1

April 2015 Keeping you up -to -date with all the Landcare and Waterwatch news

This month’s c ontents: A message from the Regional Landcare Facilitator News 2 Waterwatch update 4 Hi everyone, Events 8 I hope some of this April rain has reached your Courses and resources 13 area. It’s raining as I’m writing this which is a pleasant change. Funding 13

This month, I’m happy to report the State Government has announced continued funding for the region’s local Landcare Facilitators. This is great news for our Landcare networks and many of the groups the facilitators support.

A lot of the on-ground works and events carried out across the region over the past four years wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Anthony, Chris, Max, Judy, John, Ian, Geoff, Simon, Ben and Sandy.

Hopefully you’ve already received an invite but we’re very excited to be planning the upcoming Volunteer Recognition Event with the Blampied Kooroocheang Landcare Network.

With more than 4,000 Landcare and Waterwatch volunteers across the North Central CMA region putting in lots of hard work and effort to make Speaking of achievements, the Victorian Landcare our environment, properties and communities a better place to live, we’re keen to celebrate your Awards are now open. There are a number of achievements! award categories, ranging from Individual Landcarer to Young Landcare Leader.

This special event, which includes a guided tour, will be held in Smeaton in the south of the region. Can you think of someone in your group or town It will be a great chance to see what other groups who deserves recognition? This is the perfect and volunteers are up to. You’ll also get to relax opportunity. If you require any assistance putting your nomination together please don’t hesitate to and network with other volunteers over a twilight picnic and moonlight cinema featuring let me know. environmental short films. Until next time,

The event is being held on Friday 1 May and we Ashley Rogers have a free bus running from and Regional Landcare Facilitator Castlemaine. For further information check out North Central Catchment Management Authority the events section of the newsletter. PO Box 18 Huntly, VIC 3551 Phone: 03 5448 7124 Email: [email protected]

2

This is fantastic news for north central with all of our Landcare networks and many of Weed of the month… our groups supported by local Landcare Faciliators.

Facilitators build community capacity, assist communities to deliver local action, facilitate effective participation in Landcare activities and enable groups to become self-supporting.

Through the support of facilitators, more than 2,500 on-ground projects have been undertaken, almost two million native plants planted and more than 400,000 hectares have been revegetated, protected or enhanced across the state.

The Victorian Government will be evaluating the Landcare Support Program over the next 12 months, in particular the local Landcare Facilitator Initiative, to find opportunities to strengthen the role and scope of these positions and develop the best possible long-term arrangements for Landcare.

Loddon Plains Landcare Network’s local Landcare Facilitator Anthony Gallacher surveying the wheel cactus infestation from the top of Mt Buckrabanyule near Wedderburn.

2015 Victorian Landcare Awards - Entries Now Open

Do you know an individual, group, network, school or organisation that deserves recognition for their hard work and achievements in natural resource management?

News… Entries are now open for the 2015 Victorian Landcare Awards. The awards celebrate the Great news for local Landcare achievements of Victorians who make significant Facilitators contributions to the sustainable care of our natural resources.

Minister for Environment, Climate Change and There are a variety of award categories including Water Lisa Neville has committed $3.2 million to Young Landcare Leader, Indigenous Land ensure the funding of Victoria’s 68 Landcare Management, Landcare Community Group and facilitator positions for another four years. Australian Government Innovation in Sustainable

Farm Practices. 3

Entries for the awards close on Sunday 21 June “We have also gathered a diverse group of 2015. For further information, including the mentors to be involved in the learning network to nomination form, head to https://e- foster rabbit expertise in communities, which is award.com.au/2015/landcareawards/newentry/a really important as many people rely on local, bout.php . trusted knowledge to get things done.”

The course is for people interested in coordinating and leading action on rabbits. People may be associated with community or farming groups, Landcare, Catchment Management Authorities, local government agencies or other organisations responsible for land management.

Community champions needed for “There are a limited number of places in the course, and we would ask that anybody rabbit leadership program interested in attending to fill out an expression- of-interest form,” Michael said. A new leadership program is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) to help boost expertise in “The course costs are partially subsidised through managing rabbits. the Victorian Rabbit Action Network.”

