VICTORIAN

Autumn 10 Issue 48 & CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT

SOIL AND SOIL CARBON FEATURE Dairying in a changing climate Farm audits reduce greenhouse emissions North east projects link soil health and soil carbon Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management

A UTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 Contents

8 03 From the Minister

04 Dairying in a changing climate Stuart and Jacqui Tracy from Waratah Bay in South Gippsland are adjusting their farming system in response to the changing climate. 06 Farm audits reduce greenhouse emissions Fifty farmers have achieved energy, waste and water reductions from participating in the Westernport Greenhouse Emissions Project. 08 Yea field day uncovers soil essentials Groundcover and soils ecologist Dr Christine Jones explains the importance of improving soil quality. 10 North east projects link soil health with soil carbon Groundcover is essential for healthy soil. Landcare groups and farmers in the north east are discovering how soil carbon can reverse degradation, build soil health and improve productivity. 12 Volunteers – where to find them and how to keep them A series of workshops has helped Landcare groups identify their need for 11 volunteers and learn new ways to reach out into the community. 15 Next stop Hilda Falls A successful Landcare partnership in South Gippsland is transforming a degraded site into a scenic railway destination. 16 Starting up a Landcare network Practical advice for groups considering forming or joining a Landcare network. 20 Mistletoe and tree stress The Victorian Mobile Landcare Group tackles a serious mistletoe infestation at Benalla. 22 Regional roundup Dung beetles ready for release in the Find out what’s happening in Landcare across Victoria. north east.

Editorial Advisory Committee This publication is copyright. No part may be Becky Hemming East Gippsland CMA, reproduced by any process except in accordance 18 Katie Le Blanc DPI, Susi Johnson VFF, with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Sally MacAdams DSE, Cathy Heycock DSE. Authorised by the Victorian Government, Editorial contributions 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. Carrie Tiffany, PO Box 1135, Mitcham North 3132 Phone 0405 697 548 ISSN 1327 5496 E-mail: [email protected] The State of Victoria and its employees does not Cover photograph guarantee that this publication is without fl aw of Ian Humphry collects a soil sample on any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular the property he farms with his brother purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for Lindsay at Springhurst, near Wangaratta. any error, loss or other consequences which may The Humphry brothers won Victoria’s arise from you relying on any information in this Landcare Primary Producer Award in publication. 2008. They are part of a new soil carbon The State of Victoria acknowledges contributions program being run in the north east. made by private enterprise and other persons Students from the School for Student Photograph by Michael Bell. or groups interested in Landcare. Acceptance of Leadership are participating in a series of © The State of Victoria Department of these contributions, however, does not endorse sustainability lessons. Sustainability and Environment 2009. or imply endorsement by the State of Victoria of any product, service, or view offered by contributors.

2 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT From the Minister

This year is already shaping up to be a Congratulations to Victorian farmers Alice Project. I join with the Victorian Landcare busy one for Victorian Landcare, with a lot and Kevin Knight who were recently community in congratulating both the of great projects and initiatives continuing awarded the McKell Medal for excellence Knights and the Tracys on their outstanding to shape the future of our land and and achievement in natural resource achievements. biodiversity. management. The award commemorates Congratulations are also due to the many the contribution of former Premier of NSW There is plenty of information on soil and people who work tirelessly on Landcare and Governor-General of Australia Sir soil carbon in this issue. Soil is an essential projects throughout Victoria. Their efforts William McKell to soil and land conservation. building block for agriculture and for the are a cornerstone of managing resource environment – healthy soil is critical for During the past 40 years, the brother and management for today and tomorrow. our social, economic and environmental sister team have turned their Pittong farm sustainability. Increasing interest and into a showcase of conservation farming concern about greenhouse gas emissions and have been doing some great work in has led to a renewed focus on building up tackling severe dryland salinity in their area. soil organic matter. Alice and Kevin were founding members of The story in this issue from Victoria’s north the Pittong-Hoyles Creek Landcare Group, east shows how one region is increasing with Kevin a driving force behind the Gavin Jennings, Minister for Environment the skill base of its landholders with soil success of the Woady Yaloak Catchment and Climate Change MLC health forums and workshops that have a focus on practical changes to make farms more economically viable and sustainable. The interview with dairy farmers Stuart and Jacqui Tracy from South Gippsland highlights the complexities of managing a modern farm. With the added challenge of a changing climate, the Tracys approach every decision with research and knowledge; they reuse water, recycle nutrients, test their soil and use energy saving technology. A parliamentary enquiry into soil carbon sequestration in Victoria is currently underway and a report is due later this year. The Environment and Natural Resources Committee has been exploring the possible environmental benefits of soil carbon, considering how measurement can be undertaken, identifying costs and harms and looking at links with other schemes and policies. Importantly it will explore options for the Victorian Government to support the benefits of soil sequestration. Left, Kevin Knight on the farm at Pittong. Right, Alice Knight at a function for the Woady Yaloak Catchment Project.

