hindmarsh landcare network annual report 2010-2011

Hindmarsh Landcare NetworkAnnual Report 2010-2011

growing the future together

2 Hindmarsh Landcare Network | Annual Report 2010-2011

Contact: PH: 0429 006 936 | Email: [email protected]

Hindmarsh Landcare NetworkAnnual Report 2010-2011

AcknowledgmentsHindmarsh Landcare Network is deeply appreciative for the support of its Partners and Supporters. We’d also like to thank David Fletcher, Jay Fischer, Brett Wheaton and Bernie Fox for the use of their photos in the production of this report, and John Sampson, for his work in producing this report with the aid of many Hindmarsh Landcare Network helpers.

VNPA logo & style sheet

c: 60m: 0y: 100k: 27

c: 30m: 70y: 100k: 0

c: 15m: 35y: 50k: 0

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Typeface: Book Antiqua Regular

VIC

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AN NATIONAL PAR

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ASSOCIATIONInc

growing the future together 3

CHAiRPeRSoN’S RePoRt ............................................................................................4

BoARD MeMBeRS ..........................................................................................................5

PRoJeCt HiNDMARSH .................................................................................................6

ReBUiLDiNG A FRAGMeNteD LANDSCAPe .........................................................8

LANDCARe AUStRALiA LiMiteD PRoJeCtS ..................................................... 10

NeW LeASe oN LiFe FoR tRUSty tRAiLeR ...................................................... 11

ReCRUitMeNt DiNNeR ............................................................................................ 12

SCANS MAiNtAiN SUNNy DiSPoSitioN .......................................................... 13

NHiLL tRAiLeR exCHANGe ..................................................................................... 14

DiGGiNG DeeP iNto oUR GooD eARtH ......................................................... 16

WiMMeRA CMA CooRDiNAtoR’S RePoRt ..................................................... 18

tHe BiG PiCtURe ......................................................................................................... 19

AUDiteD FiNANCiAL StAteMeNtS ..................................................................... 20

Contents


As I reflect on my time as Chairperson of the Hindmarsh Landcare Network i’m struck not

only by the challenges we’ve faced but also by the fact that as a team we’ve delivered strong, positive outcomes for both Landcare and the communities we serve.

We have built up a solid Board structure over the years, giving us great depth of knowledge and experience. this has broadened our capacity to deal with new challenges within Hindmarsh Landcare Network, as well as at a regional level.

over the past year that experience has been tested with changes to both our Board and staff. i would like to thank our Board members for their time and effort in helping make the Hindmarsh Landcare Network a continuing success.

i would also like to thank the executive Group – your support and contributions ensure our network remains a dynamic force within Victoria’s Landcare movement.

Congratulations must also go to the Work Group members who give up so much of their time to our on-ground projects. We would be nothing without these volunteers – they manage and run all of our projects and it makes me very proud to see how willing people are to get on board.

the Hindmarsh Landcare Network has a reputation for success, but it is a success built by many hands. to that end i’d like to thank everyone who has helped us in any way and encourage us all to maintain the high levels of commitment we show to each and every one of our projects.

our generous sponsors also deserve credit – their confidence and support helps give us the strength we need to deliver the many programs and events we take on throughout the year. Partnerships are a key part of the work we do, and so i thank you all for your invaluable help.

Brett Wheaton Chairperson

Project HindmarshProject Hindmarsh continues to be one of the most innovative large-scale landscape projects in Victoria, if not Australia, and for that we are in no small part indebted to Mr Geoff Handbury and his family, as well as the ACe Radio Network.

the Handbury family have been part of this much-loved project since day one. their support allows us to house and feed the people who flock to this annual August event and it’s because of this generosity that our planters get to kick up their heels at the fabulous Little Desert Nature Lodge.

thanks also to Mark and his team at the Little Desert Nature Lodge, your positive commitment help make this weekend something really special for everyone who attends.

of course we are also indebted to the Victorian National Parks Association and its members. they have been part of Project Hindmarsh since it first started in 1997 and continue to send busloads of city folk up for the planting weekend.

