summer 1999 l andcare victorian issue 14 · the victorian landcare and catchment management...

LandcareLandcare

Red Gum River Guardians

Collecting Native Seed

S u m m e r 1 9 9 9S u m m e r 1 9 9 9

ISSU

E 14

V i c t o r i a nV i c t o r i a n

& CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT& CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT

Happy ChristmasHappy Christmas

INSIDE COVERTrounce ad.

CONTENTS

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management

Letters Pages 4 & 5

Olympic LandcarePage 10

Community based GISPags 12

Our top primary producerPage 14

Landcare award winnersPages 14 – 17

Collecting native seed on your farmPages 18 & 19

News from the CMAsPages 22 – 24

The Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management magazine is a joint publication of the Victorian Farmers Federation, Alcoa World AluminaAustralia and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, with the support of the Victorian Catchment Management Council and The Natural Heritage Trust.

CONTENTSBusiness ManagementWade HughesPeter WalshPeter Sutherland

Editorial GroupPaul Crock (03) 9207 5562Jo Safstrom (03) 9637 8394Gabrielle Sheehan (03) 9637 8472

Editorial ConsultantTiffany & Associates (03) 9894 2169

Advertising EnquiriesPaul CrockPhone (03) 9207 5562

DesignBouquet Productions Pty. Ltd.Phone (03) 9376 0911, Fax (03) 9376 0922

PrintingSands Print GroupBreakwater, Geelong.Phone (03) 5248 3333, Fax (03) 5248 7222

Cover PhotographLyn Mitchard – Our top primary producerPhoto: Paul Crock

Contributions and mailing list enquiriesVictorian Farmers FederationLandcare Section, Level 6 24-28 Collins Street,Melbourne 3000Phone (03) 9207 5555 Fax (03) 9207 5500E-mail: [email protected]

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management is published for the Victorian Landcare Community by theVictorian Farmers Federation, 24-28 Collins Street,Melbourne 3000. Articles may be reprinted providedVictorian Landcare and Catchment Management isacknowledged. While every effort has been made toensure the accuracy of statements in Victorian Landcareand Catchment Management theVictorian Farmers Federation, its partners, agents, servants and contractors disclaim all responsibilityfor the statements quoted herein.

ISSN: 1327 5496

Natural Heritage Trusthelps scouts do the job

Page 30 – 31

This spring saw a great variety of worksundertaken as Natural Heritage Trustfunding momentum builds. Over the nextfew editions, we will be seeking to trackthe success of many of these projects.

In the last edition, we asked you toreturn the fly-sheet with your details, andasked you to tick the box if you wanted tocontinue receiving the magazine. We had thousands of returns, howevermany people continue to ring asking if itis too late to reply. To give you a chance,we have repeated the offer. If you want to continue receiving the magazine, but did not reply last time, tick the YESbox and send it back.

Following every edition we receive manyletters and faxes regarding story ideas orfeedback on articles. We encourage livelydiscussion on all issues, and welcomesuch interest in the magazine. Please keepthem coming.

On behalf of the Victorian Landcare andCatchment Management Magazine, wewish you all a merry and safe Christmas,and a happy ‘bug-free’ New Year! See you all next century.

Paul Crock

Jo Safstrom

Gabrielle Sheehan

Carrie Tiffany

From the editors

Welcome to the summer 1999 edition ofVictorian Landcare and CatchmentManagement Magazine.

December celebrates the end of the‘Decade of Landcare’ with theannouncement of the 1999 Landcare andFarm Management Award winners.Congratulations to everyone whoreceived an award and to all landcarerswho have done such magnificent job inVictoria over the last decade.

The awards reaffirm the strength andvitality of the Landcare movement andgive recognition to those who have madean outstanding contribution. The judgescommented on the high standard ofentries and the great variety of projectsthat now exist within the Landcaremovement in Victoria.

In the next two editions we tell thestories of a selection of the winners. Asin other years, Victorian Landcare Awardwinners are now finalists in theirrespective fields at the national level, andwe wish them the best of luck.

From the editors Landcare losesone of its mothersFormer VFFPresident and co-founder of the Landcaremovement, Heather Mitchellpassed away on the12th of November,following a fightwith cancer.

Perhaps best known in her role as the firstwoman to hold the VFF Presidency, Heathertook the helm at a time when rural industrieswhere experiencing very depressed economicand challenging environmental conditions.

She worked tirelessly with the then LaborGovernment, changing their perception ofagricultural industries which led to a bettersituation where the rural community and theGovernment could work together to resolvesome of the significant challenges facingfarmers.

Heather’s efforts with Joan Kirner, the thenMinister for Conservation, Forests and Lands,saw the birth of the Landcare concept.

Heather and Joan launched the first‘LandCare’ group at Winjallock, near StArnaud in November 1986. Thirteen yearslater, there are now 4,600 Landcare groupsacross Australia, and Landcare movements

established in SouthAfrica, New Zealand, the Philippines, NorthAmerica, and Wales inthe UK.

Heather is survived by her Husband, the Hon.Gordon Carmichael, herthree daughters, one sonand eight grandchildren.

May she rest in peace.

Paul Crock

Two years ago saw the passing ofArthur Farvis, the inaugural Presidentof the Bass Valley Landcare Group.

In recognition of Arthur’s efforts ininitiating and leading the Bass Groupfor the best part of seven years, thelocal community has named one of itsfirst and most visible project successesafter him.

Arthur’s children came from near andfar to attend, with grandchildrengalore to help unveil the plaque.

Next time you are heading past Bass,drop in and have a look at theplantation along the banks of the BassRiver and spare a thought for Arthur.

Bass salutes Landcare pioneer

LETTERSLettersLetters Letters

Letters

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 5

Dear Editors,

I read with interest the article in the winteredition on the north-east catchment regionand the mention of a new wetland which hasbeen created in the city centre of Wangarattawith the help of the North East CMA, therural city of Wangaratta and the NLP UrbanWater Quality Initiative.

In the rural city of Wangaratta I know ofseveral wetlands which have been lost recentlyor are threatened by degradation due toagricultural pursuits on private land. The wetlands have either been drained or lost due to the illegal or permitted removal of remnant vegetation and the land has beenlevelled out. One large wetland is threatenedby degradation.

I am aware that large-scale horticulture andagribusiness development is being promotednorth of the divide with consequent loss ofremnant vegetation and wetlands. Localgovernment, NRE and the North East CMAneed to ensure through the planning processthat the remaining wetlands on private landare not degraded and lost.

It seems logical to save and preserve theremaining wetlands on private land ratherthan creating new wetlands – just as it islogical to stop all land clearing of nativevegetation rather than funding replantingwhilst clearing is still occurring at a higher rate than revegetation.

Sarah Minifie Milawa

Some ‘take home’ messages from Europe

Dear Editors,

My wife and I were fortunate enough torecently travel in Europe for the first time. It was a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyablevisit and we particularly enjoyed exploringrural regions in France, Belgium, Spain,England, Ireland and Turkey.

One has to marvel at the history and thesplendour of so many things in Europe – but there are some very stark memories ofenvironmental degradation that are ingrainedin our minds, such as –

• Quality and availability of water. It is sad that one cannot trust local water supplies in Europe, so you resort to bottled water all the time.

• Air quality – visibility in major cities is very poor due to air pollution. In fact the sky was always clouded by a pollution haze no matter where one travelled – even in remote, rural areas.

• Wildlife – wild animals seemed to be non-existent and there was little sign of bird life, presumably due to loss of habitat and hunting.

The ‘take home’ message was obviously that water, air quality and wildlife are veryprecious resources that we in Australia muststrive to protect and enhance, because time todo this is rapidly running out.

On the other hand, several countries we visited showed obvious signs of ‘regional prosperity’ – no doubt as a result of governments and people being serious aboutrural and regional development – again, a clear message for us in Australia.

Greg SmithRutherglen

Rabbit Busting – more than busting rabbits!

Dear Editors,

Just a quick note to highlight a concernregarding the Rabbit Buster advice ‘10 stepsto long-term rabbit control’ on page 26 of theSpring ’99 edition.

Points five and six suggest destroying above-ground harbour and burn/remove fallen timber. If rabbit control is the most importantthing in the world, then fine. However, asbiodiversity is also a key catchment issue, a slash and burn approach will further impoverish our landscape.

By all means remove/destroy noxious weeds,but remnant shrubby vegetation and nativegrasses are a high priority for protection andfallen timber is essential habitat for birds suchas the Bush Stone Curlew and of course reptiles.

Please try to promote balanced and more‘biodiversity-aware’ rabbit control strategies.

Bruce GillTatura

Magazine responses

Dear Editors,

With reference to your note requestingwhether or not we require a copy of theVictorian Landcare & CatchmentManagement Magazine the answer is YES.

We find the magazine very interesting withregards to what other people are achievingthroughout Victoria.

If the magazine was only sent to secretaries ofLandcare groups many of the members wouldnever see the publication as when we meet asa group for meetings or working days we don’thave time to read magazines.

Keep up the good work.

Kind regards,

Linda ElliotArthurs Creek

Standing out this year was the innovativeland use of our top farmers across diversecommodities, regions and land types.

I can’t say that any one commodity isaddressing land management issues betterthan others but it is quite obvious thatsome of the larger issues are going to have to be addressed with new croppingtechniques, and in our dryland areas.