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 3 Dairy farming in a changing climate

By Gillian Hayman

Stuart and Jacqui Tracy are dairy farmers at A new cow shed completed in 2006 Waratah Bay in South Gippsland. They milk services the farm well. The Tracys 470 cows on their ocean-front property are seeking energy savings in the shed Jacqui and Stuart Tracy are adapting their and are members of the Fish Creek and run their automatic wash system farming practices to the changing climate. Landcare Group. at temperatures of about 50 degrees celsius. Quantum (heat pump) hot water Stuart Tracy believes that he and Jacqui services were installed this year and Stuart are observing changes in the climate. They and Jacqui are keeping an eye on new have noticed later autumn breaks – often technologies to reduce energy and water calf rearing area. With later autumn breaks a winter break, milder winters resulting in use even further. freshly lactating cows are not always able to more grass growth and the growing season move on to green pastures. A feed pad built finishing earlier, often resulting in an early “We want to save energy, dollars and in 2004 allows the feeding of oaten hay, silage season. not have such a big impact on the bread, almond hulls and home-grown silage. environment,” Jacqui said. According to Jacqui they have not had a The other challenge that Stuart and Jacqui March calving wet winter since 1996. did not predict was mastitis. The often In 2002 the Tracys made the decision to “We now make silage in September, so dusty conditions in March and the increased change their calving pattern. Tired of calving there is no getting away in those school number of flies that come with drier cows in muddy, cold conditions during holidays anymore,” Jacqui said. summers have meant more cases of mastitis. the winter and seeing significant pasture Changes in the climate have brought damage, calving was moved to March. Pasture trials underway changes to the Tracys’ farming system. The Traditionally rye grass has been the According to Stuart calving is now much extended dry season over the summer predominant pasture species on the farm. easier with calves born on to dry paddocks. months and less runoff throughout the Longer, drier summers have brought winter means water supply is tighter and “Our milk production is much more even. concern about pasture survival and Stuart needs to be managed carefully. We used to have large peaks and troughs has found that annual over-sowing of in milk production which would cost us pastures is becoming expensive. With this Effluent captured from the cow shed and money. Winter milk incentives are gained in mind he is investigating alternative deep feed pad is irrigated over half the milking with this calving pattern and lactating rooted species, more suited to the sandy area. Not only is water reused, but nutrients cows can make the most of grass growth loam soils and drier summer conditions. are recycled too. Annual soil testing allows through the winter months,” Stuart said. Stuart has begun trialling cocksfoot, fescues Stuart and Jacqui to monitor nutrient levels and prairie grasses and is working through With calving now in early March there are on these areas. The reuse of nutrients palatability, grazing and management issues also some challenges. Hot days can cause has resulted in a reduced application of with these species. phosphorous and potassium fertilisers and some heat stress to the young calves in the in turn equates to financial savings. shed; this is managed with shading of the The Tracys’ focus on establishing shelter belts over many years is paying off as Stuart and Jacqui Tracy’s ocean-front dairy farm (the boundary marked in red) at Waratah Bay. longer, hotter and drier summers are occurring. Stock are able to use the shade and shelter and it provides important habitat for many coastal bird species. Managing a farming system is complex. With the added challenge of changing seasonal conditions, every decision made requires careful research and knowledge. The Tracys have obtained information from other farmers and advisors. They are managing their farm using the best management practices available and adapting to the changing climate that they are observing every day. For further information contact Gillian Hayman, the Dairying for Tomorrow Co-ordinator for Gippsland, on 5683 2663 or visit the website at www.dairyingfortomorrow.com