The Victorian Rabbit Action Network, a The program is scheduled for Wednesday 20 to collaboration between the Department of Friday 22 May, and the EOI period closes on Economic Development, Jobs Transport and Monday 4 May. Resources and the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, will launch the program. For further information, including the EOI form, head to www.rabbitaction.com or contact Michael The program consists of a two-day technical Reid, on (02) 60437975 or email training course delivered by rabbit management [email protected]. experts. Participants will then be given the opportunity to join a learning network to continue Australian Farmer of the Year Awards to build their skills and confidence to influence and facilitate rabbit management in their The Australian Farmer of the Year Awards communities. celebrate the highly professional, innovative and

sustainable approach of our farmers and farming families, showcasing their passion and raising the profile of the important role they play in Australian agriculture.

Coming into its sixth year, The Kondinin Group and ABC Rural have announced the 2015 Farmer of the Year Awards will be held at The InterContinental Sydney on 9 September 2015.

Nominations for the awards are now open with a broad range of categories including: • Horticultural Grower of the Year • Livestock Producer of the Year • Dairy Farmers of the Year • Grain Grower of the Year

Community champions for rabbit control are • Egg Farmer of the Year critical for getting things done on the ground. • Diversification Farmer of the Year Photo: Nick Hunter. • Young Farmer of the Year • Biosecurity Farmer of the Year (plant National Rabbit Management Facilitator Michael category) Reid said the number of community members • Agricultural Student of the Year. with rabbit expertise was declining. Nominations close Friday 26 June. For further “The technical training component is being information or to submit a nomination head to delivered by the best in the business,” he said. http://www.farmingahead.com.au/FarmerOfYear or email [email protected]. 4

Saltwatch Week – A state-wide snapshot of salinity

Saltwatch began in 1987, and is Australia's longest-running community monitoring program.

During Saltwatch Week each year, schools and community groups from all over Victoria can learn about the effects of salinity on water quality in their local catchment by collecting local water Hello Everyone, sources and testing with a salinity meter to determine salt content. I hope you’re enjoying another jam packed edition of the North Central chat. This month Snapshot monitoring provides a terrific Nicole and I have been very busy. We have opportunity for waterway managers to assess the welcomed three new community volunteers to condition of our waterways at a particular point in the program and we are still receiving lots of time. interest from the community to participate in the River Detectives program. The collaborative efforts of volunteers sampling local waterways creates opportunities for stories Planning for the upcoming Volunteer Recognition to be told about changes in salinity hot spots Event has been in full swing. The event, to be held over time. It can also illustrate the effects of in Smeaton, is a great chance to relax and climatic changes and climate variability, providing network with other volunteers over a twilight waterway mangers with information about picnic and moonlight cinema featuring some changing and long-term trends for salinity across really great environmental short films. the state.

It’s Saltwatch Week! Well not quite, from Monday 18 May - Sunday 24 May 2015 the state Waterwatch program will encourage and engage schools, individuals and community groups to participate in collecting samples of water from their local waterways to test and report the salinity levels on a state-wide database.

Rob Loats testing salinity levels at his monitoring site on the Avoca River.

If we didn’t have our community volunteers assisting in collecting this information, we would not have opportunity to contribute information on such a large scale. This would lead to large knowledge gaps around salinity movements, distribution and hot spots within our landscape at a local, regional and state level.

Happy reading, If you would like to participate in Saltwatch week, please contact us at Waterwatch to learn how! Cass Davis Regional Waterwatch Coordinator North Central Catchment Management Authority PO Box 18 Huntly, VIC 3551 Phone: 03 5448 7124 Email: [email protected]

5

because he was interested in increasing his skills Floating Wetlands - Urban lakes and knowledge in the art of water quality become a trial site monitoring. Graeme is a Bendigo local and it just happened that we had the perfect project for him I am very excited to share that the trial site for – the Floating Wetlands project mentioned in the the Floating Wetlands project by the City of previous story. Greater Bendigo (CoGB), is underway. Works at the site are taking place and over the next few Graeme will monitor the water quality on a weeks. If you drive past Gateway Park at monthly basis at the Kangaroo Flat site and Kangaroo Flat, you will see the construction report the data to the Waterwatch Database. A taking place on the lake. report will be developed in the next two years, which will explore trends of water quality pre and This project is the first trial site set up within the post installation of the wetlands. region to better understand if the water quality can be improved from the addition of the wetlands.