We would like to particularly congratulate everyone at the VNPA for attaining their 60th anniversary. Long may our special relationship continue – you have been with us all the way.

the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority is also very important to Project Hindmarsh. they have funded much of the on-ground works and lent their support to the project in many ways. We wish to acknowledge their contributions that have helped make this project the success it is today.

Our supportersto the Hindmarsh Shire Council i thank you for your contributions to our Landcare network. your administrative support over the years has been invaluable and is an important part of our organisation. Particular thanks to the many staff

CHAiRPeRSoN’S RePoRt

MINISTERIAL VISIT: Brett Wheaton with Victorian Environment Minister Ryan Smith.


who have offered so many personal contributions over the years.

The past financial year has also seen a number of other supporters join the Hindmarsh Landcare Network family, breathing new life into a number of our projects.

We’ve been working with VicRoads, Winslow Constructions and Greening Australia to landscape the Nhill trailer exchange. this project has been very successful and we look forward to further developments of this nature. Congratulations to Ross and the team for all your hard work!

We have also received funding through Landcare Australia giving us the opportunity to deliver projects usually out of our reach. i thank these organisations for their support.

Funding from state and federal governments has allowed us to appoint two new staff members. i have no doubt Katy Marriott and Phill Falcke will be kept very busy supporting the Hindmarsh Landcare Network and its Groups. i look forward to sharing in their activities and welcome them to our team.

in closing can i thank the members of the Hindmarsh Landcare Network for their support while i have been Chairperson, the Board members, who are unstinting in their commitment to our organisation and without whom we could not function, and to my family, who have supported me and put up with all that Landcare stuff.

– Brett Wheaton, Chairperson

WETLAND WONDERS: Working hard at developing their ‘wetland expertise’ are Ross McDonald, Rob Youl, Gerard Morel, Eddie Tsyrlin.

Hindmarsh Landcare Network Board Members• Brett Wheaton – Chair• Darryl argall – Deputy Chair• heather DrenDel – Immediate Past Chair• Sue hayman-Fox – Secretary• miCK gaWith – treasurer• DaviD ColBert• max SKeen• niCK PietSCh• traCey PreSton• roSS mCDonalD• Jay FiSCher• Bernie Fox

• CliFF unger

ex officio: • Wimmera Cma – Joel Boyd • greening australia – Jess gardner • hindmarsh Shire Council – Phil King


Under the warm winter sun of August last year the volunteer planters arrived from all over Victoria

for the annual Hindmarsh Community Planting Weekend to help regenerate the Wimmera region.

it was the 14th year for Project Hindmarsh and under near perfect conditions more than 250 volunteers planted over 20,000 plants to add to the biolinks in the region.

there were men, women, children, students, staff, councillors, a state minister and even sun moths who all got into the action over the weekend. they came from as far as St Kilda in cars and buses to stay in tents, bunks and beds at the Little Desert Nature Lodge.

this enthusiastic army of volunteers planted in four sites, including two private landowner sites at Boyeo and Jeparit and the new $11.4 million truck and trailer exchange on the Western Highway at Nhill, home of the rare Golden Sun moth, which was only recently discovered there.

the ACe Radio sponsored weekend brought beautiful sunny conditions – a stark contrast to the rain-soaked weekend of the year before. But rain or shine people keep returning to this annual event.

A group of men known affectionately as “the Crack team” have been part of this weekend for the past 14 years, starting off with just a few individuals this group has now grown to 18 members.

their commando style approach saw them plant 2600 plants in one day! Not to be outdone by the boys, 15 girls from Presentation College in Windsor also took part in the weekend and have been long-term associates with the project.

But this weekend is not all about tree planting, the social aspect is also important both on and off the field.

Back at the Little Desert Nature Lodge after each day’s planting friendships are strengthened and new ones are formed, culminating with a party on Saturday night organised by local businesses and community groups.

there is an endless smorgasbord of food, drinks at Whimpey’s bar, speakers, naturalist Clive Crouch and Jess Gardner from Greening Australia, a raging bonfire – and let’s not forget the music.

this year featured Kaniva group the Four Divas followed by the raucous Natimuk band Kritter, who played to a jubilant crowd well into the night.

it was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and i for one will definitely be returning next year for my 4th year in a row. See you there!