People employing direct tilling techniques –we saw this on two or three properties –are, without doubt, forerunners in what I believe will become the norm for stableland management in the next decade. In particular, we saw one property wheredirect seeding of lucerne into pastures was followed by direct seeding of annualcrops such as wheat and oats over the top.I think this is the future of sustainableagriculture.


An edited interview with Alex ArbuthnotAM, member of the Victorian CatchmentManagement Council, chief judge of the1999 Victorian Landcare Awards and co-judge of the 1999 Cotton AustraliaPrimary Producer Award, on hisimpressions of farmers, Landcare and the future of sustainable agriculturefollowing a tour of Hanslow Cup winners’properties.

On behalf of the judging panel for the 1999Cotton Australia Primary Producer Award,I would like to congratulate this year’sentrants. They were outstanding.

Our top farmers are also our top landcarersor, put another way, our high productionfarmers are also very aware of the need forgood land and water management.

Interview withAlex Arbuthnot, AM

My experience over several days of visiting the properties of the Hanslow Cupwinners reaffirmed that farmers are greatinnovators, great researchers. If researchinstitutes can work effectively with thesefarmers, I believe that we will address thebig issues of sustainability.

The Cotton Australia Primary ProducerAward is judged by visiting and selectingfrom the 10 Pivot Landcare Hanslow Cupwinners drawn from each catchmentregion.

The judging method associates the regional Pivot Hanslow Landcare Cupaward with the prestigious national Cotton Australia Primary Producer Award.This year Nyora dairy farmer Lyn Mitchard becomes Victoria’srepresentative in the national award.

The Hanslow Cup was, for many years,regarded as the most prestigious award forsoil conservation in Victoria. I can clearlyrecall as a young man being taken acrossVictoria to a field day on a winningHanslow Cup property. It was a veryimpressive way to demonstrate good landmanagement and I am very pleased thatthat award has now become associated with the latest innovation in landmanagement – Landcare.

To help revitalise the historical HanslowCup, the sponsorship of agribusinessleaders Pivot Limited was secured.

The regional Hanslow Cup winners will beencouraged to hold field days to show theiroutstanding properties to interestedfarmers from both their region andthroughout the State.

Our tour demonstrated that most farmersfarm for future generations. That is why it is important that the corporate world,and indeed governments, offer whateverassistance they can because people outthere are working for future generations at immediate personal expense tothemselves.

Dryland agricultural industries make up 70% of Victoria’s agriculturalproduction, generating around $3.6 billionannually. Significant natural resourceissues face dryland Victoria and threatenthe development of these industries.

To assist in combatting these issues the State Government has invested

$8.3 million a year and the FederalGovernment around $6.8 million into theSustainable Dryland Agriculture and LandManagement Key Project. Landholdershave also made a significant investmentthrough Landcare, Salinity ManagementPlans and on-farm measures.

NRE has recently completed a strategicreview of the Key Project, which aims to maximise Victoria’s sustainability and

prosperity in dryland agriculture. The report will be used as the basis fordeveloping a new vision for Victoria’s land management in dryland areas.

The review showed that a significantboost in prosperity could be achieved by addressing natural resource issues. It isestimated that the Key Project could yieldbenefits of up to $340 million as a result of improved dryland salinity managementalone.

As the new Minister for Environment andConservation, I am proud to have the taskof encouraging and overseeing Landcare inVictoria.

Firstly I would like to congratulate thewinners of the 1999 Victorian Landcareand Farm Management Awards. Thevolume and quality of entries receivedindicates the spirit of Landcare is verymuch alive in Victoria. I am delighted tobe a part of such a vital community-basedmovement achieving real progress inrestoring our environment.

It is an exciting time for Landcare in thisState with Landcare 2000 coming up inMarch. International delegates, interested

in land and water management, will becoming to Victoria so the spotlight will beon our Landcare efforts. Victorians shouldbe proud of their achievements and beready to learn from our visitors about theirprogress and innovations.

I am also pleased to hear about the growthof networking and collaborative effortsbetween Victorian Landcare groups. This demonstrates that the Landcarecommunity is dedicated to making adifference both locally and at thelandscape and catchment scale. As theMinister responsible for Landcare, I willreinforce these efforts by supporting worksand research into the effectiveness andfuture direction of the program.

Over the coming months I am keen tomeet with Landcare groups in regionalVictoria to see first hand the vital workthey are doing to shape a sustainablefuture. I will be keen to listen to Landcaregroups about how Government can workeffectively in partnership to support asecond generation of Landcare in thisState.

Sherryl GarbuttMinister for Environment and Conservation


Catchment management in Victoria: Message from NREBy Peter Sutherland, Executive Director, CMSA Division, NRE

New vision for dryland agriculture

CatchmentManagement

IntroducingSherryl GarbuttMinister for Environment and Conservation

Red Gum River Guardians

its beautiful rich, red timber. It is also a key species in a rare ecosystem.

Most of the major creeklines and rivers of northern Victoria are lined with RedGums. They provide a vital link betweenwaterways and the surrounding drycountry. Without the Red Gum our nativefish would have no snags in which to live.The role of River Red Gums in theconservation of fauna is only just beingunderstood.

Widespread clearing of the northern plainshas left isolated pockets of vegetationcrossed with Red Gum lined creeks andrivers. The woodland vegetation has beenhighly modified so that few natural areasremain with the original understorey of


native grasses, herbs and scattered shrubs.

The Red Gum River Guardians seminarwas opened by Mayor of Campaspe,Cathie Halliday. Tim Fisher from theAustralian Conservation Foundation gavethe keynote address. Scientists andlandholders presented sessions on RedGum history, birds of the Murray corridor,flight-paths through the farm, carpetpythons and gliders and other mammals.

A final session looked at future directionsfor the conservation and management ofRed Gum ecosystems in northern Victoria.

For more information and copies of the proceedings contact Geoff Park atNCCMA on (03) 5448 7124.

A seminar promoting better understandingof the ecology, conservation andmanagement of Red Gum ecosystems washeld in Echuca during October 1999.

Organised by the Shire of Campaspe, NRE and the North Central CatchmentManagement Authority, the seminar sawleading scientists and land managerssharing their knowledge about thisimportant ecosystem.

The River Red Gum is firmly etched into Australian culture through literatureand folklore. Its timber has powered thepaddle steamers of the Murray; its sleepershave paved the nation’s railways, and the foundations of millions of homes. Furniture builders and tourists keenly seek

get out of supporting Landcare and theLAL sponsorship team provides somedetail on how they service sponsors.

The kids’ stuff is bright and interestingand they promise more to come. You cansend someone a ‘virtual tree’ to add tothe cyber forest (over 200 trees havebeen ‘virtually’ planted since the websitewas launched), play a memory game anddownload some stunning screensavers.

LAL has received a very positive responseto the launch of the site and it’s popularwith visitors. The site had 2048 hits inJuly, 30,788 in August and 27,685 inSeptember.

Landcare Australia has put a great deal of effort into its website. The site, whichwas launched in July this year, is slick andcolourful with a mixture of hard facts andfun gimmicks.

Start at the ‘who’s who’ where you meetthe Landcare Australia team Brady-bunchstyle, and find out exactly what they do.

You can get on the soapbox, respond toLandcare Australia’s topic of the month(‘does Landcare Month work?’ is thecurrent topic), or send a general messageor request for information.

The sponsorship pages concentrate on ‘the partnership’ between LandcareAustralia and sponsors. Some of themajor corporations talk about what they

Riparian red gum vegetation on the Campaspe River at Echuca.

Landcare Australia on-line

Go to www.landcareaustralia.com.au

CatchmentManagement

CatchmentManagement

Stop Press:Second Generation Landcare Grants Sherryl Garbutt, the Minister forEnvironment and Conservation, has announced the Second GenerationLandcare Grants. The closing date forapplications is February 25, 2000. For copies of guidelines, contact yourCatchment Management Authority orring the NRE Customer Service Centreon 136 186.

Acclaimed scientist and author, Dr TimFlannery, believes Landcare is strategicallyone of the most important things that hashappened to the Australian environmentfor a long time.

Tim Flannery is the keynote speaker atthe International Landcare 2000Conference to be held in Melbourne from2-5 March 2000. He says that today’sLandcarers are the first generation ofAustralians with the community behindthem.

“People now understand that it is notonly acceptable, but desirable to careabout the land. It is only since the 1960sand 1970s that we have realised, andbeen appalled by, the destructive earlyphase of white history – now we arestarting to turn that around.”

Landcare and social change

Flannery says he is supportive ofLandcare because it is social as well asscientific.

www.nre.vic.gov.au/conf/Landcare2000/ or call (03) 9690 6744.

“Landcare is a very powerful engine ofsocial change. It helps people come toterms with the nature of the problemsthey are facing and to learn from each other.”

While Flannery believes we are going in the right direction after centuries ofcatastrophes he says we are still at a veryearly stage in terms of outcomes.

“Probably 90% of programs are on thewrong track, but it’s all part of learningand it’s valuable experience. I don’t thinkLandcare will change the world overnight,but I do think it will change the worldeventually. It will certainly change theway that we think, which is a majorachievement.”

For further information and registration details for the InternationalLandcare 2000 Conference visit the conference website

We are the Landcare generationBy David Beckingsale

Scientist and author Dr Tim Flannery is one of the keynote speakers at the upcomingInternational Landcare 2000 Conference.

Wanted: 100 ‘Victorian hosts’Wanted: 100 ‘Victorian hosts’The organisers of the International Landcare 2000 Conference are asking for Victorian Landcarers to volunteer as conference hosts.