The CoGB will be monitoring the site for nutrients and dissolved oxygen levels. North Central Waterwatch has taken the opportunity to partner up and conduct some of our very own testing.

The type of wetlands being installed have been selected by the council as they allow for easy maintenance, the grasses need to be slashed annually and the modules are buoyant and can be walked on. There will be a pump system installed that will pumps water to the modules and allow constant water movement through them to encourage filtration.

If the wetlands are proven to work and reduce Graeme Harris begins monitoring water quality of nutrient loads into the Bendigo Creek, the CoGB the lake at Gateway Park to help us understand will plan to install more floating wetlands in urban the impact of the floating wetlands. lakes around the CBD.

Barbara James – Mia Mia

Our second new recruit is Barbara James, who joined the program in an effort to monitor the health of the Campaspe River near Mia Mia.

Barbara is a member of the local Landcare group and has a personal interest in the river that runs through her property.

Barbara’s patch of the river is classified as Reach 6 in the North Central Regional Waterway Strategy (RWS) and is a site the Waterwatch program has identified as a knowledge data-gap that needs to be filled.

A floating wetland. Photo: Jason Waters, City of The resource condition target for this site Greater Bendigo. outlined in the North Central RWS is to improve the condition of the river at reach six and seven from very poor and moderate to good (based on Waterwatch program recruits a new the Index of Stream Condition) by 2050. team of community volunteers Waterwatch data collected from this reach will Graeme Harris – Kangaroo Flat contribute to the water-quality assessment of the river and Index of Stream Condition assessment Our first new recruit I would like to introduce to and will help inform waterway managers of water you is Graeme Harris. Graeme joined the program quality over time. 6

Chris will continue to monitor the site and is keen to compare her data with Ron Cosgrave, who monitors a site 10km upstream. Chris is also keen to use the monitoring program as way of engaging local primary school students in raising awareness of the importance of healthy waterways and river health concepts through our River Detectives program.

Waterwatch up for nominations – Victorian Landcare Awards

As mentioned earlier in the newsletter, nominations for the Victorian Landcare awards are now open.

As Waterwatch is a community engagement program connecting local communities with river health and sustainable water issues and management, we are encouraging Waterwatch volunteers to nominate.

This is a very exciting opportunity for

Barbara James receiving training in the use of Waterwatch and the significant contribution our Waterwatch equipment beside the Campaspe community volunteers make to the environment River at Mia Mia. to be showcased a national level. If know someone who you think should be nominated, Green Army Team – Upper Loddon and Avoca please check out the website for more details. I Landcare Network am urging you all to take this opportunity to help raise the profile of the Waterwatch program in This month, we would also like to welcome Victoria! aboard Chris Pollock and her Green Army team. Chris is the Landcare Facilitator for the Upper Refer to Page 2 of the newsletter for further Loddon and Avoca Landcare Network and is details on the awards. interested in up-skilling her Green Army team in water quality monitoring techniques. River Detectives: A message

The team will monitor a site on Birch’s Creek at Things are steaming ahead in the wonderful Reach 21. This site is also a priority as identified in world of River Detectives. With the beginning of the North Central RWS and the resource term two, many groups are getting stuck into condition target for this site is to improve the water quality testing. I recently received an condition from poor to good (based on the Index enthusiastic email from staff at the Doxa Youth of Stream Condition) by 2050. Camp, Malmsbury:

“We are currently in the process of using our games room as an interactive River Detectives resource. We have our digital microscope up and running and connected to a large screen and children are inspired by seeing tiny hairs on the backswimmer, or the heart of a glass shrimp (we think it was the heart). Since our training at Avoca, we have had four different groups table results of our patch of the Loddon.”