– Larissa Romensky first got involved with Project Hindmarsh while working for the City of Port Phillip. She now works for ABC Open Wimmera which is a new way for locals to tell their stories through photos, words, sound and video.

PRoJeCt HiNDMARSH

TOOLS OF THE TRADE: Volunteer planters come to terms with some of the more complex aspects of the job.

By larissa romensky

Project Hindmarsh: stronger than ever Project Hindmarsh has been a stunningly successful landscape restoration project linking the Big and little deserts in western victoria by planting 100kms of native bush to form 2000kms of roadside links.

established by the hindmarsh landcare Network in 1997 the project has brought together not just the local community but has also created unique links between country victorians and people from melbourne through its annual tree planting weekend.

Fourteen years on and still growing strong, Project Hindmarsh has developed a network of skilled local people who have in-depth knowledge of local plant communities, and the dedication to go out and collect seed when it is ready.

TEAM EFFORT: Volunteers at the annual planting weekend get to know each other and the landscapes they help restore.



WARMING DOWN: A warming soup, fire and good company are a perfect way to end a full day’s planting.

Much of the Wimmera is a fragmented landscape but there are areas of relatively

intact remnant ecosystems.

our region has a long history of community-based native vegetation projects that help protect, enhance and restore our remnant bushlands and create large-scale habitat corridors.

the Wimmera CMA’s Landscape Scale Conservation Project is designed to increase the involvement of landholders to contribute to the ongoing conservation and protection of biodiversity.

this is achieved through Landcare groups and networks helping landholders protect remnant native vegetation on their property and replant areas to form buffer zones and increase habitat connectivity, a crucial step in helping the movement of native species across a fragmented landscape.

this work also improves the resilience of farming systems and provides soil, water quality and other biodiversity benefits.

individual sites focus on improving four key areas of native biodiversity – connectivity, management, condition and resilience on, mostly, private land.

ReBUiLDiNG A FRAGMeNteD LANDSCAPeeligible activities attracting assistance include:

o Development of relevant management plans.

o Purchasing and planting native seeds and plants.

o Providing a fencing incentive for protection of remnant native vegetation and restoration works so that what is seen on planting weekends is the result of practiced and structured project management.

the involvement of volunteers in the planting effort creates a community focus, promotes the project’s achievements and encourages wider participation.

Project Hindmarsh planting weekend sites in 2011 included the Donnell and Day sites. they comprised site preparation, direct seeding and hand planting of seedlings within extensive fencing. other 2011 sites, Rintoule’s Road and the Nhill trailer exchange, are discussed elsewhere in this report.

other support provided by the CMA was assistance with advertising, tools, mapping and help on the weekend as well as contracting the national award winning photograper David Fletcher to capture the spirit of the weekend.

– Rae Talbot is the Wimmera CMA’s Linking Landcapes Project Manager

By rae talbot


LYING LOW: Every year ‘Crack Team’ members plant till they drop!

MUD BATH: Over the years volunteer Project Hindmarsh planters have become expert at mixing work and play.

TALKING TURKEY: Hindmarsh Shire Council Mayor Cliff Unger talks nuts and bolts with Hindmarsh Landcare Network project manager Ross McDonald.


Landcare Australia Limited projects provide important links between business and

organisations like Hindmarsh Landcare Network, facilitating funding from businesses small and large.

in June last year one of these projects helped Hindmarsh Landcare Network treat some of our city cousins to a weekend at Mick Gawith’s property. in return for showing them some of the local historical sites of the Northern Wimmera they helped us plant trees on an ancient sandhill on Mick’s property that was in dire need of attention.

the hill had been heavily grazed and was being slowly eroded by wind.

the weekend proved a great opportunity for inner-urban Melbourne residents to get a taste of country life and learn about some of the Landcare issues we face up here.

the plantings on Mick’s sandhill should stabilise the area and will provide habitat for local wildlife. As they grow, the new shrubs and trees will also help create a windbreak for surrounding paddocks.

the event would not have been possible without the amazing support we received from both the Hindmarsh Shire Council and its ‘sister-council’, City of Port Phillip, and we hope to return the favour by taking a busload of Hindmarsh locals down to Melbourne soon to help them remove Northern Pacific Seastars.

this should be a great chance to learn more about the sort of issues Landcare volunteers face on the coastline around Melbourne.