There are no formal duties, just a willingness to be approached by people from interstate and overseas to talk about what you doin Landcare. A host may simply chat with other delegates, provide them leads and ideas about places to visit and perhaps share alunch with them.

Being a host is a great way to meet with other conference delegates and do some informal networking. Hosts will be identified insome way, possibly by wearing a T-shirt.

To be a conference host you must be a registered delegate of the conference. Being a host is open to people who have alreadyregistered and people yet to register who are community co-ordinators/facilitators or community group members. Simply completethis coupon and attach it to your registration, or send it to: International Landcare 2000 Conference, Waldron SmithConvention Network, 93 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park 3206, by 31 January 2000.

Victoria Hosts Registration of interest

Name: ............................................................................................................... Phone: ....................................................

Group: ............................................................................................................................................................................................

Address: .......................................................................................................................................................................... P/Code: ........................

Simply complete this coupon and attach it to your registration, or send it to: International Landcare 2000 Conference, Waldron Smith Convention Network, 93 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park 3206, by 31 January 2000.

A plant-swap by scientists and members of the City of Casey Aquatic Weed CommunityAction Group has helped control the spread ofone of the world’s worst weeds.

Dr Lalith Gunasekera, a scientist at the KeithTurnbull Research Institute, says AlligatorWeed originates from the Parana River systemin Argentina and came to Australia throughship ballast in 1946.

“It has become widespread in tropical andwarm temperate regions where it infestswaterways, causing problems with water flow,flooding and sedimentation and providinghabitat for disease carriers like mosquitoes.”

In 1996 it was discovered that the AustralianSri Lankan community was growing AlligatorWeed as a leafy vegetable. Alligator Weed waswrongly thought to be the plant Mukunu-wenna, a popular leafy vegetable grown widelyin Sri Lanka and used in a curry recipe.

Lalith Gunasekera says some older peopleunknowingly cultivated and used the weed as a regular part of their diet for over 25 years.

“The plant was considered to havehigh rates of vitamins, minerals andfibre and was spread from family tofamily as a very valuable backyardherb.”

A public awareness campaign andsurvey uncovered more than 750infestations of Alligator Weed in 130suburban backyards. LalithGunasekera says one-third of thesesites have now been treated and allknown infestations will be eradicatedwithin the next year.

The key to controlling the spread of AlligatorWeed was the promotion of a suitablereplacement plant. An Australian native speciesAlternanthera denticulata (Lesser joyweed) in thesame family was grown and trialled. It has been widely accepted by theSri Lankan community as an alternative toMukunu-wenna. More than 3000 replacementplants have been distributed through Buddhisttemples and personal contacts.

According to Lalith Gunasekera the Sri Lankan community is very keen to grow thisnew plant in their backyards and have alreadystarted to distribute them from family to family.

Olympic Landcare stretches for Gold Alligator Weed mix-up is sorted out

October saw another project under theOlympic Landcare banner successfullyaccomplished at Ravenswood, albeit undertrying climatic conditions.

One thousand local and urban-basedvolunteers – 700 getting to the site in two V/Line Passenger trains – planted over10,000 plants and direct seeded another40,000.

Among the volunteers were one hundredmigrant students from Somalia, Sudan,Ethiopia, Eritrea, Vietnam, Yugoslavia,China and Japan, giving the day a trulyinternational feel.

Eight Olympians were also involved in thefestivities including John Landy, DamianBrown, Des Duguid, Simone Ingram,Simon Heffernan, Kerri Tepper, FaithLeech and Phillip Sawyer.

John Landy, the Victorian OlympicLandcare Patron and President ofGreening Australia Victoria, said that the need for such large-scale projects was critical.

“The Gold Tree symbolises the loss ofvegetation since European settlement.Now we have to make sure that we canput a good percentage of it back if we are to reverse the threat of salinity andbiodiversity decline,” he said.

James Blundell sang a few of his well-known songs as the Rotary Clubs ofBendigo and Bendigo South supplied asumptuous BBQ lunch for the wet andweary volunteers.

For more information regarding OlympicLandcare, contact Katie McCracken at GA on (03) 9457 3024.

Above: One thousandvolunteersbraved theelements.

Below: Olympic Landcare spirit.


GroupNews

Lalith Gunasekerainspects a plot of

Alligator weed in a backyard

at Doveton.

Who’s there to lend a hand?The biggest of the programs by far is theGreen Corps Program. Now in its thirdyear, the Green Corps Program is designedto provide selected volunteers with theopportunity to join a team for six-monthperiods to help the environment.

“Green Corps focuses on 17 to 20 year olds who are committed to helping theenvironment,” Ian said.

“Like other project teams, the ATCV,through Green Corps, provides a team ofvolunteers, transport, supervision andsafety training.

“The project runs for six months, with theproponents responsible for organising theworks schedule and keeping projects andmaterials ahead of the team,” Ian said.

While this seems like a great opportunity toget some extra hands on the ground, theATCV struggle to get enough applicationsfor Green Corps grants.

“Green Corps projects run for six months,and while we understand some groups mayfind it difficult to keep six months workahead of the volunteers, larger Landcareprojects are ideally suited for Green Corpsteams,” he said.

Ian also made an important point thatLandcare groups can apply for Green Corpsor ATCV support by contacting the ATCVdirectly, or apply to have projects fundedthrough the Natural Heritage Trust.

“Landcare groups should think of theATCV as a key stakeholder in their NaturalHeritage Trust projects, as we can providethe people power that smaller ruralcommunities don’t readily have access to.”

Ian said there were numerous ways peoplecould get more information about theATCV and Green Corps.

“We have information and applicationforms on the ATCV website,WWW.ATCV.com.au or if people ring theATCV South Melbourne office, Trudy will be able to send them out some information.”

The number for the ATCV is (03) 9686 5554.

Is your Landcare group finding it hard tomotivate the troops, or are you doing largeprojects and would really appreciate a hand?

You may have heard or read about theAustralian Trust for ConservationVolunteers (more often referred to as theATCV). You may not really know what theydo or have to offer, so we caught up withthe ATCV’s Victorian State Manager, IanSmith, to find out what and why they dowhat they do.

According to Ian, since the ATCV started in1982, the organisation has grown to be thelargest organised volunteer group in thecountry, with over 1300 volunteers in thefield on any given day, supported by 170highly qualified staff.

“Since we started, we have grown with thesuccess of the Landcare movement becauseour volunteers provide some of the valuableelbow grease to keep the Landcare machinemoving.

“Every day we have volunteers in the fieldworking on environmental projects to assistin anything from endangered speciesmonitoring, to Landcare group works orrestoration of heritage buildings.”

Ian is quick to emphasise that all thevolunteers contribute to cover their owncosts of being at a project, highlighting theirdedication to the environmental cause.

“The ATCV provides the team supervisorand transport and the project managers orlandowners provide tools and materials,”Ian said.

The ATCV manage an impressive networkof programs both statewide and nationally,all involving volunteer management. Iansays all are based on the philosophy of theATCV providing the in-kind managementsupport.

Some of these programs include: the FederalGovernment’s Green Corps – YoungAustralians for the Environment Program;Tree Victoria; the ATCV Remote CoastcareProgram in partnership with EnvironmentAustralia; National Tree Day with PlanetArk; Arbor Week in association with theNRCL; Clean Up Australia in theMelbourne area; and the Alcoa WeekendLandcare Program.


Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteersupgrading tracks and fences in the

Arthur’s Seat State Park

Cheap, effective GIS aidscatchment planning

“The only drawback was the somewhatexpensive software. For this new project towork, we needed a simple cheap packageto do the job,” she said.

Since completing his Graduate Diploma,Rick Pope has remained in contact withthe group and is happy to see the Woadysteering committee continuing his work byexpanding the GIS model across the wholeof the catchment.

“The new model is great. It revolvesaround the development of a CD-ROMthat the farmers can either have access to or purchase cheaply, that contains allthe relevant information for their farmingsystem and land rehabilitation efforts at a catchment level, but with enoughresolution to go to the individual farmlevel.

“As Alice said, the stumbling block wasthe cost of the software, but by using free‘public domain’ software, with links tohigher resolution maps for the wholecatchment, we hope to make it cheaperand easier to use for everyone,” Rick said.

The Woady Yaloak group, with supportfrom Alcoa and other sponsors, has nowproduced the CD-ROM with datacovering the Woady Yaloak catchmentfrom Ballarat to Cressy that can be viewedon any modern home computer.

“The base layer is a satellite image,” Rick said.

“Overlays include soil types, drainage linesand contours, land uses, title boundariesand more. Farmers canselect an area, zoom inon it and print it outon their officeprinter,” he said.

Farmers throughout the Woady Yaloakcatchment will soon be able to enjoy thebenefits of GIS-based farm plans in a newand exciting community-led project beingundertaken in partnership with Alcoa,University of Ballarat Centre for Rural andRegional Information, CorangamiteCatchment Management Authority, NRE and the Golden Plains Shire.

The new project is an extension of one ofthe earliest Landcare group-based GISprojects funded under the NationalLandcare Program. In 1994, the PittongHoyles Creek Landcare Group, located inthe upper reaches of the Woady Yaloakcatchment, initiated the project with Rick Pope, a student of the GraduateDiploma in Land Rehabilitation Programat the University of Ballarat.

The farm plans developed from this initialproject proved to be a valuable resource tothe farmers, so the decision to develop acheap and effective GIS package for thewhole catchment was made.