The map featured below demonstrates the distribution of River Detectives groups across the north central region. We are thrilled to be able to share this fantastic program with so many more children in the region thanks to the wonderful Green Army team training in monitoring water passion and commitment of amazing teachers, quality of Birch’s Creek. parents, leaders and volunteer facilitators

7

associated with the diverse array of groups Saltwatch Week is approaching, May 18-24. If you involved. and your local school would like to get involved, contact us here at Waterwatch to find out how! If you are interested in knowing the names of individual schools/groups involved in your area, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

8

The Campaspe River, which stretches from the Central Victorian highlands near Ashbourne to the

Events Murray River, is home to an amazing array of fauna and flora as well as majestic basalt columns Aboriginal history of the Toolleen and lava caves. District

The Mt Pleasant Creek Catchment Landcare Group invites interested community members to come and learn about the indigenous history of the Toolleen district.

Trish Terry, Chair of the Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, will welcome participants to Country and then give a presentation entitled ‘Cultural Landscapes’.

Following this, sociologist and author Gerry Gill of the Sociology and Anthropology Department at La Trobe University Bendigo will give an illustrated talk and show a film he made at the site of the local ancient greenstone quarry.

When: Sunday April 26

Time: 2pm (afternoon tea provided)

Where: Toolleen Community Centre, Toolleen Recreation Reserve, Toolleen-Cornella Road, Toolleen, Victoria

RSVP: Admission is free but bookings are essential by emailing [email protected] or phone Jan on 03 5433 6333. The Campapse River at Redesdale. Photo: Stephen Malone Photography.

North Central CMA invites locals with an interest in learning more about the Campaspe River to attend one of two upcoming workshops.

The free workshops will feature four guest speakers who will share their insights and passion for Crown Land management, weed control, cultural heritage, threatened species and environmental flows. Participants will learn about a variety of topics relating to the values, threats and management of the Campaspe River.

There will also be other information available about gorse and blackberry control, willow removal and local fish and waterbirds.

All are welcome at this engaging talk on Workshop one Aboriginal history. When: Tuesday 28 April 2015 Time: 10am to 2pm (lunch provided) Where: Private property north of Elmore Campaspe River the focus of upcoming waterways workshops Workshop two When: Thursday 30 April 2015 One of the region’s most important waterways Time: 10am to 2pm (lunch provided) will be the focus of two workshops in late April. Where: Degraves Mill, Carlsruhe, Victoria

9

To RSVP for either workshop, contact the North RSVP: Is essential to the North Central CMA by Central CMA on (03) 5448 7124 or email Wednesday 29 April 2015 via email [email protected] [email protected] or phone 03 5448 7124. Please advise if you are catching Volunteer Recognition Event – agenda the bus, buying dinner and/or cheese out now platters on the night.

For further information please view the agenda Landcare and Waterwatch play an important role attached or visit the North Central CMA website in bringing people together to protect our natural www.nccma.vic.gov.au. environment and improve our farming systems.

The North Central CMA, in partnership with the Blampied Kooroocheang Landcare Consortium, is celebrating the achievements of our NRM community groups and volunteers at a special event to be held in Smeaton.

A range of activities will be on offer, including: • Guided tour of local Landcare and Waterwatch projects o Discover north central Victoria’s rare Snow Gums and Yarra Gums o Learn about Birch’s Creek and its resident platypus • Twilight picnic against the backdrop of Anderson’s Mill at Smeaton • Moonlight cinema showcasing a series of short films from the Environmental Film Anderson’s Mill at Smeaton will provide the Festival . backdrop for the Volunteer Recognition Event.

The event is a great opportunity to relax and Permaculture North Central Victoria to network with other volunteers passionate about their local environment, waterway or agriculture hosts its first event of International industry. Not involved in Landcare or Permaculture Day Waterwatch? Come along and discover what it’s all about. The newly-formed Permaculture North Central Victoria group has announced Lisa Heenan will A free bus will be running from Bendigo and MC, and Darren J Doherty (Regarians) will Castlemaine: present, at their first event titled ‘A celebration • Bendigo Coachlines, 90 Wood Street, connecting the many facets of a permanent Bendigo – departing at 2.15pm culture’. • Castlemaine Football and Netball Ground, 2 Gingell Street, Castlemaine – departing at 3pm. To book a seat on the bus please advise the North Central CMA upon registering.