4 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT New proximal sensing methods are becoming available which speed up the process of soil carbon analysis in the field.

Soil carbon research in New Zealand is concentrating on improving grazing land management. New Zealand soil carbon news

Like Australia, New Zealand is currently community and provides knowledge methods are at the development stage – exploring a system to encourage and advice on soil carbon processes they allow more measurements, but at landowners to adopt land management and inventories. According to Carolyn, perhaps less precision than the traditional practices that increase the carbon stored New Zealand is discussing the possibility methods.” in agricultural lands. and practicalities of assessing soil carbon Carolyn also referred to an article by change due to agricultural management About 75 percent of land farmed in Kusumo et al. in the Australian Journal of practices, although no definite decisions New Zealand is devoted to pastoral Soil Research, 2009, which describes a have been made at this stage. farming. This means the system can proximal sensing method for field analysis concentrate on incentives for improving “There are big challenges for measuring of soil carbon. grazing land management. Many New soil carbon accurately over time, to New Zealand’s Agricultural Greenhouse Zealand farmers already have a well- adequately include its spatial variability, Gas Research Centre opened earlier this developed understanding of soil science for example, over the size of one farm. year. The centre will undertake research and are experienced in using soil tests. Traditional methods of soil sampling, into methane, nitrous oxide and soil This knowledge base, along with including an estimate of the bulk density carbon, looking for methods to reduce established relationships with soil testing of the soil, are very time consuming and methane and nitrous oxide emissions, institutions, means New Zealand farmers expensive,” Carolyn said. and stabilise soil organic matter levels in are well placed to understand and comply Carolyn referred to new methods that agricultural soils. with scheme requirements. are becoming available to extrapolate CarbonNet is exploring how soil carbon Soil carbon levels in New Zealand soils point measurements across a landscape, is stored in soils, and how quickly this are typically higher than in Australian soils. using spatial autocorrelation geostatistics. can change. Soil carbon researchers are This is because much of the land is high An article by Hedley et al. in the New also looking at the effects of changing land productivity pasture, under a temperate Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, use, management and climate on soil climate which was originally under forest. 2009, reports on the assessment of soil organic matter levels; as well as developing In addition the volcanic ash soils which carbon sequestration under land recently improved methods to verify the amounts, occur in New Zealand are particularly converted from plantation forest to pastoral and rates of change, of soil carbon in good at stabilising soil organic matter. farming. New Zealand soils. Carolyn Hedley is a soil scientist with “In addition, new proximal sensing For further information go to Landcare Research and co-ordinator methods are becoming available which http://www.CarbonNet.co.nz/ for CarbonNet, a national program that speed up the process of soil carbon connects New Zealand’s carbon research analysis in the field. These proximal sensing

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 5 The auditors worked with each farmer to calculate their total greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and waste to landfill.

Bob Davie discusses strategies for reducing methane emissions in cattle with scientist Richard Eckard. Farm audit the key to reduced greenhouse

Fifty farmers who participated in the Westernport Greenhouse Emissions Project have achieved more than just significant energy, water and waste reductions. They have also improved their farm productivity and developed auditing and monitoring skills that will prove invaluable when emissions trading is introduced.

