1

A message from the Regional

Landcare Facilitator

Hi everyone,

For those of you that don’t know me I’m Ashley Rogers and I’ve been working as the Regional Landcare Facilitator at the North Central CMA for almost four years.

The Australian Government funds my project which aims to increase the adoption of sustainable farm practices through the delivery of training events and publications.

I also provide support to Landcare groups and will be covering some of Jodie’s previous role until we get someone new on board. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me!

This month I’ve been busy preparing for a number of events we’re holding in August. First cabs off the rank will be two soil health workshops in Wedderburn and Waubra. The workshops will explore the use of visual soil assessments to monitor and improve soil and plant health.

Soil health is extremely important for the productivity and long term sustainability of our agricultural industries and natural resources. Yet it can be a very complex system to understand. We’re hoping the workshops will provide land managers with some cheap and easy tools to balance sustained profitability, good environmental outcomes and the production of quality food.

I’ve also been organising a leadership and business development short course for women working in agriculture. Women play a vital role in our agricultural industries and the course aims to provide a network for women working in agriculture and tips on how they can take their business to the next level. I’ve been really impressed with the applications we have received for the course – we have a lot of passionate and inspiring women working in ag in our region!

Now, has your group filled in the ‘Supporting Landcare in North Central Victoria’ survey? We’re extending the deadline until Friday 8 August and have some great prizes up for grabs! The results will be used monitor group health and develop Landcare support programs across the region. If you’d like me to re-send the link or a hard copy of the survey let me know.

We’re hoping to call for applications for the 2014-15 Victorian Landcare grants in the coming month so if you haven’t already, start thinking and planning your project.

Ms Ashley Rogers

Regional Landcare Facilitator North Central Catchment Management Authority PO Box 18 Huntly, VIC 3551 Phone: 03 5448 7124 www.nccma.vic.gov.au

This Month’s Contents:

News 2

Waterwatch update 5

Events 8

Courses and resources 10

Funding 10

JULY 2014

Keeping you up-to-date with all the Landcare and

Waterwatch news

2

News…

Helping Landcare develop overseas The Landcare movement started in Australia 25 years ago and has now gone overseas, mainly in Asia, Africa and the South Pacific with the support of Australian Landcare International. Australian Landcare International (ALI) is a not-for-profit organisation started in 2008. Its members have been involved in Landcare in Australia at policy, program and operational levels for more than 20 years. Some have international experience in agricultural, forestry and environmental management. ALI’s goal is to use our collective Landcare experience to help people in other countries manage their land and water resources more sustainably. Currently ALI is helping communities with projects in Tonga, Fiji, Indonesia, the Philippines, Congo, Tanzania, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.

Filipino Landcare farmers sharing information about crops ALI is continually seeking funding from various sources, including Victorian Landcare groups, to develop new projects. They can also connect Victorian Landcare groups and networks with volunteer fieldwork abroad. For further information please visit ALI’s website www.alci.com.au or contact ALI secretary Horrie Poussard on treasurer@alci.com.au.

Weed of the month…

3

Changes to Victorian Murray Cod fishing regulations Article featured on the Department of Environment and Primary Industries website Recreational fishers are encouraged to provide feedback on a proposal to improve Murray Cod populations and the recreational Murray Cod fishery by changing bag and size limits. Murray Cod is an iconic Australian native species particularly valued by recreational fishers. Murray Cod has the potential to grow to large sizes. Historically the cod populations would consist of relatively high numbers of larger fish. However, fisheries surveys show that the numbers of large fish in many of Victoria's river systems are relatively low and that there is a correlation with the current minimum size limit. This indicates that the size structure of Murray Cod populations in many locations is impacted by recreational fishing.

Legal size limits for the threatened Murray Cod are being reviewed. Fisheries Victoria has been working with recreational fishers across the Murray-Darling Basin to better understand the population status of Murray Cod and what key factors drive and effect their population status in the wild. In particular, the development of Murray Cod fish population models has helped bring together decades of applied research and monitoring information. Armed with this data, Fisheries Victoria embarked on an internal review of Murray Cod bag and size limits in 2012. The Murray Cod fish population models were used to compare a range of bag and size limit scenarios to investigate which were the most beneficial regulations for both the Murray Cod populations and the recreational fishery.