When: Friday 1 May 2015

Time: 4pm – Guided tour 5pm – Picnic and moonlight cinema 9pm – Event close Soil health will be a key focus. Those interested in Where: Anderson’s Mill, Creswick-Newstead permaculture in north central Victoria, whether it Road, Smeaton VIC be in the home garden, community space or small acreage farm or the management of Crown Land Cost: Free event. BYO warm clothing, chairs, or broadacre farm, are invited to participate in picnic and drinks. BBQ dinner ($15 per this exciting event. person and cheese platters ($15 each) available for purchase from the local The event will include a special screening of ‘Fair community groups. Cash only. Food’, a documentary featuring Costa Georgiadis and Colin Seis. It’s a must-see. Dr Nick Rose, 10

Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance, will also be speaking at the event.

When: Sunday 3 May 2015

Where: Ceres Environment Park, corner of Roberts and Stewart streets, Brunswick East, Victoria

RSVP: For further information or to get involved in the event (there are opportunities for stall holders and guest speakers) please contact group coordinator Wendy Lehman by emailing [email protected] or head to https://www.facebook.com/events/2877 Photopoint monitoring is a great way to record 84351402056/ . change over time, as seen in this revegetation project. Photo: Nick Layne, North Central CMA. Nature’s stocktake: how is your restoration project performing? When: Friday 8 May 2015 Time: 10am to 3.3opm

Where: Taradale, Victoria Connecting Country’s autumn workshop series is nearing completion with the final workshop to The workshop costs include morning tea, lunch, take place in early May. session notes and handouts, and follow up web-

based resources. The final workshop will focus on monitoring and measuring the outcomes of your restoration Cost: Single workshop - $30 per person (or project using biodiversity indicators, such as $20 for Concession and Connecting photopoints, plant and animal surveys. Country members).

Series (all four workshops): $100 per

person (or $70 Concession and

Connecting Country members).

RSVP: To register download an application form from www.connectingcountry.org.au , or contact Janet on 5472 1594 or email [email protected] .

The Working with Nature to Improve Your Property’ Workshop Program 2015 is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian Government.

Workshops focus on strategic grant seeking and re-energising your

community group

Would you like to improve your grant-writing skills to assist in future grant applications?

Are you interested in learning more about attracting new members to your Landcare group and re-energising the current members?

The North Central CMA is hosting a series of free workshops across the region. Participants are invited to attend morning or afternoon session or come for the whole day.

Strategic Grant Seeking Morning session 9.30am – 1pm. 11

This practical workshop will assist volunteers to The workshops will cover: understand the grant-application process and • How to recruit and retain volunteers how to write an effective submission. Participants • How to win grants will also explore a broad range of funding • The basics of marketing and media avenues and stakeholder relationships. The first workshop will be held in May.

Re-energising Your Group When: Wednesday 13 May 2015 Afternoon session 2pm - 4pm During this workshop we will explore ideas on Time: 10am - 1pm (morning tea and lunch how volunteer groups can be re-energised provided) including the recruitment, engagement and retention of volunteers and planning for a Where: Romsey Community Hub sustainable future RSVP: For further information or to book a place The workshops will be facilitated by Kerry please contact Stephen Hiley, Community Anderson, who is renowned for her practical and Engagement Officer, engaging workshops. [email protected] .

Bringing with her years of experience as a Feeding in the Spotlight successful grant-seeker for community groups and not-for-profits, Kerry will share her Do you have a burning question about feeding knowledge as a former Grants Manager of a your herd? national philanthropic foundation and current member the Regional Development Australia Join industry experts for a lunch or evening Loddon Mallee Committee that advocates for session to have your questions answered on federal and state government funding investment nutrition and feeding from some of the best in the in the region. business.

Passionate about rural communities and the Dairy farmers are able to attend either a lunch or groups that serve them, Kerry has a wealth of evening information session. knowledge to share.