Another project funded by Landcare Australia Limited was the Rintoules Road planting. this site received attention during previous Project Hindmarsh planting weekends but the planting success rate hasn’t been particularly good – the extended drought and soil type took their toll.

That has now been rectified by the weekend planters with help from the kids at Kaniva College and some work by contractors. together we planted thousands of trees and shrubs and the site is now looking very healthy!

A big thanks to Landcare Australia Limited for funding these projects as well as the hard working volunteers from the City of Port Phillip, Kaniva College and of course our weekend planters, contractors and all the locals, who tirelessly chip in.

LANDCARe AUStRALiA LiMiteD PRoJeCtS

RESTORATION: The results of a hard day’s planting.

WELL GROUNDED: People of all ages take part in our landscape restoration projects.


ALL EARS: Usually unseen by people the Lesser Long Eared Bat consumes many times its weight in farming pests each night.

Wettenhall funding‘Community science’ is all the rage these days and with a funding legup from the norman Wettenhall Foundation we think our planned community monitoring program will eventually be up there with the best of them.

the aim is to map fauna throughout the Hindmarsh region using a simple web-based system that can be used by your average Joe or Joanne with a minimum of fuss.

initially the Wettenhall trustees asked for a presentation on the hindmarsh landcare network, outlining our history and challenges we have faced. this was followed by a visit to a yanac planting and restoration site the next day.

We were encouraged by the trustees’ visit and continue to work on the community monitoring project.

thanks to the skill and expertise of Nhill’s local engineering group Arhens Sherwell our

worn-out old planting trailer has been given a new lease on life.

Arhens Sherwell usually deal with projects on a much larger scale, but that didn’t stop them from refurbishing our beloved trailer with fancy new levers and a snazzy paint job.

For years this trusty old trailer has been a valued member of the Project Hindmarsh planting team. it’s copped a beating on our muddy and windswept planting sites while carting around trees and planting tools, as well as providing refreshments for volunteer planters.

All spic and span we hope the planting trailer will remain a trusted member of Project Hindmarsh for years to come.

NeW LeASe oN LiFe FoR tRUSty tRAiLeR


When we lined up one of Victoria’s more controversial comedians for our innovative

recruitment dinner we didn’t know quite what to expect, but we knew there’d be plenty of laughter.

And comedian Rod Quantock, who hosted the dinner alongside an expert in farm emissions trading schemes, came through with the goods.

Rod used his cheeky comedic wit to provide a great forum in which to recruit new members and help celebrate our existing members. He also managed to create a bit of a stir with his one liner “i don’t know what it is with country people, but they always vote for the National Party”. Some guffawed with laughter while others remained tight-lipped.

Emissions trading expert and local Nuffield Scholar David Drage provided an excellent straight man to Rod’s comedic talents.

David has travelled to the US, UK, Canada, Japan and New Zealand investigating how farmers in these countries have been affected by, and responded to, the development of emissions trading schemes.

He used these experiences to describe both the challenges and opportunities broadacre farmers will face under an emissions trading scheme in Australia.

David’s presentation was thought provoking and gave us a positive view of how Australian agriculture

can respond to the emissions trading scheme over the coming years.

A big thank you to Rod and David for giving us some important messages to think about. Many thanks also to the Jeparit group who did a fantastic job setting up and catering for the event. Well done to all involved for a very memorable evening.

the night was run as part of the Annual Wimmera Landcare Forum, a Farming Without Fossil Fuels field day, and sponsored by Department of Sustainability and environment’s Victorian Volunteer Action Project.

ReCRUitMeNt DiNNeR

MASTER AT ARMS: Hilarious and at times controversial comedian Rod Quantock was in his element at our recruitment dinner.

PLAYING IT STRAIGHT: David Drage plays straight man to master comedian Rod Quantock.


HOLED UP: A large rabbit warren found in an area of sandy soil.

Rabbit controlOur Landcare groups across the region are busy carrying out rabbit and weed control with help from landcare’s 2nd generation grants.

rabbits have a devastating effect on lands and can really damage our fragile soils, compete with stock for grazing and destroy native vegetation.