The outcome of the review is a proposal to improve Murray Cod populations and the recreational Murray Cod fishery by changing bag and size limit regulations. Information about the proposed changes has been detailed in a consultation paper released by Fisheries Victoria and is available from the Department of Environment and Primary Industries by calling 136 186 or visiting www.depi.vic.gov.au/fishing-and-hunting/recreational-fishing/murray-cod-size-limit-review. Comments must be provided by Friday 29 August 2014, by emailing taylor.hunt@depi.vic.gov.au.

Search is on for the best feral photo Across the nation the search is on for the best images of pest animals in action for Feral Photos, an annual photographic competition run by the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre (IACRC). “We want to raise awareness about the damage pest animals cause and photography is a powerful tool to get the message across. Through these images we can show the environmental, agricultural and social damage that pest animals cause across the country,” said Jessica Marsh, the IACRC’s National NRM Facilitator, who is hosted by the NSW Department of Primary Industries. “Pest animals add extra challenges to the lives of people on the land. Managing pest animals to protect livestock from wild dogs and safeguard valuable crops from destruction by feral pigs and rabbits comes at a financial and emotional cost.” “Our native species too are being displaced and face constant pressure from pests,” she said.

Jessica hopes that the photo competition encourages people to get out there and see what is happening in their environment and to get creative about how they can capture photographic evidence of pest animals and the damage they cause.

4

“At the Invasive Animals CRC we research and provide solutions to manage and control pest animals. Images are in demand for publications and promotions in the industry, so there is the opportunity for your photo to be seen far and wide,” she said. There is a limit of five photo entries per person and a range of great prizes will be on offer. The competition closes on 30 September 2014. Entries into the competition can be submitted online via the IACRC website at: http://www.invasiveanimals.com/feral-photos

Family commits to the Campaspe Willow and hawthorn removal works restore river health. In April 2013, the Phillips and their neighbour received a letter from the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) seeking landholder interest in willow removal works, fencing and revegetation along their frontage, to be funded through the Caring for the Campaspe project. “We had talked to our neighbour about the willow problem along the river and agreed we wanted to do something about it. But with permits, etc, it was going to take three to four years to tackle.” Mr Phillips, (landholder) explains. Keen to get on board, they registered their interest. A plan for willow and hawthorn control, fencing and revegetation was soon negotiated. “Emma (Emma Wolters, North Central CMA Catchment Restoration Officer) managed the project collaboratively. She was approachable and listened to our ideas. We discussed the planned works and we trusted things would occur as planned, and they did. For Emma: a big thumbs-up.”

Before willow and hawthorn removal

After willow and hawthorn removal The removal of 500 metres of willows commenced in January 2014 as part of a longer two kilometre section of willow removal, including adjoining public land managed by Parks Victoria. “Overall it has led to easier farm management — it feels like a big piece of work has been taken off my shoulders and we can now concentrate on other projects around the property,” Mr Phillips said.

Mr Phillips described the difference the project has made to vermin on his land saying “Since the removal of willows five months ago, I haven’t seen one fox on the property. Particularly in the heavily willow infested area down by the bridge.”

The Caring for the Campaspe is a four-year (2012-16) project being delivered by the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA).

For more information please contact the North Central CMA on (03) 5448 7124 or www.nccma.vic.gov.au.

Increasing the resilience of your erosion control structure Following the 2010-11 Victorian floods the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) received funding through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) program to assist landholders in repairing damaged erosion control structures that had previously been installed by the North Central CMA or Soil Conservation Authority. The North Central NDRRA program is now complete, having repaired or replaced over 150 structures across the region. The ongoing maintenance of these structures is the landholder’s responsibility.

5

Erosion control structure at Ampitheatre, Victoria There are a number of things that you can do to ensure the long-term success of erosion control structures on your property. These include:

• Monitoring and maintaining the chute crest and face

• Maintaining the check banks (levee banks)

• Excluding stock

• Controlling rabbits • Allowing vegetation to establish.