Alice Knight, Chair of the Woady YaloakCatchment Committee, said the Pittong-Hoyles Creek Project had given themanother management tool for their farm at Linton, but also one for their localneighbourhood.

“We found the GIS very useful forplanning in terms of prioritising areas forworks on our property and a useful meansof identifying potential linkages of worksbetween neighbours to form a trulyintegrated approach to catchmentmanagement in our area.

The group’s Neighbourhood ProjectFacilitator, Jen Clarke, works withindividual farmers to update theirinformation, before sending it through to be updated on the main GIS by localfarmer Susie Ellis. Susie is in charge ofinputting the data to the GIS and she saidthe benefits of the GIS package were morethan first thought.

“We can collect all the data for proposedrehabilitation projects and combine themto use in grant applications, or to give the Woady Yaloak Steering Committee a better picture of the works proposed, in progress and completed,” she said.

Susie pointed out that the mapping of the achievements of the five years of theWoady Yaloak Project is another integralcomponent of the new GIS.

“The GIS gives us a chance to give apictorial representation of the worksundertaken with Alcoa’s support, so wecan show our sponsor how much has beenachieved at a catchment level,” she said.

“But more importantly for the community,it gives individuals a chance to see whatthey have achieved at their farm level overthe last few years – something that is veryeasy to lose track of,” she said.

For more information regarding the Woady GIS Project, contact Cam Nicholson on 0417 311 098 or Susie Ellis on (03) 5340 3583.

by Paul Crock

GroupIdeas

Learning the ropesof the GIS at theUniversity ofBallarat Centre forRural and RegionalInformation

WINNERripping and aeration to overcomecompaction, improve soil structure and soilbiodiversity. Pasture mixes have changedand a combination of traditional andorganic fertilisers are used.

Lyn says they used to fertilise annually in one overall farm application. “Now wefertilise according to the results of soiltests.”

The farm plan has been invaluable inreorganising fencing and tracks across the property. At present, there are 43paddocks of around four hectares each.Fences separate soils of differing moistureand productivity regimes.

An area of remnant vegetation has beenfenced from stock while the creek thatpasses through the property has beenplanted to trees and understorey of localprovenance.

Lyn Mitchard runs a 180 hectare dairyfarm at Nyora in South Gippsland. Shefarmed with her husband until he passedaway in 1995 and has continued since thenwith a sharefarmer.

Lyn is an active member of the Mt LyallLandcare Group. She represents the groupon the committee of the South GippslandLandcare Network and on the seed bankcommittee. Lyn says she has gleaned muchof her knowledge about farming from theLandcare group.

“In 1991, the group ran a propertymanagement planning course. We participated in the course andupgraded our farm plan.”

Since then, Lyn has been working hard to put the plan into action. A systematicprogram of pasture improvement isunderway. Techniques have included deep

Winner of the Cotton Australia Landcare Primary Producer Awardand the Pivot Landcare Hanslow Cup for Port Phillip Region

• Lyn Mitchard, Nyora •

1999 Victorian Landcare &

Lyn says the changes on the farm areaimed at achieving a system of sustainablemanagement. They have also greatlyimproved productivity. Production perhectare of the dairy herd has nearlydoubled in the last ten years.

“This year we are leasing an additional 100hectares on lighter well-drained soils tocarry young and dry stock. This will reducefeeding-out, traffic and compaction on thedairy pasture in winter.”

Lyn has recently participated in a Farm$mart farm planning course. She says the work on the farm is nowherenear completed and there is still a greatdeal she would like to achieve.

“The more we learn, the more we realisewhat needs to be done.”


WINNER

Farm Management Awards

Robert has devoted an incredible amountof time and attention to Landcare as wellas doing much to improve his own familyfarm. With his detailed knowledge of thearea’s topography and geography, he haspersonally urged, motivated and cajoledlarge numbers of landholders to addressproblems of weed control, rabbit and foxeradication, tree decline, protection ofremnant vegetation, erosion control and replanting with indigenous species to improve water quality. He has also been a leader in the establishment of farm forestry.

Robert has nurtured Junior Landcarethrough a water monitoring and treeplanting project on the CoolebarghurkCreek with the Meredith School. Heactively liaises with Barwon Water and theDepartment of Natural Resources and

A heart operation was the jolt that got Robert McColl heavily involved in Landcare. Robert was recuperating from major surgery in 1992 when theBamganie/Meredith and Districts LandcareGroup was looking for a new president.

“They couldn’t find anyone to take it onso I thought I’d give it a go.”

The Bamganie/Meredith area is part of theCorangamite catchment. It has sufferedsevere erosion problems, heavy rabbitinfestation, rising watertables and salinityat the head of catchment for streamsflowing into the Leigh and Barwon rivers.

Under Robert’s guidance the Landcaregroup has tackled all of these problemsand significant improvements have been made.

Winner of the National Landcare ProgramIndividual Landcarer Award• Robert McColl, Bamganie •

Environment and he has organised a bevyof courses in the area such that now everylandholder has a whole-farm plan and theLandcare group has a whole area plan.

Robert admits he has put a great manyhours into Landcare. He says the reward is simply driving around the place andseeing how it’s improving.

“I’m a fifth generation local so this is mychance to put something back into thearea. Landcare is really about bringingpeople together – conservation,productivity and co-operation. It’s a great thing to do with your life.”

Robert McColl has put a great many hours into Landcare.


WINNERsides. On the people front, 25% of alllandholders will have completed a farmplanning course and group membershipwill be at over 75%.

The group is large, with over 100 membersacross 60,000 hectares of grasslands. Theirbiggest concerns are erosion and salinity.Rabbit control is another constant job.The group was formed in 1988 because ofconcerns about these issues.

David Clark says running parallel to the degradation issues was the need toimprove the rural viability of the regionthrough healthier, more productive farms.

“In our early years, we put a great deal ofeffort into getting the right information.Now, we are into implementation.”

The group has completed detailed landclass mapping for the area, mapped theextent of pre-cleared vegetationcommunities, mapped pasture-sowingoptions for the area and the risk of salinityto local water supplies.

How many Landcare groups set goals forthe next 30 years? The Lexton LandcareGroup, centred around the town ofLexton, 50 kilometres north-west ofBallarat, is constantly looking to thefuture. They also have good reason to look at the past.

David Clark, the group’s co-ordinator, saysby the end of this year the group will haveplanted 8% of all recharge areas to trees;stabilised 85% of all stream and gullyheads; and stabilised 20% of all stream

Winner of the Alcoa Landcare Community Group Award• Lexton Landcare Group •

1999 Victorian Landcare &

The group is currently reviewing its goalsand priorities for the next ten years. It isexamining targets for 2010 and 2020 andthe broader role the Landcare group mightplay in the community.

David says the group’s success comes froma number of factors. “They are a dynamicbunch – progressive in both action andthought. Also having a large group meansthe work is spread further and there aremore points of view.”

Over the past 12 years, the group has had some 29 people serving as committeemembers. They communicate by amonthly newsletter and hold regularevents. This year’s events have included a first aid for the bush course, a visit to atimber and furniture factory, a WorkCoverfor employers evening and a group-wide‘Foxoff’ fox control activity.

David says the group is most proud of theleadership and partnership role it has beenable to take with neighbouring groups.

“At the end of the day, Landcare is about making a difference on the ground.Whether it’s your own ground or someoneelse’s.”

Members of the LextonLandcare Groupunloading trees for aplanting day.


WINNER

Farm Management Awards

Management Committee was formed anda detailed Catchment Management Planwas developed.

The plan is a flexible, dynamic documentthat is constantly being updated andamended. It addresses the key issues forthe catchment: water quality; stormwater;remnant vegetation and wildlife corridors;pest plants and animals; sustainableagricultural practices; and communityparticipation.

According to the Committee Secretary,Sue Longmore, the visibility of numerouson-ground projects across the catchmentcaptures the attention of the localcommunity and fuels further interest and activity.

Now in its third year, the Swan BayIntegrated Catchment Management Plandemonstrates an innovative, holisticapproach to catchment managementdriven by the local community.

Swan Bay is one of the most intact areas of wetland and marine ecosystemswithin Port Phillip Bay. Over 90% of thecatchment has been cleared for intensiveagriculture and urban settlement.

In 1996, Landcare and conservation groupsworking on independent projects withinSwan Bay recognised the need to combinetheir skills and energies and create a‘whole catchment care’ approach. TheSwan Bay Integrated Catchment

Winner of the BP Landcare Catchment Award• Swan Bay Integrated Catchment Management Committee •

“It’s the doing that matters. People can’tignore the fencing, weed control, creekbank stabilisation, wildlife corridors, dunerestoration and wetland protection that isbeing done.”

Sue says the success of the project lies with the Catchment ManagementCommittee.

“They are a very dedicated group who putin many hours on-the-ground and behindthe scenes to make our vision of holisticcatchment management a reality. It’s thecommittee who have inspired thecommunity to get involved.”


GroupIdeas

How to collect native seed

As summer rolls on, now is the time tocollect seed from many species. If youwant to start growing your own trees, or ifyou would like a nursery to grow plantsfrom your immediate area on contract, wethought we would look at how you goabout collecting the seed you need.

What is the seed and where do I find it?

All flowering plants produce fruit, insidewhich is found the seed. Fruit can beanything from berries, pods, nuts tosucculent stone fruits such as a peach.

Native plants produce many differenttypes of fruits, but we will focus on themore common types of native fruit –capsules, follicles and pods.