Landowners target rabbits under a 1080 poison program and follow this up with warren ripping.

Both at work and play Hindmarsh farmers are typically outdoors people. And while this

generally leads to a sunny disposition it also means we have to endure prolonged exposure to UV rays and the inherent risk of developing skin cancer.

Recognising this danger and the importance of being part of a sustainable and healthy community Hindmarsh Landcare Network has for the past three years organised an annual bus trip for up to 25 people to the Molescan clinic in Adelaide.

the trips have been made possible because of the generous support of the Foundation for Regional Rural Renewal (FRRR), who provide the bus and help promote the annual event.

in August last year 19 people travelled to Adelaide under the program, with the results reinforcing the importance of these skin checkups – three people were diagnosed with skin cancers, and one had a severe melanoma.

Fortunately the person with the severe melanoma received immediate treatment and after one more follow-up visit received the all clear for the next 12 months.

SCANS MAiNtAiNSUNNy DiSPoSitioN

the early detection of their melanoma may well have saved a life and we would like to again thank the Foundation for Regional Rural Renewal for making this program possible. We sincerely hope they can continue their sponsorship in the future.

High fuel prices, long trips visiting doctors and a general lack of spare time are all barriers to getting our moles checked out, but we hope these trips will continue to save lives.


Last year we stepped into unknown territory by joining VicRoads and their contractor, Winslow,

in a commercial venture to landscape the new inter-state truck and trailer exchange on the eastern fringe of Nhill.

As well as the challenge for Hindmarsh Landcare Network in engineering, planning and managing such a large commercial arrangement, there were the additional challenges of extending and enhancing Golden Sun Moth habitat and establishing a wetlands environment from a series of ‘treatment ponds’.

Greening Australia was our first port of call as we began the huge task of transforming this barren construction landscape with its displaced and compacted soils into something ‘special’ everyone could be proud of.

They did a fantastic job of direct sowing native grass seed across the site and it wasn’t long before volunteers were let loose to plant thousands of individual grass seedlings, wetland species, bulokes, black box and a selection of shade trees for the exchange’s central sections.

Locals and out-of-towners all pitched in, including

the helping hands of experts from Australian Ecosystems, who brought their special knowledge of collecting, propagating and planting locally indigenous wetland species in Victoria, and a small hardy group of Conservation Volunteers Australia.

NHiLL tRAiLeR exCHANGe

DOWN AND DIRTY: Hindmarsh Landcare Network board members join the fun.

WADING IN: Propagating locally indigenous wetland species can be a dirty business.


GREEN TINGE: Delicate wetland species need matting to protect their growth.

Stitches in timeHard work, patience and time are paying off at the nhill trailer exchange.

Five months after hindmarsh landcare network planted out the nhill trailer exchange nature is again taking its turn.

Planting tiny grasses, including grassland types, and those partially and fully submerged in water, is a real hands-and-knees/waders job, and we will long value the knowledge, experience and efforts shared by everyone who became involved in our project.

Ross McDonald, volunteer project manager for this job, is very pleased with how the site is looking so far.

“In the past six months we’ve seen spectacular improvement to the wetland area of the trailer exchange, the plants have really taken off and we have even seen a pair of nesting grebes,” he said.

“We’ve had a fairly good success rate with the trees given they went in during a dry spring season and, although the grasses are looking a little worse for wear, they have set seed and we look forward to seeing what comes up this year.”

Hindmarsh Landcare Network would like to thank everyone who volunteered for the project. We are now contracted to partner with VicRoads for another three years, monitoring the success of our plantings and their growth rates along with site maintenance. This challenge is sure to keep us interested!


Almost 50 farmers peered deep into the bowels of our earth during a soil pit tour of the

Northern Wimmera earlier this year.

Hindmarsh Landcare Network member and Kaniva farmer Ross McDonald said the tour attracted a lot of keen interest and that farmers were particularly enthusiastic about soil structure and microbes.

“there’s certainly a lot of interest up here in what’s happening below the ground and how it can impact on farming practices and successes,” Ross said.

“the only other time we get to see that deep is when we’re digging a post hole but we’re so focused on getting the post in that we don’t spend any time looking at or analysing what’s happening down there.”