For more information please contact the North Central CMA on (03) 5448 7124 or www.nccma.vic.gov.au.

Hi Everyone, It’s been a very cold month and I hope you have all stayed warm on these cold winter nights. This month I have developed the North Central Waterwatch Report 2013-14. This report was an opportunity for the program to reflect on the highlights and the achievements over the past 12 months. It revisits events and introduces new monitors who have joined the program and also shares the experience of our River Detectives students. To read or download the North Central Waterwatch Program Report 2013–14 go to: www.nccma.vic.gov.au As well as celebrating the last 12 months, we are also taking a more critical look at our program and looking for ways to make it better. To help us

with this, The North Central Waterwatch survey is now live and your feedback is important to us! On 18 July a link to the 2014 North Central Waterwatch survey was distributed to over 800 community members, including our Waterwatch Volunteers, River Detective Schools, Landcare Groups and the broader community (landholders, farmers, Tafe students etc.). Further to this, Waterwatch has engaged North Central CMA staff in an internal review of the program and has asked investors and the state Waterwatch team to participate. The aim of the survey is to seek feedback from a range of stakeholders so we can better understand what parts of the program are considered to be most important. This will help us to develop the North Central Waterwatch Support Plan, to provide clear objectives and actions to better support the community over the next five years.

If you have not received an email with the link to the survey or a hard copy of the survey in the mail, please call me if you would like to participate. Until next time, Cass Davis Regional Waterwatch Coordinator North Central Catchment Management Authority PO Box 18 Huntly, VIC 3551 Phone: 03 5448 7124

Waterwatch 20 year anniversary report The Waterwatch Victoria Program, managed by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, has developed the Waterwatch 20 year anniversary report. The report captures the stories and faces of the many volunteers who have contributed to this valuable waterway monitoring program since 1993. It is both a celebration of the achievements of the program in supporting Victoria's river health outcomes and recognition for all volunteers who have taken part over the past 20 years.

6

To read or download the Waterwatch 20 year anniversary report go to: http://www.vic.waterwatch.org.au/file/file/Waterwatch_20yrReport_Web2%20final%20for%20State%20website%2026-06-14.pdf

iSPY Fish , You SPY Fish, We all SPY Fish Article by Jo Wood, Simon Casanelia and Tim Barlow, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Shepparton, Vic, Australia

The rivers and wetlands of the Goulburn Broken CMA provide substantial recreational fishing opportunities, and support a number of threatened fish species such as Murray Cod, Macquarie Perch, and Trout Cod. The iSPY Fish app, developed by the Goulburn Broken CMA and Sumo software has been built upon the highly successful iSPY Frog Application launched in 2012. iSPY Fish is a mobile-based interactive tool presenting information on all fish species occurring in the Goulburn Broken CMA region. Primarily targeted at recreational fishers, other users include scientists, naturalists, students and natural resource managers. Colour images, physical descriptions, ecological information and conservation status are provided for 21 native, and nine alien, fish species. The App allows users to upload photos and catch detail (species, weight, location, etc) to an iSpy Fish Facebook page, where data is collated to assist river and wetland management, thereby facilitating citizen science activity and community participation in aquatic resource management. iSpy Fish will be made available for both Apple and Android operating systems.

Where do all the bitterns go after rice harvest? Part one… Matthew Herring, from the biodiversity research, education and conservation consultancy, Murray Wildlife presented at the North Central Waterwatch Annual Water Science Form: A focus on Waterbirds in May 2014. Matthew has been working on waterbird and wetland conservation since the late 1990’s and works closely with Landcare and other community conservation groups, as well as government organisations.

Australasian Bittern chicks (Source: Matthew Herring, Murray Wildlife)

7

Matthew has been studying the endangered Australasian Bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus) in Riverina rice fields and tells us all about it. Click on this link to read about Matthews research: http://www.murraywildlife.com.au/where-do-the-bitterns-go-after-rice-harvest-part-1/

Waterbird of the month…

Huntly Primary School kids get their hands dirty for Planet Ark’s National Tree Day!

