25 February: SUNDAY WORKING BEE
After many years of using contractors and our own Landcare volunteers, the Crack Willow infestation of the Five Mile Creek from Romsey Rd to High St is almost eliminated. As with any weed there are always some missed or new ones still emerging, so at our next working bee we will be starting at Romsey Rd and heading downstream to cut and paint all remaining willows. They are generally around a metre high so, at this stage, are quite easy to deal with. A good turnout would help us to get a really long section of the creek cleared of this invasive weed of national significance.
- Date: Sunday 25th of February 2018
- Time: 9am till 12pm
- Where: Meet at Ruby Mckenzie Reserve in Tennyson St
- Bring: secateurs, loppers, gloves, hat, sunscreen and sunglasses, long sleeved shirt and pants, sturdy boots and even gumboots for work close to the creek
- Eat: Morning tea will be provided
- RSVP: For catering purposes please email woodendlandcare@gmail.com if you can come
TWILIGHT WORKING BEE PICS
Though our numbers were down compared to previous years, our twilight working bee on the 2nd of February was as pleasant as ever. Our revegetation sites along the creek are looking incredible – thick Poa grasses have filled the entire planted areas and the native trees and bushes dotted amongst them are growing strong. Happily, very little follow-up work was required and we quickly had the few blackberry and oak plants under control. Peter’s handy whipper-snipping cleared around the planting site edges and the ‘look out seat’. Meanwhile, Dave Bower headed across to last years Trees for Mum site near Lake Earnshaw where he removed some thistles and reported that all the plants are going great. A huge thanks to our amazing catering team for the delicious dinner and to Chris for mastering the BBQ. Here is our latest snaps of the planting sites:
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Peter Yates hard at it!
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2015 Spring planting site
23 February: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE ROLE OF FORESTRY
Newham & District Landcare Group invites you to their presentation on February 23 on Climate Change and the Role of Forestry – Click here for flyer. It is relevant for the Macedon Ranges and Hepburn Shires given that it will include:
- Shire and Council Wood Encouragement Policies that are happening around Australia
- MRSG and the windfarm trials in the plantations near Woodend
- Fire risk and fuel reduction
- Biolinks, reafforestation and landscape planning
- Joint venture with shires to manage leisure pursuits in working plantations (eg mountain biking)
- Agroforestry and encouraging plantations on private land.
The evening starts with drinks and nibbles at 7pm, talk by Karl Kny at 7.30, followed by Newham Landcare’s usual splendid supper. Please RSVP to Penny Roberts on penroberts@bigpond.com for catering purposes.
20 March: CONNECTING WILDSPACES SO PEOPLE & NATURE CAN THRIVE
The Biolinks Alliance is excited to be hosting Dr Gary Tabor for an evening in central Victoria when he visits Australia next month. Click here for flyer.
Gary, renowned conservation biologist and wildlife veterinarian, is a world leading expert on connectivity conservation. He co-founded the trailblazing Yellowstone to Yukon conservation initiative, established the Kibale National Park in Uganda and established the World Banks Mountain Gorilla Conservation Trust. He is currently the Executive Director of the Centre for Large Landscape Conservation, in the United States.
He has much to offer us as we pursue our ambitious vision to re-connect habitat across central Victoria. Gary will speak about the priorities and opportunities for 21st Century conservation practice. Come and be inspired and hear how we all need to be, and can be, part of the solution in central Victoria.
- When: 6.00-7.00 pm 20 March, 2018 (doors open at 5.30, drinks available)
- Where: Kyneton Mechanics Institute – 81 Mollison St Kyneton
- Tickets: Free to Biolinks Alliance members, $10 for non-members.
- Bookings: www.biolinksalliance.org.au/gary-tabor-talk
HAVE YOUR SAY ON COUNCIL’S NEW BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY
Macedon Ranges Shire Council is currently inviting input on two important projects—a Landscape Assessment Study and the Biodiversity Strategy—that will protect and enhance the shire’s unique natural environment.
Community members can inform the projects by pinpointing important natural features on an interactive map which is available at: http://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/About-Council/News/Have-Your-Say/Macedon-Ranges-Biodiversity-Strategy. We want your feedback about sites of biodiversity value, special landscape features and significant views that require additional protection. We also want to know where opportunity exists to connect or buffer existing vegetation and habitat.
You can also share this information in person at drop-in sessions held on:
- Thursday 15 February, 5pm–7pm, Room 3 at Kyneton Mechanics Institute, 81 Mollison Street
- Wednesday 21 February, 6pm–8pm, Lancefield Neighbourhood House, 78 High Street
For more information, contact Liz Jardine on 5421 9684 about the Landscape Assessment Study, or Krista Patterson-Majoor on 5421 9503 about the Biodiversity Strategy.
HAD ANY PHASCOGALE SIGHTINGS?
As part of the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network’s recent successful biodiversity funding, they have employed a project officer – Brad Blake – to begin work on our surveys for greater gliders, phascogales and powerful owls. They have started setting up remote cameras for phascogales on the properties of people within our network that have been seeing them. If you have been seeing them around your place and would like cameras installed, please let Sandy know so we can arrange for Brad to visit and install cameras. Contact Sandy on uclandcare@gmail.com.
Newly appointed Threatened Species Officer Brad Blake is examined by a phascogale, one of the species he will be surveying with the help of our community. Pic Scheltema
INTERESTED IN FARM WATER SUPPLY?
Martin Hamilton from Ag Vic is looking to run some sessions on Farm Water Supply. The session details how to calculate how much water you have and how long supplies are likely to last as well determining pipe sizes, friction loss as well as demand. If you are interested in knowing more about this, please let Sandy know at uclandcare@gmail.com.
TAX INCENTIVES FOR SHELTERBELTS FACT SHEET
The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has produced a fact sheet on the tax incentives for primary producers for establishing shelterbelts entitled “Establishing shelterbelts on land used in primary production business: Can I claim a tax deduction? What you need to know” (Dec. 2016). The fact sheet was developed in a partnership between the ATO and the Basalt to Bay Landcare Network, and provides primary producers with useful information on the taxation, productivity and biodiversity benefits that can result from the establishment of shelterbelts. Click here for the PDF of the fact sheet.
OTHER INTERESTING LANDCARE NEWS
Upper Campaspe Landcare February Newsletter – this is a fantastic newsletter from our local network. This month it includes:
- UCLN APPOINTS NEW THREATENED SPECIES PROJECT OFFICER
- PHASCOGALE SIGHTINGS WANTED!
- SEED COLLECTING BEGINS AT BALD HILL RESERVE
- ASHBOURNE LANDCARE CONTINUES BIOLINKS PROJECT
- VBA GO APP LAUNCHED
- EVENTS, RESOURCES AND GRANTS
Victorian Landcare Newsletter
Issue 71 of the Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management magazine, which is a feature on managing water is now available online.
Among the stories in issue #71 include stories from agroforestry expert Rowan Reid who shares his experiences of planting, growing and harvesting a multipurpose riparian farm forest in the Otway Ranges. There is a story about how the people of Birchip are reaping the benefits of increased biodiversity at Tchum Lakes after the Mallee CMA received environmental water for selected wetlands from the Victorian Environmental Water Holder. Other stories include how biochar can improve the water-holding function of soil, and a story on identifying frogs.
Landcare Australia Newsletter
Woodend Landcare 