The three-year project – a collaboration Sustainable Agriculture Program, it was The auditors then identified around ten between the Bass Coast and Westernport important that farmers had enough data in actions needed to achieve the reduction Catchment Landcare Networks and the front of them to be able to apply their usual targets. A business case, specifying the South Eastern Councils Climate Change decision-making processes to each action. expected capital cost, long-term financial Alliance challenged farmers to reduce savings, the return on investment, as well “They needed to be able to consider their energy consumption and waste to as the resource savings, was prepared for each action as a business, as well as an landfill by 10 percent and improve water each action. environmental, investment,” Moragh said. efficiency by 15 percent, while improving The suggested actions ranged from farm productivity. On-farm environmental audit the cheap and easily implemented (for Beginning with an on-farm visit, the The project was funded by Sustainability example, replacing mercury vapour lights auditors worked with each farmer to Victoria, included close co-operation with with fluorescent globes) to more innovative calculate their total greenhouse gas researchers at DPI and was linked to small capital works such as wind turbines and emissions, water consumption and waste amounts of funding for on-farm works. The methane digesters. They also included to landfill. This involved reviewing energy, environmental audit company GenesisNow changes to bring pasture and animal water, fuel and fertiliser invoices, income audited each farm’s resource use and management practices into line with receipts, farm plans, and stock records. developed an action plan – which included current best management practices for The audit also included a detailed review of a business case – to deliver the project reducing methane production in ruminants, the farm’s animal and pasture management targets. and nitrous oxide emissions from soils. practices, as well as a discussion of the According to Moragh Mackay, co-ordinator farmer’s short, medium and long-term Although a final audit has not been of Bass Coast Landcare Network’s economic and environmental goals. completed, project organisers are confident

6 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT If you know how you’re using your resources, it’s much easier to make changes to how much you use.

Moragh Mackay from Bass Coast Landcare Network talks carbon with Phillip Island beef farmer Bob Davie. Anne and Bob Davie hosted a field day on their property last year where they showed around 100 farmers how they have managed to reduce their carbon footprint. emissions and productivity boost By Jillian Staton

that overall targets for the project have been their greenhouse gas emissions and save To reduce nitrous oxide waterlogged soils met and that most farmers have comfortably money on their power bills. These ranged are excluded from grazing, nitrogenous achieved their individual targets. from simply servicing all equipment to fertilisers are only used when pasture is ensure that it is running efficiently, to actively growing and feed pads with effluent Peter Ronalds, the Sustainable Agriculture innovations such as refrigeration heat collection are used to avoid dung and urine Project Officer at Westernport Catchment exchange units (10-15 percent savings for a entering soils. Landcare Network, attributes the success $4000 investment) and night sky cooling (20 of the project to an increased awareness Methane-reducing actions include percent savings for a $5000 investment). of how resources are used on-farm. improving pasture quality (particularly Understanding resource use Reductions in methane and nitrous oxide in summer), breeding for high feed emissions have been more difficult to conversion and culling unproductive “If you know how you’re using your measure and were estimated using web- stock. Some farmers have also trialled resources, it’s much easier to make based calculators. The recommended dietary oils, tannins and other supplements changes to how much you use. For reductions are based on the fact that and have recorded small gains over example, understanding how much water methane represents a loss of energy and short periods. is lost each year to evaporation prompted nitrous oxide represents the loss of a many participants to use anti-evaporative, As the project comes to a close participants valuable nutrient from the farming system. silicone-based agents in their dams. are being encouraged to continue Build-up of practical knowledge monitoring their emissions using the “We haven’t done strict trials as yet, but Both Peter Ronalds and Moragh Mackay web-based calculators. the anecdotal evidence is that farmers have are confident that farmers who have saved a lot of water with very little cost or Moragh Mackay believes that the build-up adopted the best management practices effort,” Peter said. of practical knowledge will have long-term outlined in their action plans will have value for farmers and researchers. Other water-saving strategies included achieved their targeted reductions – as well building new dams in better catchments, as improved productivity. “The auditing, monitoring and evaluation recycling washdown water, and reticulating skills that the project has developed will “Obviously there are qualifiers, but to troughs. Improved options for recycling ensure that Landcare farmers can take current research indicates that farmers silage wrap have enabled most farmers to advantage of the opportunities offered can achieve 20 percent less methane easily meet their waste-to-landfill target. by an emissions trading scheme when and 10 percent less nitrous oxide simply we see it,” she said. Audits of dairy sheds revealed several by implementing best practice farm opportunities for dairy farmers to reduce management,” Moragh said.