Capsules are usually relatively small, dry and woody, and stay on the plant for a couple of years. When mature, thecapsules split open and release lots of littleseeds. Capsules can be found on Eucalyptand Melaleuca species (to name a couple).

Follicles are like big woody nuts and canremain on the plant for many years. Theyusually split in two, releasing one or twolarger seeds, often with a paper-thin ‘wing’to help the seeds disperse in the wind.Species such as Hakea, Grevillea, Banksiaall have follicles.

Pods are self-explanatory. ‘Like peas in apod’, native legumes also produce pods tohouse their seed. Plants that produce podsoften give their seed a special hard coat toprotect them against the elements whichneeds special treatment before they willgerminate. Pods are found on Acaciaspecies.

I now know what seed is but how shouldI collect it?

Firstly, you should collect seed from asmany plants as possible. Like any livestockenterprise, seed from different plants will


As Landcare hasevolved, we have

become more and moreaware of the importance of

local vegetation types and theirgenetics.

Nurseries are responding to thisdemand by producing stock from local

seed sources either by collecting theirown seed, sub-contracting seed collectorsor growing native plants on contract forlandholders who have collected their ownseed.

With the expansion of large-scale Landcareprojects such as the Greater GlenelgBiolink and the Powlett Project, thepressure on local nurseries to deliver isstrained. Being able to collect seed andgrow trees for your own use is not toodifficult and worth a try.

vary genetically. By collecting from onlyone plant, you will limit the geneticvariation in the plants you propagate, so a handy rule of thumb is never tocollect more than about 10% of seed from any one parent plant.

Knowing this, then how do I go aboutcollecting the seed?

Species with seeds in capsules can be a bit difficult to collect. Seed from lowbranches can be picked relatively easilywithout damaging the plant, but a fewthings have to be taken into account first.Many trees with capsules produce flowers,immature capsules and mature capsules on the same branchlet (small branch). In this case, only the mature capsules fromnearest the trunk should be picked as theimmature capsules and flowers are theseed source for future years.

A fruit picking bag with a strap that goes over the head and around the neck,with a big pouch, is a good way to collectcapsules. With both hands free, it lets you reach in and get the mature capsulesquickly.

Taller trees are trickier targets andbranchlets often have to be cut off tocollect the seed. Some people use long-handled pruners and saws to removebranchlets with seed capsules connected.(One innovative Landcare group used anold chainsaw chain with a rope attached atboth ends. The idea was that you throwthe rope over the branchlet, pull thechainsaw blade up and gently saw it off –avoiding getting whacked in the head bystanding well clear of the drop zone.)

A safer means of getting to larger/tallertrees involves talking to the local powercompany contractors that prune aroundpower lines. With their cherry pickers,they can reach the tallest of trees andremove the branchlets and capsules muchmore safely.

Collecting follicles is easy if you can reachin and twist off the older nuts close to the

How to collect native seed

By Paul Crock

Background: Capsules – found on species such as Eucalpts.Top left: Follicles – Found on species such as Banksias.Below left: Pods – found on species such as Acacias.

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on your farmseed can be dried andstored for sowing at alater date.

How do I store theseed if I don’t need touse it all at once?

Once the seed is harvested from the fruit,it can be all stored the same way.

Firstly, it pays to give the seed a light spraywith some insecticide, to kill any bugs orweevils from eating the seed in storage.Mothballs or naptholine can help protectthe seed, but should not be left in the jarsfor too long as it has been known to affectthe viability of some species.

Storage containers can be anything with a tight-fitting lid. Jars, tins and plasticcontainers all make useful storagecontainers. These should be kept in a cool,dark place where the temperature andhumidity are not going to change much.

Another option for you is to give the seed to a seedbank for them to storefor you. Greening Australia operateseedbanks throughout Victoriaand it would pay to ring GAVto find your closest one.

Seedbanks are a good source of seed for direct seeding or forsourcing seed from your area if you don’t have time to collect it yourself. They also providegermination testing and otheruseful advice.

One last thing that is important ifyou intend collecting seed inbushland reserves, is that youcheck with your local NRE office to see if you need a permit to do so.

Hopefully this has given youenough information to startcollecting your own seed. For more information regarding species information,seed collecting, storage or other

trunk. Knocking the follicles off with astick is also a good way of collecting them.For species such as Casuarinas, a usefulhint is to climb the tree so you don’t getwhacked on the head with the nuts as theyfall off (but try and go a bit easy on thetree).

Plants with pods are the easiest to collect.Quite simply, you can pull the pods off theplant like picking peas. This can be donewith minimal damage to the parent plant.

It is important that you don’t pickimmature pods. Check the seed in some of the older pods to see if they look ripe. If the pod contains large plump shinyseeds with firm white flesh inside the seed, chances are it is viable.

I have bags of pods, capsules and follicles– what next?

The next step is to clearly label a paperbag with where and when and from howmany plants you collected the seed. Fill thebag with the follicles, the capsules or thepods and seal them up and leave them inthe sun to dry out and open up. If you usea plastic bag, the fruit will sweat andbecome mouldy rather than open up asrequired. Open fertiliser bags are good forlarger branchlets and for lots of seed.

An excellent place for drying seed is in theback of a car under the rear window, asthis is most often in the sun and can getquite hot. Other options include next to awindow or in a still place where the windwon’t blow the bags away.

Eventually, the seed will fall out of thefruit and be ready to sow.

Seeds from pod-producing plants such asAcacia species have a seed coat that willneed to be treated prior to sowing.

A most effective method of treating hardseed coats found in many such species, isto soak the seeds in just-boiled water foran hour or so while the water cools. Thissoftens the outer coat and the seed shouldgerminate much easier. Once soaked, the

revegetation assistance, contact GreeningAustralia on (03) 9457 3024 or DavidWarne at the GAV/Alcoa PortlandSeedbank on (03) 5521 7856.


on your farm

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 19

Germination testing at theMelbourne Indigenous Seedbank.

The GAV/AlcoaPortlandSeedbank.

Picking upfallen seed.


Vicki was a member of a community-basedworking party which helped develop theUpper North East Water Quality Strategy.The strategy is now being implemented bythe North East Catchment ManagementAuthority under the direction of threegeographically-based implementationcommittees.

The strategy applies to two basins – theKiewa Basin and the Victorian portion ofthe Upper Murray Basin. Together theycontribute 24% of the total Victoriandischarge to the total Murray-DarlingBasin system. Both basins supply water for use downstream in Victoria, NSW and South Australia.

Vicki, who lives on the family drylandgrazing farm with husband Craig andchildren Carissa and Jarrod, isrepresentative of the growing number ofpeople who are becoming more concernedabout the environment and issues such as land degradation and soil erosion. She readily admits that she went on theworking party because she saw it as a way to learn more about land/watermanagement and the quality of water in her area.

“I came in blind but I’ve learnt there arejust so many issues when it comes to waterquality,” says Vicki. “At first I felt totallyout of my league – I don’t have any kindof technical background – but after a whileI started asking questions and voicing myopinion.”

Vicki says the strategy not only helpsbusinesses and the community becomeaware of water quality issues, it also listsactions that the individual can undertaketo help water quality.

“On our place we fenced off a creek andplanted trees to help stabilise the bankbefore it became a problem. Another thingwe can do is rotational grazing to reducebare paddocks in summer.”

Like the other community members of the working party, Vicki’s time attendingmeetings was voluntary. As well, she washeavily involved in the proofreading andediting of the draft strategy.

The strategy comprises a number of majorprograms including community education,agricultural industries, forest management,stream management and gully stabilisation.

Estimates have suggested that the strategywill decrease phosphorus loads to theMurray River by a total of 75 tonnes.

Copies are available from VeronicaLanigan, the North East CatchmentManagement Authority’s Water QualityOfficer on (02) 6055 6133.

North-east farmers’ plan for clean waterNorth-east farmers’ plan for clean water

“If nothing gets done now, what willhappen in the future? It will only getworse.”

Vicki McMurrich, from Kiewa in north-east Victoria, is talking about why theyhave a strategy to look after water quality.

“I hope it will make people think and beaware of how important water qualityreally is,” says Vicki, who has lived in theKiewa Valley all her life. “Every one of usis partly responsible for water quality inone way or the other. All run-off water –whether it be from the farm, fromhouseholds in town, or from industry –ends up in our waterways at some stage.”

The upper reaches of the Kiewa River.The upper reaches of the Kiewa River.

Vicki McMurrich and her son Jarrod,who is part of the Waterwatch program at Kiewa Valley Primary School.

By Margrit Beemster

CatchmentManagement

The club planted 2000 indigenous nativetrees along a kilometre of the river.Around 95% of the trees have survived.The anglers say the project has helped tocontrol stream bank erosion, improved thewater quality and created more habitat forwildlife.

Revegetation was the issue that got theHome Creek Land Management Group up and running. A meeting of locallandholders in the Yarck Hall in 1992recognised the need to plant and protecttrees in the Home Creek catchment area.

In 1989 a new program to redress the lossof trees in the countryside was started.Tree Victoria was part of a State andcommonwealth initiative where targetswere set for desirable levels of treeplanting to revegetate land in critical areas.The national target was to establish onebillion trees by the year 2000.

Tree Victoria has always focused oncommunity tree growing. Around 1237projects have been supported by TreeVictoria over the past ten years. This hasresulted in over three million plants beingestablished across the State.

