contributed a great amount of their time and ideas over the year. We are all busy these days, regardless of our stage in life, so fitting in volunteer activities is always a challenge, especially when it involves the more mundane activities such as weeding and cleaning up sites. So thank you all.

Peter Yates, President