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 7 Yea field day uncovers soil essentials

A field day held on Tom and Olivia “Soil conditions must enable soil organisms Lawson’s beef property at Yea last October to flourish. So producers must think featured renowned soil biologist Dr carefully about the effects of any drenches, Christine Jones. Dr Jones is a groundcover pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers used. and soils ecologist who works with A composty smell indicates high levels landholders to implement regenerative of biological activity, particularly fungi. land management techniques that enhance The activities of beneficial soil microbes are biodiversity, increase biological activity, important for the formation of soil aggregates sequester carbon, activate soil nutrient which give it structure, while improving cycles, restore water balance, improve porosity and water-holding capacity. productivity and create new topsoil. “When new topsoil is forming, it will have According to Dr Jones, the most better structure and will contain more air meaningful indicator for the health of the and more pore spaces than degraded soil, land is whether soil is being formed or lost. so the bulk density will be less. Tom and Olivia Lawson have applied “A one millimetre increase in the height of biological farming practices for around Dr Christine Jones describes every green new soil would equate to the formation of plant as a solar powered carbon pump. eight years on their farm where they run around five to ten tonnes per hectare of Charolais, Red Angus and hybrid seed organically enriched topsoil.” Consequently, our organic carbon content stock cattle. The Lawsons adhere to Dr has increased by two percent across the According to Dr Jones improving the level Jones’s principles which they believe are farm,” Olivia Lawson said. of soil carbon will hold the water where particularly beneficial to get them through it falls. long, dry spells. Dr Jones explained to field day participants the irrelevance of arguing about optimum “If water runs off rather than going into the “We have consciously reduced our enterprise mix, pasture species, fertiliser soil it will take the nutrients with it. Plants chemical inputs while using natural based rate, or the percentage of trees if need to grow to a certain size to develop fertiliser each year. We have seen a productive soil continues to be lost. a good root system, and then be grazed to noticeable reduction in animal health pump carbon back. Keeping pasture short problems and increase in nutrient density “To improve the quality of the soil, it degrades the soil.” and growth in our pastures. must always be covered with plants or plant litter and groundcover should be Dr Jones stressed that healthy root systems “Our commitment to a best practice initially rested from grazing. Then, ideally, are essential for maintaining the soil holistic approach has included fencing all the groundcover should be grazed or food web of micro-organisms that make waterways, large-scale revegetation and slashed periodically. Cell grazing is good for nutrients and minerals available to plants, fencing off remnant areas. We also try to producing green leaf and returning carbon and hence to stock. apply rotational grazing to pastures and to the soil,” she said. prefer longer term productive perennials For more information go to rather than short-term grasses while Dr Jones described every green plant as a www.amazingcarbon.com and maximising ground cover at all times. solar powered carbon pump. www.carboncoalition.com.au

Paringa Charolais bulls on Tom and Olivia Lawson’s property at Yea. The Lawsons are working to increase organic carbon on the property.

8 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT Farmers discuss the results of the soil trials. Early results show that different types of fertilisers have a significant impact on soil biology.