Wimmera CMA Engagement Officer LaVergne Lehmann said it was a great day out for all involved.

“in talking to the farmers that were there, a lot of them said they only tested the top 30 centimetres or so of their soil,” LaVergne said.

“They learned a lot more about soil profiles by going down to 1.5 metres and we went through all the layers and the implications for retaining water,

root structures and how these layers impact on crops.

“We also explained what testing we are doing of

DiGGiNG DeeP iNto oUR GooD eARtH

BUNKERED DOWN: Local farmers inspect a soil pit at Telopea Downs.

TESTING TIMES: A soil penetrometer is used to measure soil compaction.


UNDER PRESSURE: Melissa Cann measures soil compaction on a property in the Wimmera.

Soils of the Wimmerathe soils of the northern Wimmera region represent some of the most productive dryland cereal-cropping in victoria.

to better manage and care for these soils our farmers are employing a range of techniques, including using stubble retention to help increase the amount of carbon stored in our soils and reduce topsoil loss caused by wind erosion.

another soil management technique is called ‘controlled traffic’. this technique reduces the amount of soil compaction caused by heavy machinery moving over fields.

Farmers are also using an increasing number of perennial species such as saltbush and lucerne to ensure soil cover and reduce the damaging effects of wind erosion.

the pits and what different results mean in terms of farm productivity.”

the tour was organised by the Hindmarsh Landcare Network with funding from Woolworths as part of their Fresh Food Future Program for sustainable agriculture.

it was run with the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and took farmers to five sites on farms at Dimboola, yanac, Broughton, telopea Downs and Kaniva. each site had vastly different soil types, from deep sands to heavy clays, so we covered most of the soil types in the area.

Guest speakers included soil scientist Melissa Cann from the Department of Primary industries and agronomist Rob Sonegan, who helped farmers analyse the 1.5m pits.

the tour was a great way of understanding what we are doing to our local soils and how to manage them for a resilient farming future.

it was held as part of the Sustainable Farm trials project, a partnership between the Hindmarsh Landcare Network, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and the Department of Primary industries funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program.


it gives me a great deal of pleasure to be able to share in the celebration of your 2010-11

achievements and congratulate Hindmarsh Landcare Network on behalf of the Victorian State Landcare team, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, and all other Landcarers in our region.

your network continues to play a really important role in local efforts towards sustainable land use that meets the economic, social and environmental needs of people now and into the future.

The past financial year has thrown up a mix of challenges and opportunities for all of us, but it’s exciting to see Hindmarsh Landcare Network come through stronger and in a better position to help our rural community needs.

As Regional Landcare Coordinator for the Wimmera, I’ve entered 2011-12 full of enthusiasm and confident HLN can continue to deliver the goods for Landcare and the broader local community.

the Memorandum of Understanding established with Wimmera Catchment Management Authority strengthens the relationship between our two organisations and reflects a shared commitment to celebrating Landcare and community achievements in linking agricultural, environmental and social outcomes.

Last year we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Landcare in Victoria and i believe that now is a good time to reflect, regroup and refocus on a plan of

attack for future environmental and social gains for the region.

i am excited about the chance to work with Hindmarsh Landcare Network members and help them support local groups. together i know we can build capacity and improve processes so that landholders and volunteers get real value out of the time and effort they spend on Landcare activities.

thank you for your efforts and congratulations to all involved in the Landcare movement through the Hindmarsh Landcare Network.

– Joel Boyd is the Wimmera CMA’s Regional Landcare Coordinator

SERIOUS SIDE: Hindmarsh Landcare Network representatives help develop regional catchment management strategies.

Joel Boyd Regional Landcare Coordinator

WiMMeRA CMA CooRDiNAtoR’S RePoRt


DESERT BEAUTY: Ridge-fruited Mallee.

in 2010-2011 Hindmarsh Landcare Network was chosen to participate in the Department

of Sustainability and environment-funded Land Stewardship Replication trial, which introduced six elements considered essential to a community-based land stewardship system:

1. Healthy relationships and partnerships between all relevant groups and agencies.

2. Locally derived, regionally consistent checklists of best practices for sustainable land management that foster intrinsic motivation and guide landholder and program goals.