Tree Victoria and Landcare have growntogether. Often a Tree Victoria grant wasthe catalyst that got Landcare groups upand running. In many cases a small TreeVictoria ‘seeding grant’ has led to large-scale revegetation works.

Tree Victoria has assisted groups fromevery part of Victoria. In 1995 theWarrnambool Angling Club decided torevegetate and beautify a degraded sectionof the Hopkins River.

The group received a Tree Victoria grantthe same year to establish 3000 trees andcomplete some fencing. They plantedstream sides and recharge areas in thesteep hills surrounding the catchment. Theproject has helped to save soil and improve water quality.


1010

Heavy rain at Gobur washes awaythe creek banks.

The Hopkins River has benefited from a Tree Victoria planting undertaken by the local angling club.

The Tree Victoriaplantings have real

erosion benefits.

CatchmentManagement

CatchmentManagement


Improving native fish habitat The new South EastAustralia Landcare Forumwas launched at a conference in Bairnsdalefeaturing Landcare members fromthroughout the region and several high-profile guest speakers.

Conference goers had the opportunity todiscuss the benefits of all Landcare groupsin the region joining together under one‘umbrella’ group, before voting to electforum members from diverse geographicalareas.

Spokesman Rob Belcher said it wasimportant the South East AustraliaLandcare Forum had representatives fromthe 41 Landcare groups active in EastGippsland.

“It’s the first time such a group has beenformed,” Rob said.

“We believe the East Gippsland regionneeded better co-ordination of some of its Landcare activities. The opportunity to develop the South East AustraliaLandcare Forum came about throughdiscussions with East Gippsland CMA.

“There is a strong partnership betweenthe CMA and the Landcare groups andwhile the Authority is offering its supportin the background, it is up to the Landcaregroups to make this forum work.

“The CMA will assist Landcare groupswith their activities by offering advice,support, and improved co-ordinationbetween the various groups as they seekfunding for projects and other initiatives.”

The conference in Bairnsdale includedpresentations from newly electedIndependent Member for Gippsland East,Craig Ingram and one of Landcare’sstalwarts, Rob Youl.

East Gippsland CMA (03) 5153 0462

Four fishways have been installed by the Corangamite CMA in partnershipwith NRE, as part of the State FishwayProgram, which aims to improve fishaccess to critical spawning and habitatareas. The fishways will allow necessarymigrations of native fish betweenfreshwater and the ocean to complete theirlifecycle. Studies have identified that 70% of fish species in the coastalcatchments of south-eastern Australiarequire such migrations.

Construction occurred during May andJune 1999 on fishways at PollocksfordWeir (Barwon River) and at other stream-flow gauging stations on Loves and Kennedys creeks, and on the CurdiesRiver. To ensure that the fishways meettheir objectives, monitoring of fish usagewill occur in early December 1999. This period has been identified as a crucialtime for native fish migration in this region.

Together with NRE, the CorangamiteCMA will continue fishway construction Fishway at Pollocksford Weir (Barwon River).

over the next two years, improvingbreeding and rearing opportunities for theregion’s native fish stock and reinstatingthe range of many species.

Fishways will be constructed on theGellibrand, East Barham, Barwon andMoorabool rivers, along with two sites on Thompsons Creek. Eight sites on theMoorabool River have been identified for fishway construction, opening up morethan 20 kilometres of the river to fishmigration. The removal of barriers to fishmigration is an integral component ofensuring the long-term viability of nativefish species in this region.

Corangamite CMA (03) 5232 9100

CatchmentManagement

MalleeA decade of Landcare in the Mallee

Regional forum established

The Mallee CMA recently hosted aRegional Landcare Conference forLandcare group members, co-ordinators,facilitators and representatives of NRE,celebrating a decade of Landcare in theregion. The conference presented thecommunity with the information necessaryto move forward with their Landcareefforts into the next millennium.

The emphasis for the conference was on local issues and local solutions.Communication was the key to theconference with ample opportunities for sharing ideas and projects as well asnetworking with other participants.

The conference commenced with a tour of the Ouyen area and was followed by alarge dinner held at the Ouyen Golf Club.

A series of workshops were held over thecourse of the second day with pest plantsand animals, dryland salinity, biodiversityon the common farm, farming systems forsustainability and personal health issues of particular focus.

It is now ten years since the first Landcaregroup was launched in the Mallee. The Millewa-Carwarp Landcare Groupwas launched in August 1989 by MinisterK. Setches at Werrimull. The Mallee region now has 22Landcare groups involvingover 1200 members, covering2.4 million hectares of land.

Mallee CMA (03) 5022 4377

Landcarers on tour, MalleeResearch Station, Walpeup.

CatchmentManagement


More than 180 sites in SouthGippsland are sharing$260,000 in funding withlandcarers adding

approximately $500,000 in materials and in-kind support.

This equates to 110,000 trees planted, ninekilometres of fencing erected, 100 hectaresof remnant vegetation protected and closeto 100 hectares of farmland restored. With the announcement of a further$280,000 from the National Heritage Trustfor the year 2000, the huge size of thisproject clearly shows the need for goodproject management.

With over 30 groups in the SouthGippsland Network and 15 of theseparticipating in the Hills To Ocean Project,

the need for on-ground and technicalsupport was quickly realised.

Network Co-ordinator, Emma Bennett,and the West Gippsland CatchmentManagement Authority’s South GippslandManager, John Turner, took on thechallenge. The result was the appointmentof Craig Watsford, CMA Supervisor andGrants Officer, who will spend 60% of histime providing support to the project.

South Gippsland is a leading example of the community, through Landcare,working with the West Gippsland CMAand others to achieve improved catchmentresources.

With partnerships between Landcarenetworks and other CMAs and funding

South Gippsland is high on trees

Landcare in thenorth-east Representatives of most Landcare groups in theregion attended the 1999 North East LandcareForum at Beechworth in August. This thirdannual forum organised by local Landcarenetworks and supported by the North East CMAand local councils, provided a wide range offacilitated workshops. Dr Sharman Stone was the plenary speaker, with Dr Allan Curtis fromCharles Sturt University speaking at a workshopon the future of Landcare.

Greening Australia is co-ordinating a range ofregional training days for Landcare members inthe north-east. A training day on environmentalmonitoring and evaluation will give participantsskills in assessing, measuring and monitoring landmanagement projects. Training days onunderstanding vegetation types provide skills tounderstand and recognise vegetation types andecological classes.

At the time of going to print, the North EastCMA was planning another integration workshopin November. This is a meeting of all project managers in the region, includingLandcare, NRE and CMA representatives, toensure that all those managing on-ground worksprojects are familiar with all other projectsunderway and to maximise the opportunities for integration.

North East CMA (02) 6055 6133

from NHT and corporate Australia, the healthof our catchment will be the winner.

Keep an eye on the changing landscape ofSouth Gippsland in the new millennium.

West Gippsland CMA (03) 5175 7800

habitat for Ramsar sites. Priorities forrevegetation will also take intoconsideration the benefits of loweringsaline watertables, controlling erosion and improving water quality throughstream bank buffer plantings.

The strategy will be used to highlight theneed for remnant vegetation managementand protection across all land tenure andset revegetation targets. It will also guideinvestment in vegetation protection,enhancement and revegetation and focusthe works of community, business andGovernment towards priority areas.

Overall the RVS will provide a consistentapproach to integrated management ofvegetation across both public and privateland in the Port Phillip and Westernportregion.

CaLP Board (03) 9785 0187

CMA staff member planting trees on the Bass River.

Blueprint for protecting remnant vegetation

The Port Phillip andWesternport region isfortunate to have around29% of its original nativevegetation remaining

which makes a significant contribution toland and water quality and biodiversityconservation.

The Port Phillip Catchment and LandProtection (CaLP) Board is preparing aRegional Vegetation Strategy (RVS), withState Government departments, localgovernment and the community, to assessthe importance of remnant stands andprioritise targets for protection andrevegetation.

The RVS will bring together an extensiverange of data collected over many years on the flora and fauna of the region. Data used in the analysis of priorities will include areas of habitat for threatenedspecies, areas of vegetation supportingmigratory bird species, and coastal andwetland vegetation providing important

Support Project. Landcare groups,facilitators, service providers and NREwere all involved with the development of the project.

Glenelg-Hopkins CMA Chief ExecutiveOfficer, Colin Dunkley, said that this is thefirst time a project like this has been triedin Victoria.

“Landcare groups really appreciate the support because the funds help cover the administration costs involvedwith facilitating works and keepcommunications between volunteermembers and between groups moving,”said Mr Dunkley.

Glenelg-Hopkins CMA (03) 5571 2526

Over 75% of Landcare groups in theGlenelg-Hopkins region have responded toa pilot project which offers groups theopportunity to apply for $300 towards thecosts of group administration.

The project recognises the contributionsmade by Landcare groups andacknowledges lack of administrationsupport as a problem for some groups.Costs that can be covered byadministration assistance includephotocopying, faxing, postage, generalsecretarial work, laminating, scanning, GISmaps, computer hire, incorporation costsand insurance costs.

Glenelg-Hopkins CMA helped regionalLandcare groups with the Administration

Country and city co-operate in Project

Hindmarsh

Fishladders are being installed onwaterways in the Goulburn Brokencatchment enabling native fish to move upstream through weirs to breed.

In the Shepparton Irrigation Region (SIR)four vertical-slot fishways (or fishladders)were installed on the Broken Creek thisyear bringing to seven the number of weirs modified on the creek with anothertwo planned. The creek is a significantbreeding site of the Murray cod, now threatened with extinction.