Do different fertilisers affect soil health? By Peter Ronalds

The Westernport Catchment Landcare on these two farms along with a control. • Trends are suggesting that the highest Network is now into the third and final Each treatment has three replicate plots yielding pasture growth plots also have year of its healthy soils, stock and pasture to increase the reliability and accuracy the highest protein and digestibility levels. project. The project is trialling more than 30 of the results. These plots are cut with a • Trends are also suggesting there is a fertilisers on six farms in the Westernport lawnmower when the pasture is at grazing direct correlation between the levels of catchment to measure the effects that height. The pasture is weighed and then a minerals in the fertilisers and the level of different fertiliser treatments have on soil sample is taken for drying to determine the minerals in the pasture. health and pasture nutrition and growth. amount of dry matter grown. An update on the results gathered to date A range of fertilisers being trialled include Testing occurs each time the pasture is is now available. Final results for the project chemical blends, chook manure, bulk ready to graze. The pasture tests include will be available in September. compost, Charlie Carp, TNN blends, dry matter per hectare grown, pasture compost teas, rock phosphates, biochar, nutrition, sugar levels, protein, energy To view the trial sites or for more information fish, seaweed and minerals, with each farm in pasture, digestibility, mineral content contact Peter Ronalds on 5941 8446 or email having a control to monitor against. Lime is and species present. The soil tests [email protected] also applied if required. include temperature, soil acidity, salinity, chemical analysis, water holding capacity, The fertilisers are all readily available to compaction, and also counts for bacteria, landholders in bulk, and were matched to the fungi and Actinomycete. soil test taken in each paddock. All treatments have been costed on a dollars per hectare Fertiliser trial results: basis, which varied from $242 per hectare • Pasture growth – There are huge through to $420 per hectare (per year), with differences between treatments on each most being around $300 per hectare. farm. The pasture growth difference Four of the farms have test strips with between test strips on each farm varied between four and eight different fertiliser from 27 percent to 102 percent. applications running the length of the • As a generalisation, chook poo is often paddock. These four trial sites are grazed one of the highest yielding applications, by cattle and pasture samples are taken but over time the pasture species have with pasture growth measured before changed with more weeds growing. the cattle enter the paddock. • Different types of fertilisers do impact Soil tests are carried out on one of the six farms in the Westernport catchment involved Two of the farms have trial plots that are on soil biology. Some fertilisers have in the healthy soils, stock and pasture project. fenced so cattle can’t access them. Six 100 percent higher microbiology counts different fertiliser regimes are being trialled than others.

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 9 Farming brothers Ian and Lindsay Humphry from Springhurst, near Wangaratta collect soil samples on their property as part of a new soil carbon program being run in the north east. North east projects link soil

Landcare groups and farmers in north east Victoria are discovering how soil carbon can reverse degradation, build soil health and improve productivity.

Soil erosion, soil structure decline, organic and Carbon, discussed holistic farming and matter loss and salinity are all significant soil grazing management while local landholder health issues in the region. The north east mentors shared insights gained through also has some of the most acidic soils in local trials. the State. Guest speakers at the Rural Sustainability A suite of innovative partnerships is helping Forum focused on adapting to climate Les Brown from Mudgegonga participates to build community understanding about the change, alternative fuels and transport, in a soil carbon field day. links between soil health and soil carbon. and future water trends. A soil health program led by the Ovens The soil health projects led by the Ovens Landcare Network has been a major Landcare Network have attracted NLP building block for interest in soil health and Caring for our Country funding and in the region. Operating since 2004 the have been supported by the North East program has involved more than 300 CMA. The success of the Ovens Landcare landholders each year in annual forums, Network projects has encouraged other field days and trials. Landcare groups and the North East CMA Landholders share insights to develop additional soil health projects. at soil health forums Dung beetle projects spread The network’s 2009 soil health forum The catchment-wide Do it with Dung included two main events, integrated with – from the Mountains to the Murray a series of field days. project is one example. The foundations Speakers at the major forum, Creating a for this program were laid in 2005 when Sustainable Future – the Past’s Future Soil the Lucyvale Better Beef Group secured

10 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT By understanding how to increase soil carbon, farmers can increase the microbial activity of their soils, assisting the uptake of nutrients and reducing the need for nutrient inputs, like fertilisers.