Huntly Primary school students joined thousands of active school groups in Australia taking part in planting 1,000,000 native trees for National Tree Day. Felicity Nicholls, from Huntly Primary School and Nicole Howie of Northern Bendigo Landcare Group joined forces to plant over 400 trees along the Bendigo Creek.

Harry and his mother Ilona planting a tree for National Tree Day.

Reducing the risk from yabby traps

Article featured in Newsletter of the Australian

Platypus Conservancy (Issue 56 – May 2014)

A study carried out by the Australian Platypus Conservancy (APC) has identified that even a modified opera house yabby net trap fitted out with a circular escape hatch in the trap’s roof, still proved to be unsafe for the platypus. This research funded by the Taronga Conservation Society, has now been completed by Conservancy biologists in Victoria (25 trials) and Dr Tom Grant in New South Wales (33 trials).

8

Sadly the results found that platypus is still likely to drown after being trapped in a net as it is unable to find its way out within two minutes and will drown as a result. The APC continues its work to ensure that yabbying practices are both ethical and environmentally sustainable, highlighting that the use of opera house traps should clearly not be set in water bodies where platypus regularly occur, even if the traps are fitted with escape hatches.

For the full story on reducing the risk to platypus from yabby traps go to: http://www.platypus.asn.au/ Or like their Facebook page and keep up-to-date with Platypus information across Victoria: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Platypus-Conservancy-Official/225816770830721

Events

Victorian Agribusiness Summit 2014

The food boom summit: growing the value chain to Asia.

A great opportunity to increase your understanding of the value chain in order to leverage the growing demand from and prosperity of Asia. Event location: The Platinum Room, The Foundry Hotel Complex, 366 High Street, Bendigo. The pre-summit dinner will be held on Thursday 31 July 2014 from 6.30 pm to 10.00 pm. The summit will be held the following day with registrations commencing at 8.30 am. For further details and costs please visit the Central Victorian Agribusiness Forum’s website: www.cvaf.webs.com. Or contact Martin Szakal on 0421 324 509. RSVPs are essential.

Grassland Management Field Day Are you interested in better understanding key grassland management principles? Keen to learn how local farmers have balanced biodiversity and agriculture? A free field day will be held on the Patho Plains to explore different grassland management strategies to enhance biodiversity and achieve sustainable land management. The field day will cover:

• Using fire to reduce biomass and create habitat for native species.

• Grazing management techniques to restore native grasslands and meet livestock feed requirements.

• Fencing to soil type to prevent soil erosion and increase the health and productivity of the grassland.

• The unique and threatened plants and animals that rely on the northern plains grasslands for their survival.

When: Friday 12 September 2014 Time: 10.00am to 3.00pm (BBQ lunch provided) Where: Meet at Kotta Nature Conservation Reserve shearing shed, corner of Aird and Whitfield Roads, Terrick Terrick East, Victoria. The field day will involve a mix of presentations and field walks across Glasson’s Grassland Reserve and a nearby sheep farm. Leading grassland scientists and land managers will be sharing their knowledge and experience on the day. This is a wonderful opportunity for landholders to tap into this knowledge and discuss different management options for their property. RSVP is essential to the North Central CMA by 5pm Tuesday 9 September on (03) 5448 7124 or email info@nccma.vic.gov.au.

9

Celebrating our history, growing our future As Landcare celebrates a quarter-century since its launch as a national initiative - and looks at how the grassroots movement can continue to tackle important questions of land and water security - this year’s National Landcare Conference promises to be the key knowledge sharing event for everyone involved in caring for Australia’s natural environment and its productivity. Based around the theme: Celebrating our history, growing our future, the diverse program will include robust discussions and analysis of the future of Landcare by pioneers, leaders of NRM bodies, scientists, academics, government, and environmental, climate and biodiversity experts. Highlights announced to date include:

• Renowned chef Matt Moran - whose journey has brought him from an award-winning family farm on the Central Tablelands in New South Wales to travelling Australia championing local, fresh produce.

• CSIRO Futures Lead Scientist, Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, whose material on global megatrends features on TedX, and whose research helps organisations plan for an uncertain future.