Workshop details:

Echuca When: Monday 11 May 2015 Where: Function Room, Cnr Hare and Heygarth Streets,

Huntly When: Tuesday 12 May 2015 Where: North Central CMA Board Room, 628-634 Midland Highway, Huntly, 3551

St Arnaud When: Wednesday 13 May 2015 Animal nutrition is critical to dairy herd Where: Community Meeting room, 40 Napier productivity and will be the focus of two Street, St Arnaud VIC information sessions.

Cost: Free. Light refreshments will be provided Each event will host a question-and-answer between sessions. session where your questions will be answered

directly from the expert panel which will include: RSVP: Is essential to the North Central CMA by • Thursday 30 April 2015 as places are Dr Mark Burgemeister, dairy cattle limited. Email [email protected] or Veterinanrian and Rumiant Nutritionist • phone 03 5448 7124. Dr Bill Wales, Research Manager – Dairy Production Services, Department of Economic Development Free workshops for groups • Kevin Kelly. Senior Research Scientist – Agrononmy, Department of Economic The Macedon Ranges Shire Council is also Development. providing free workshops for members of local community groups, including Landcare. Lunch session:

12

When: Wednesday 20 May When: Thursday 14 May 2015 Time: 11am to 2pm (including lunch) Time: 10.45am to 12.30pm (lunch provided, Where: Port of Echuca, Victoria please BYO chair)

Evening session: Where: Calivil Recreation Reserve, Calivil, Victoria When: Thursday 14 May 2015 Time: 7pm to 10pm (including dinner) RSVP: To Murray Dairy on 03 5833 5312 or email Where: Shamrock Hotel, Numurkah, Victoria. [email protected] .

RSVP: For either event to Murray Dairy by Biodiversity across the Borders Monday 11 May 2015 by emailing Conference 2015 [email protected] or phoning

03 5833 5312. The sixth Biodiversity across the Borders Conference will be held in Ballarat this June. This Moth talk in Trentham year’s theme is ‘Biodiversity in Rural Landscapes’.

Wombat Forestcare is hosting an exciting talk on The conference features a mix of keynote moths that will explore the biology of moth life- presentations and concurrent sessions on a cycles, food-chains, interactions with other variety of topics including promoting ecological invertebrates and the impacts and influences of literacy in our communities, wetland connectivity fire. Guest speaker will be Steve Williams. and management, mediating the effect of severe drought on bird communities, and many more. When: Saturday 16 May 2015 When: Friday 12 June 2015 Time: 1.30pm - 3.30pm Time: 8.45am - 5pm Where: Trentham Neighbourhood Centre, High Street, Trentham Victoria Where: Federation University, Mt Helen Campus, University Drive, Ballarat, Victoria. Cost: Gold-coin donation Cost: FREE – morning, afternoon tea and lunch For further information contact Wombat provided. Forestcare on [email protected] . RSVPs: For more information and to Plan for nutrients workshop register, please contact Associate Professor SK Florentine by emailing Nutrients are vital in a farm business in order to [email protected] . maximise your soil health to grow as much feed as possible. The 10th annual waterbug workshop

Come along to learn how you can make better The Waterbug Company is running another strategic use of fertilisers using Fert$mart waterbug workshop. The 10th anniversary nutrient planning as well as more effectively using workshop is set to be the same as all the others, effluent nutrients to save money. but it will be their last.

These workshops will cover: The workshops have been designed to give • Fert$mart nutrient management planning participants skills to identify waterbugs as an important tool to understand your (macroinvertebrates) to Order and Family Level. farms nutrient levels and fertilizer requirements During the workshops, participants will learn skills • The selection of farm management zones to use taxonomic keys to help identify waterbugs in soil testing to improve the impact of and will explore a range of common families from fertilisers on particular areas of your farm the easiest to the hardest to identify.

• Effluent as a key source of nutrients that Participants will be encouraged to bring their own can offset fertiliser costs. material to identify, which ensures the knowledge

they take home is relevant to them and not just A local agronomist will present on Fert$mart and based on a random set of animals the boys have Dairy Australia’s Scott Birchall will discuss found in Tom's farm dam the week before. nutrients in effluent.