“The fishladders are part of anenvironmental program that hadcontinued to develop a more targetedapproach dealing with wetlands, remnantvegetation and high recharge areas,” saidKen Sampson, the SIR ImplementationCommittee Co-ordinator.

While initiated as part of the drainageprogram, these works also have significantenvironmental benefit and are linked withthe Goulburn Broken CMA NutrientStrategy.

A similar fishladder at Lake Benalla is alsobeing constructed. The $200,000 projectwill enable native fish to swim upstreamfrom the lake into the Broken River tobreed. The river is home to self-sustainingpopulations of Macquarie perch andMurray cod.

Funding for the projects was providedfollowing a study by NRE identifyingmajor barriers to fish migrationthroughout the State. The GoulburnBroken CMA has managed all the fishwayprojects with design and constructionundertaken by Goulburn-Murray Water.

Goulburn Broken CMA (03) 5822 2288

And at the end of the day, everyone rested.

On 15 and 16 August over 300 people cametogether near Nhill, western Victoria, for the Project Hindmarsh Planting Weekend. Aswell as a great turnout by the local community,about 150 people made the journey fromMelbourne to assist in the project. In excess of22,000 trees were planted over the weekend.

The main aim of the Planting Weekend was to plant trees for Project Hindmarsh, but there was also a terrific social aspect to the occasion with a Saturday night party.The Project Hindmarsh Planting Weekend is an excellent example of how the city and thecountry can work together to improve and conserve Victoria’s natural resources.

Hindmarsh Shire displayed great leadership in bringing the community together for theweekend with representatives of NRE,Wimmera CMA, Greening Australia(Victoria) and others to discuss and plan forthis major vegetation management project.

The Hindmarsh Landcare Network wasformed by 12 Landcare groups in HindmarshShire. Project Hindmarsh is the name given toa series of projects currently being undertakenby the network with support from the NaturalHeritage Trust’s Bushcare Program andcorporate sponsors. Project Hindmarshconsists of remnant protection fencing andmanagement and revegetation projects onroadsides and private land to create a web ofbiolinks from the Little Desert National Parkto the Big Desert National Park.

Wimmera CMA (03) 5382 1544

Landcare support in Glenelg-Hopkins

Helping hand for native fish

Vertical-slot fishway on the Broken Creek.

CatchmentManagement

NATURAL HERITAGE TRUST NEWS –• The announcement of successful

1999/2000 Victorian projects was made on 1 October 1999. Groups who have not been notified of the outcome of their 1999 submission should contact their regional NHT Co-ordinator immediately.

• The call for 2000/2001 has opened, with the closing date for new applications being 25 February 2000.

• Continuing project applications in Victoria will close on 11 February 2000.

• Guidelines and application forms are available from regional Catchment Management Authorities.

• Groups proposing new projects in 2000/2001 are strongly encouraged to contact their regional NHT Co-ordinator for advice prior to developing project applications.

• Applications not received on or before the closing date will be returned – absolutely no late applications will be received.

Hints for better applications:

• Groups should liaise with regional NHTCo-ordinators to ensure projects are strategic and address regional priorities.

• Ensure aims and objectives are clear, meaningful and achievable.

• Applications should focus on meeting the objectives of funding programs as detailed in the guidelines booklet.

• Budgets need to be considered carefully, with each item explained/justified. This is one time when the more information provided, the better!

• Monitoring and evaluation are critical to projects – consider and explain the ‘why, how, when and who.’ Natural Resource Monitoring Guide is a helpful booklet on this subject and is available at a cost of $15 from the NRE Information Centre (03) 9637 8325 or seek advice from your regional NHT Co-ordinator.

• The protection of our remaining native grasslands is critical. Groups should seek advice on the most appropriate techniques, particularly for revegetation and regeneration.

• In developing projects, groups should consult as widely as possible with appropriate organsisations and utilise any technical advice available.

And finally:

If in doubt, seek advice from your regionalNHT Co-ordinator. It will save you timeand effort, lead to a better projectsubmission and hence improve yourproject’s chances of being funded.

Enquiries: (03) 5430 4471

Grants

Catchment plans launchedThe six priority program areas for thenorth-central region are salinity,biodiversity, waterways and waterresources, soil health, pest plants andanimals and regional development.

The draft plans were released for publiccomment in September 1999 with allcomments to be considered for inclusionin the final plans. A primary role of thefour committees will be to implement the whole of catchment plans by enablingthe community, agencies, Government,businesses and individuals to managenatural resources in a co-ordinated andeffective way.

Final plans incorporating public commentare due to be released in March.

North Central CMA (03) 5448 7124

In the north-central regionimplementation committees have beenappointed for the four primary rivercatchments – the Avon-Richardson,Avoca, Loddon and Campaspecatchments.

Each committee has developed a draft‘whole of catchment’ plan that drawstogether resource management strategiesrelating to their particular catchment anddescribes catchment priorities under thesix program areas in the North CentralRegional Catchment Strategy. The draftplans also provide a framework fordeveloping future options in line withidentified priorities and for managing new and emerging issues.

NCCMA Chair, Drew English (centre) with CampaspeImplementation Committee Chair, Ron Brooks (left) andLoddon Implementation Committee Chair, JamesWilliams (right) at the September launch of the draftLoddon and Campaspe plans.

CatchmentManagement

It also tells the story of a Geelong grazierwho was one of the first to bring rabbits to Australia.

The book is an indispensable history ofhow Europeans, through the introductionof a single species, changed Australiaforever. It is also a great read and is oftenvery funny.

Many readers will know of Brian Coman.He worked as a research scientist with the Victorian Department of NaturalResources and Environment for 23 years,much of it spent helping landholders wagethe war against rabbits.

Tooth & Nail is published by Text, it costs $24.95 and is available through

most bookshops.Country Matters: social atlas of ruraland regional Australia

This new social atlas provides somerevealing insights into the social landscapeof rural Australia.

This book makes available for the firsttime, easy-to-read, map-based informationon a range of rural, social anddemographic conditions includingpopulation, labour force and employment,income, education and health.

Some of the trends and conditions across rural Australia reported in the atlas include:

• the proportion of rural Australians gaining tertiary qualifications has increased since 1991;

• the proportion of women employed in the agriculture industry has increased;

• unemployment rates have declined in many areas since the mid-1990s;

• population has declined across all age groups in many rural and regional areas; and

• rural and regional Australia have comparatively low levels of mean taxable income, particularly in the wheat and sheep zones and the coastal areas of the eastern states (reflecting lower commodity prices).

The atlas will be of assistance to groupsputting together grant applications,submissions and proposals. Social data is often difficult to come by. The atlasprovides good quotable information onsocial and demographic trends relevant to rural industries and communities.

Country Matters: social atlas of rural andregional Australia costs $40.00. Contact the Bureau of Resource Scienceson (02) 6272 4690.

When the First Fleet arrived at SydneyCove in 1788, its cargo included fiverabbits. A hundred years later rabbits hadcolonised Australia, bringing irreversiblechange to the country’s ecology.

Tooth & Nail is a beautifully written and wonderfully entertaining history abouthuman reactions to the rabbit. BrianComan describes everything from 19thcentury poisoning techniques to destroyingrabbit warrens with explosives, from themany weird theories circulating as to howto destroy the rabbit, to Louis Pasteur’sattempts to infect Australian rabbits withchicken cholera.


Tooth & NailThe Story of the Rabbit in AustraliaTooth & NailThe Story of the Rabbit in Australia

Books

ON THE SHELF

I suggested that curlews were oncecommon in the woodland areas of thedistrict, but now are not so, and howimportant the logs, sticks and otherground cover is for them to nest.

Geoff responded, “Now that you mentionit, we used to hear the curlews all the timeon the farm when I was young”.

He was asked when did that change? andreplied, “I’m not sure but probably aboutthe time we cleaned all the rubbish upfrom within the patch and got rid of therabbits”.

The discussion went on for a short timewith other participants, then out of blueGeoff joined in.

“Now that I think about it, I did hearsome curlews calling last spring and that’sthe first time for a long time. I haven’t hadthe time to clean up the branches in there for a couple of years, not that I would have made the connection until now,” he said.

At the end of the workshop Geoff and I talked about the effect we have on thenatural resources and the need to try tomaintain a balanced approach. He wasintrigued about the relationship with

cleaning up and the curlews not beingaround and undertook to take more noticeof the things that are important to himand weigh up the impacts of hismanagement.

Geoff’s action plan at the end of the dayreflected the discussions and his insights.His plan included:

• establishing ‘filter strips’ around the catchment dams on the farm;

• taking a good look at the remnant vegetation patch – maybe fence it off; and

• take into account the ‘whole picture’ before making a decision.

For more information regardingFarm$mart programs contact Greg Smithon (03) 9207 5564 or Ian Voigt or Dave Munday on (03) 5381 1255.


by Dave Munday, Farm$mart Project Leader,

NW Victoria

During a recent Farm$mart Series BNatural Resources day, there was someserious questioning about the meaning of sustainability.

Of the ten farmers present, three definitelythought they were sustainable, three wereunsure and four thought they weren’t.

The discussion led on to what issustainability, the system in balance, futuregenerations taking on the farm in a goodcondition and increasing production.

The question “what natural resources are important in relationship to farming?”brought quite a varied response. Answersincluded soil, water, sun, rain, nativevegetation, birds and about 15 other issues.Of these, the priorities were seen to be soil, water (through catchmentmanagement) and remnant vegetation.