• Award-winning science journalist, environmentalist and behaviour-change researcher, Tanya Ha.

• ABC Landline presenter, Pip Courtney, who will frame the discussions as Master of Ceremonies.

• Dr Mark Howden, Chief Research Scientist for CSIRO Ecosystems Sciences, and expert on the impacts of climate on Australian ecosystems.

Also featured will be the 2014 National Landcare Awards - which will be held during the Conference – including the presentation of the prestigious second-ever Bob Hawke Landcare Award. Delegates are also invited to experience a taste of local natural resource management across Victoria – the birthplace of Landcare - through field trips to sites and projects such as the inspirational Bellarine Landcare’s work on the peninsula, Indigenous land management in the city, bushfire recovery sites, and a nature corridor that includes corporate volunteering reinvigoration in a creek catchment that is a major tributary to the Yarra River.

For the conference program and more information head to: http://nationallandcareconference.floktu.com/program. Early bird registrations for the National Landcare Conference close Thursday 31 July 2014. The Australian Government proudly supports the 2014 National Landcare Conference.

The Bendigo Native Plan Group Inc. presents the tenth FJC Rogers Seminar

If you, like many, know little or nothing at all about Brachychitons and all their relatives, or even if you know lots, then Bendigo is the place to be on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October for the tenth FJC Rogers Seminar.

This two-day event offers gardeners and plant enthusiasts an opportunity to broaden their knowledge of Australian plants. For this seminar the Native Plant group is concentrating on Brachychiton and allied genera and how to incorporate these beautiful plants into your own landscape.

For more information contact Sandy Birch, the secretary of the Bendigo Native Plant Group on 0400 149 319 or bendigonativeplantgroup@yahoo.com.au.

10

Courses and resources

Creativity, innovation and problem solving workshop

Have you done the same old, same old for a few years with a faithful, but exhausted committee? Would you like to get creative about Landcare work and membership? The North Harcourt/Sedgwick Landcare Group is getting creative with the way they engage with their community and they want to share ideas and learn from other’s experiences. Anybody interested in Landcare or community work is welcome to attend the free workshop series with expert innovation facilitators “Minds at Work”. Dream, think, laugh and be creative and develop new ideas for Landcare or your community group. No answers will be presented, we will be thinking outside the square to find a fresh approach and new solutions. Workshop 1: Rebooting your brain + scheming for a better way 10:30 am - 3.30 pm, Sunday 17 August 2014 Morning session: Brainstorming session designed to help understand:

• What engages people in Landcare and community volunteering?

• Ideas for increasing group membership? • What new activities can we undertake?

Afternoon session: Scheming for a better way:

• A selected group of concepts to pursue. • Develop these concepts into feasible

ideas for further consideration. Workshop 2: Making great decisions 7.30 pm - 10.00 pm, Thursday 4 September 2014 A 2-hour EVALUATION session where we will:

• Test the concepts and make final decisions about which ideas to proceed with.

• Include risk analysis to ensure that the option/s selected have the best chance of success.

Venue and bookings The workshops will be held at the North Harcourt Hall, McIvor Road, Harcourt. Registration is essential, as places are limited. Please register by

Wednesday 13 August 2014 via email to kklein7@bigpond.com or phone 0427 417 498. Good food will be provided during all workshops so please nominate any dietary requirements. This is a free workshop series sponsored by the North Central CMA Victorian Landcare Grants Program and the North Harcourt/Sedgwick Landcare group.

Funding

Victorian Gorse Taskforce Small Grants Program now open

The Victorian Gorse Taskforce (VGT) with the support of the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) is seeking project proposals from community based organisations. In 2014/2015 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 and a community-led commitment to long-term gorse control. For a copy of the grant guidelines and application form please visit www.vicgorsetaskforce.com.au or phone Nicole Garfi (DEPI) on (03) 5561 9911. Applications close Thursday 7 August 2014

Snap of the month!

The snap this month come from Emma Wolters, Catchment Restoration Officer at the North Central CMA. She spotted not one but three echidnas exploring alongside a roadside near Axedale! Below is a snap of one of them.