3. A regionally co-ordinated program of education and training opportunities that align with landholder knowledge and skills development.

4. Use of enSym modelling and metrics for valuing environmental benefits and social/community values, and for linking expenditure to outcomes.

5. Use of tenders and incentives in ways that foster intrinsic motivation.

6. improved landholder engagement using proven extension models and communication techniques preferred by each landholder/farmer audience.

the trial was held over four sessions in the Northern

tHe BiG PiCtURe?Wimmera with local landholders contributing what they thought of such a system, what local factors need to be considered, what incentives would be of benefit to them, what barriers there might be to implementing this in their area, and what partnerships/support would be required from local, regional and state levels for it to succeed.

Many thanks to Moragh McKay, of Bass Coast Landcare Network, who played a critical role in developing and implementing their stewardship system. Moragh steered us through the trial and shared with us what is working well and what was problematic in their area.

The trials’ findings have been passed back to DSE to help with how it might be implemented in other Landcare networks across the state taking into account stages for development, assessment criteria for the six elements and tracking progress.

While Hindmarsh Landcare Network isn’t able to implement the trial on our own in the Hindmarsh area it was very good to hear and learn what is happening in other parts of Victoria and be able to contribute what would be relevant in our area if expanded in the future.


the members of the Board have determined that the Association is not a reporting entity and

that this special purpose financial report should be prepared in accordance with the accounting policies as outlined in the Audit Report of the financial statements.

in the opinion of the members of the Board the financial statements:

1. Present a true and fair view of the financial position of Hindmarsh Landcare Network inc. as at 30 June 2011 and its performance for the year ended on that date.

2. At the date of this statement there are reasonable grounds to believe that Hindmarsh Landcare

Network inc. will be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due.

this statement is made in accordance with a resolution of the Board and is signed for and on behalf of the Board by:

Brett Wheaton

Chairperson

Michael Gawith

treasurer

Dated this 2nd day of November 2011.

AUDiteD FiNANCiAL StAteMeNtS

IN THE FIELD: Members of Hindmarsh Landcare Network catch up with the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority.

Hindmarsh Landcare Network gives a big thanks to Ken Dodds for helping to bring order and simplicity to our accounts.


INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2011 2011 2010

REVENUE $ $

interest Received 10,079 5,580

Grants & Funding 158,644 204,091

Ace Radio Landcare Weekend 34,445 31,373

Membership Subscriptions 560 0

Refunds & Rebates 40,232 78

Sponsorship & Donations 0 3,505

Rounding Account Credits (BAS) 2 11

Total Income 243,962 244,638

EXPENDITURE $ $

General expenses 43,397 20,311

Caring For our Country 3,590 6,277

Jack's track Project 935 0

Landcare Australia Limited 21,022 0

Molescan Project 1,810 3,676

Perennial Pastures 42,711 34,960

Project Hindmarsh 31,531 30,930

Second Generation Landcare 4,133 18,865

Sustainable Saltbusters Project 35,656 114,037

Woolworths - Satellite Project 14,545 8,351

Rounding Account Debits (BAS) 0 2

Total Expenses 199,330 237,409OPERATING SURPLUS (DEFICIT) 44,632 7,229

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 JUNE 2011 2011 2010

ASSETS $ $

Bendigo Bank Account 73,925 97,254

Bendigo Bank term Deposit 2501 100,000 113,923

Bendigo Bank term Deposit 2503 80,000 0

TOTAL ASSETS 253,925 211,177

LIABILITIES

Bendigo Business Credit Card 401 805

tax Payable (BAS) 1,217 2,696

TOTAL LIABILITIES 1,618 3,501NET ASSETS 252,307 207,676

ASSOCIATION FUNDS

Accumulated Funds Start of year 207,675 200,446

Surplus (Deficit) for Year 44,631 7,229

Accumulated Funds End of Year **252,306 207,675

** Please note that of this accumulation $101,431 is committed to Projects.

growing the future together

Hindmarsh Landcare Network

hindmarsh landcare network annual report 2010-2011

Documents

hindmarsh landcare network

chairpersons report

victorias landcare movement

board members

work group members

new challenges

challenges weve

solid board structure