Participants undertook a self-assessment oftheir current management and the healthof the three priorities.

During discussions on remnant vegetation,one of the group, Geoff, said, “I rate ourpatch of remnant vegetation as moderateto good”.

Questioned as to why he thought this,Geoff replied, “There is still good groundcover and the trees are pretty healthy”.

When asked if had he ever taken firewoodout of the area, he replied, “Yes of coursewe have, and we got rid of the rabbitharbour as well”.

The explanation I gave on the importanceof logs, sticks, understorey and leaf litterled discussion onto some of the small birds that need these items for survival.The group mentioned wrens, thornbillsand robins among others.

Farm$mart workshop prompts the question:

Do you remember the curlew?

Trees with Love

Trees with Love is a newfundraising program fromLandcare Australia whichwill plant a tree where itis really needed for a special occasion. Thetrees can be planted as a gift to someoneon a special birthday or anniversary, or asa unique way of remembering a loved one.

People can choose to have their treeplanted in the National Landcare Forest inCanberra or in a State grove. A portion ofthe proceeds from the sale of every treewill go towards Landcare.

For $29.95 a native tree is planted in a degraded area of your home State andyou receive a beautiful card and CD ofenvironmental music. For $99 a nativetree is planted with a personalised messageon a brass plaque in theNational LandcareForest. The same cardand CD is sent onyour behalf.

For more informationabout Trees with Lovecall 1800 638 733.

Phone in for answers

Do you want to find out about fox orrabbit control measures? Perhaps pricklypear or spear thistle have invaded yourproperty? Where do you go for theinformation?

NRE’s Customer Service Centre nowprovides a single point of contact for NRE products, services, publications andevents and can put you in touch withexperts when you need specialistinformation and advice.

Victorians can access the service fromanywhere in the State for the cost of alocal call (excluding public and mobilephones). Call 136 186 8am to 8pm,Monday to Friday or [email protected]

Above Pic: Ita Buttrose is thepatron of Treeswith Love.

Weed training

Natural Resources and Environment haveproduced a CD and booklet on preventingthe spread of weeds. They are part of atraining program that NRE has beenrunning with local government to traincontractors how to prevent the spread of weeds.

Leigh Dennis from NRE Geelong says 90% of weed spread is caused by man, a large percentage of this is through thetransportation of weed seeds or plant partson vehicles and machinery.

The training course aims to raise theawareness of machinery operators as to their responsibilities regarding thespread of weeds. It also outlines somemethodologies that can be put into placeto reduce the likelihood of weed spread by machinery operations.

The course covers weed reproduction,methodology of weed spread, planningworks to prevent weed spread, machineryhygiene, remedial action and legalresponsibilities.

For more information contact Leigh Dennis on (03) 9637 8392.

IN BRIEF

NDSP supports project on local government and dryland salinityAustralia’s 774 (1995-96) localgovernments to contribute to themanagement of dryland salinity variesconsiderably. From large and complexorganisations with large populations andlarge budgets, to small councils in remoterural areas with small populations, smallbudgets, yet covering large areas of land.

NDSP is supporting a project toinvestigate the capacity of localgovernment to contribute to themanagement of dryland salinity. More effective management of salinity by local government offers considerablesavings to the community.

The project will document a range of casestudies of Australian local governmentcouncils. The case studies cover councilswith a comprehensive approach to natural

Dryland salinity is a major environmentalissue in Australia. Currently about 2.5million hectares is affected. The potentialis for this to increase to more than 15million hectares.

Dryland salinity affects infrastructure suchas roads, fencing and pipes and theimportant natural assets managed by local government. Dryland salinity costsAustralia more than $100 million perannum from damage to infrastructurealone.

Local government can play a vital role in natural resource management bymanaging open spaces, maintainingcommunity infrastructure and assets, and controlling local planning anddevelopment. But the capacity of

resource management, councils with innovativeprograms - including incentive programs,councils working with Landcare, and councils involved in regional co-operationto enhance their action on a catchment scale.The project also involves a survey, a series offorums and a national workshop.

The project is being conducted by a team ofconsultants in close cooperation with theMurray Darling Association.

The project team is being led by Trevor Budgeof the Research Planning Design Group basedin Bendigo and is utilising a Reference Groupcomprising specialist members drawn from allmainland states.

For information contact Trevor Budge, RPD Group, PO Box 2750, Bendigo 3554, Ph: (03) 5441 6552

by Mal Brown


Mildura West Primary School have wonthe 1999 North Landcare EducationAward for their innovative environmentalproject at Lock Island.

The students from Mildura West PrimarySchool have the best ‘classroom’ any childcould dream of. They have adopted a smallisland in the channel of the Murray Riverand spend much of their school daysstudying and rehabilitating it.

Lock Island has suffered serious weed infestation and loss of vegetation. It has important historical links to the

city of Mildura. Much illegal liquor wasconsumed there in Mildura’s ‘temperanceyears’ during the 1880s.

Mildura West Principal, Richard Wood,says the island has created a focus for theschool and the community. “Throughcaring for the plants and animals of theisland we are creating an ethos of caring –where caring for the environment and foreach other becomes a way of thinking.”

The students have planted trees they havepropagated from seed, produced brochuresfor the local community and developed a

rubbish disposal and recycling system.

Richard Wood says the greatest outcomeof the Lock Island project has been thepride on the faces of the children. “It hasshown the students that they can dosomething about the environment at atime when doing everything for theenvironment is out of their reach.”

The school is continuing to demonstrate leadership and innovation in environmental education. They arehosting a National Young People’s River Health Conference to be held in

“Lock Island is a magic place,” says Sarah from Grade One.

Junior LandcareT h e w i n n e r s f r o m M i l d u r a W e s t

By Tarnya Kruger, NRE Catchment Education Co-ordinator

Junior Landcare in schools and communitygroups is continuing to grow and there arenew and innovative ideas being developedall the time.

Nurturing and enhancing young people’sunderstanding of their environment is anessential step toward a better future – thedecision makers of tomorrow!

We’ve had a terrific response to the JuniorLandcare Initiative funding this year. Overhalf of the groups who applied for fundingwere new groups. There are now more than250 groups across Victoria involved withthe Junior Landcare Initiative.

A number of the schools have sent in somegreat photographs of their projects. Therehas certainly been a terrific communitycollaboration and we are sure to see linksbetween schools and Landcare groupscontinue to develop.

For further enquiries about Junior Landcarecontact Tarnya Kruger at NRE Creswick on(03) 5345 2200.

Junior Landcare - a step in the right direction

Trust helps

Hundreds of scouts from across Victoriajoined volunteers from as far away asCalifornia to give the Phillip IslandLandcare Group’s wildlife corridor projectan enormous boost.

The extent of the young helpers’ effortstook everyone by surprise. Jim McFee,local dairy farmer and instigator of thewildlife corridor, was astonished at whatwas achieved in such a short time.

“I can’t believe it’s happening so fast,” he said.

“The idea of a corridor was raised in 1992,but we struggled to pull it together due to lack of funding and people power,” Jim said.

“With funding from the Natural HeritageTrust and Edison Mission Energy and theefforts of our co-ordinators Bessie Husseyand more recently Moragh MacKay andKirsty Skilbeck, we can start to link upeveryone’s landcare work across theIsland,” he said.

GroupNews

Guides andscouts planted15,000 trees inthe corridorover two days.

Thousands of community projects like this one havereceived funding

assistance from theNatural Heritage Trust.

Applications for the next round of grants

close on 26 February 2000. To obtain a copy of

the Guide to New Applications

call 1800 065 823.

scouts do the job!The corridor stretches for 16 kilometresfrom the Penguin Reserve on the west endof the island, meandering through 11farms, linking up previous group plantingsand patches of remnant bush ending at theKoala Conservation Centre and the Oswin Roberts Reserve.

Moragh Mackay, the group’s co-ordinator,was happy that the scouts could contributeso much to the project.

“There were over 350 scouts from acrossthe state. We grouped them into teams,gave each team a local bird or animalname, and then set them to work acrossfour sites along the corridor’s path,” she said.

The most important site was the KittyMiller Wetlands, a huge area excavated tocreate artificial wetlands and a trout farmin the late 1960s but never finished. New owners Faye and David Forder saw the importance of the wetlands forbird habitat and set aside many hectares of the land for revegetation and habitatestablishment.

“We have made a great start inrevegetating an area that has been indesperate need of work for over 30 years -

the vision the late Len Lukey had for itbut never lived to see,” Moragh said.

In addition to the scores of scouts, theAustralian Trust for ConservationVolunteers also lent a hand, sending ateam of international volunteers to help inthe lead up and after the main plantingweekend.

“The ATCV had volunteers on exchangefrom California, New Zealand and NewSouth Wales, who worked alongside

landcare group members prior to theweekend preparing ground, digging holesand distributing plants and guards,”Moragh said.

“The organisation of such a big event wasmade all the less stressful with such greathelpers,” she said.

For more information about the PhillipIsland Landcare Group or the WildlifeCorridor Project, contact Moragh or Kirstyon (03) 5952 5403.

The Kitty Miller Wetlands – 30 years late but better than never.

Natural Heritage Trust A Federal Government Initiative

Natural Heritage Trust A Federal Government Initiative

Moragh Mackay with a few of the international volunteers at the Kitty Miller site.

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summer 1999 l andcare victorian issue 14 · the victorian landcare and catchment management...

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