13

When: Wednesday 1 July - Friday 3 July 2015 • Chemical Users Initial Training (the course is three full days ). • Chemical Users Refresher Training For those interested the North Central CMA can Where: Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne also coordinate logistics for 1080 endorsements.

Cost: $550 (incl GST) To apply please fill in and submit an EOI form, which are available at www.nccma.vic.gov.au RSVP: To register for the workshop head to www.waterbug.net/workshop.html . When: Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 June

Time: 9am - 3pm (lunch provided)

Where: Kerang Learning Centre 11 Scoresby Street, Victoria

Cost: Sponsored places $0 Industry places $340 (Excl GST)

EOI: EOIs should be submitted to the North Central CMA by 10am Tuesday 2 June 2015 on (03) 5448 7124 or email [email protected].

Waterbugs are an important indicator of water quality and waterway health.

Courses and resources

Kerang Chemical Users Course

Expressions of interest (EOI) are now being accepted to undertake the nationally accredited Chemical Users Course in Kerang .

Pest plants and animals cost the community millions of dollars each year in lost productivity Chemical control of Blackberry along a and have a significant impact on the natural waterway. environment. Funding As part of a coordinated approach to reduce the threat of invasive species, the North Central CMA is offering sponsorship to landholders living in Loddon Shire Community Grants and around the internationally important Kerang Scheme closes 1 May 2015 Wetlands to obtain or refresh their chemical handling accreditation. Local community organisations have until Friday 1 May to stake a claim for a share of the $200,000 The course is also open to Landcare members pool, now available under Loddon Shire Council’s undertaking natural resource management works annual Community Grants Scheme. in the North Central CMA region. These grants go towards projects that develop or Places in the course are limited. Sponsored improve existing community facilities, provide places are available for free to participants activities or deliver services that improve the meeting the criteria above (total course value quality of life for Loddon residents. $340). EOIs from industry and interested community members are welcome (full course Over the past 15 years, council has invested more costs applies). All course materials, training and than $1.4 million in about 650 projects, worth, in lunch are included in course costs. total, $5 million.

The course can be undertaken over one or two The scheme funds projects on a 2:1 basis, with days depending on the participant's previous council giving $2 for every $1 contributed by the training. Courses available include: applicant. The most that can be applied for is 14

$10,000, which requires a contribution of at least Bendigo’s website: $5,000 from the applicant, either cash or in-kind https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/Services/Comm or both. Last year, 44 grants were made, taking unity/Grants#.VTCFr2criwk . up almost the full allocation. Alternatively, contact Narelle Lyle by email For more information, please phone Tony [email protected] or phone 03 5434 Bellenger on 03 5494 1200. 6214.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council Community Funding Scheme closes 1 The North Central Chat is made available thanks to funding from the Victorian and May 2015 Australian governments.

The Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Community Funding Scheme closes on Friday 1 May 2015. Grants of up to $6,000 are available to not-for- profit groups, and individuals in some instances.

The funding can be used for a variety of projects and resources, such as creating business plans, websites, feasibility studies, purchasing educational resources, digital cameras and projectors, events, events, signage, protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainability.

Further details can be found on the Macedon Ranges Shire Council website: http://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/Council_the_Region/ About_Council/Grants_Funding/Council_Grants/ Community_Funding_Scheme .

Alternatively, contact council’s Governance Project Officer by emailing [email protected] or phoning 03 5422 0345.

City of Greater Bendigo’s new Partnership Grant Program

The will introduce its new Partnership Grants Program in the new financial year and applications for the 2015-16 financial year will open on Monday 4 May and close on Friday 22 May 2015.

Council endorsed the new program in February and invites not-for-profit organisations to apply for fixed funding for one, two or three year terms. There is no set maximum funding limit.

The funding will be targeted to initiatives that are: • Underpinned by the principles of transparency, equality and sustainability • Align with council’s strategic objectives • Support community recognition of cultural, historical or nationally significant events and activities • Have great potential for lasting community benefit.

For further information, including guidelines and application forms, please visit the City of Greater