Dung beetles ready for release in the north east.

health with soil carbon By Mary-Anne Scully

NLP funding to release a range of dung are distributed and potentially suitable The program offers plenty of practical support beetles. The project focused on improving species are trialled. Field days are held on for participants. It includes free soil tests and phosphorus and nitrogen retention, soil caring for beetles, soil health and parasite agronomic advice (eligibility criteria apply), productivity and water quality in the Upper management. detailed on-farm soil tests, free mapping Cudgewa Creek catchment in the Upper training and opportunities to learn about soil The North East CMA has continued to Murray. carbon through forums and field days. support the rollout of Do it with Dung by The success of the Lucyvale Group’s running e-Farmer training for landholders Farmers who join the soil carbon program approach spread, particularly through to help with monitoring and assisting with can obtain baseline data through highly the development and distribution of a the release of dung beetles. detailed soil testing and advice, learn how dung beetle resource guide to interested to improve soil moisture and nutrient Activities such as soil testing and specialised landholders. holding capacity; and map, monitor and workshops are also helping to spread control their soil health. In response to growing community interest knowledge about soil health across the in soil health, the Kiewa Catchment north east. The North East CMA has leased a Landcare Groups, Lucyvale Better Beef mechanical soil sampler to make sampling In a recent development, a team of Group and Landcare facilitators from the faster and simpler, particularly in the heat North East CMA jointly sought funding for local sustainable landscape officers are of summer. a catchment-wide project focused on dung supporting and linking local farmers and beetles, soil health and water quality. Landcare groups with a clear focus on North East CMA Land Stewardship soil health. Manager Chris Reid hopes farmers who Their joint bid attracted funding through take part in the program will also find new Soil carbon initiative the Caring for our Country open grants ways to lower their input costs. process and Do it with Dung – from the Almost 200 farmers have registered Mountains to the Murray was born. interest in a new sustainable agriculture, “By understanding how to increase soil soil carbon initiative led by the North East carbon, farmers can increase the microbial The project now spans the entire north CMA and funded through Caring for our activity of their soils, assisting the uptake east catchment plus Corowa Shire Country. of nutrients and reducing the need for on the NSW border and features the nutrient inputs, like fertilisers,” Chris said. establishment of fortnightly dung beetle The new program aims to help landholders community-based monitoring sites and the develop an understanding of current soil For further information visit training of volunteers in beetle identification carbon levels and aid in the development www.necma.vic.gov.au or contact and monitoring. Dung beetle species of sustainable agricultural management. Chris Reid at: [email protected]

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 11 Volunteers – where to find them

and how to keep them By Grant Godden

Landcare is essentially a volunteer movement and the Landcare model is acknowledged as one of the best around. However, many groups have identified the need to increase the numbers of volunteers involved in Landcare and to reach out to new sectors of the community that haven’t been involved before. The Landcare and Community Engagement Unit of DSE has been running a series of Volunteer Action Training Workshops to help Landcare members and support staff encourage more volunteers and members, and to retain them once they’ve joined. The training was delivered by Kerrie Spinks, a consultant who specialises in the community volunteering sector. The sessions got participants thinking about the types of members and volunteers they currently have, what made them participate and what would make people want to join in. The training kicked off with an overview of the traits of different generations of volunteers and what appeals to them.

Landcarer Doug Small participates in a catchment art session with a primary school student in Kyabram.

It gave participants a good insight into how says more members are always welcome. to connect with different generations, in “We’ve got about 15 active families and particular Generation X and Generation Y. another 15 families who participate when The second session focused on the theories they can. Most of our members are at behind engaging volunteers and new least middle-aged and some are just not members and how to retain them once interested in meetings. They’ll come Understanding what they’ve come on board. The four R’s of along when there’s something active like a motivates people to volunteering were introduced: recruitment, planting day, but they are not interested in recognition, reward and renewal. coming in from work and having to go out volunteer is very important. again for meetings.” Participants workshopped ideas for projects eligible for DSE’s Volunteer Action Training Peter said the training showed how Small Grants. These grants are currently important it is for the group to have being distributed to groups and networks a website where people can get clear throughout the State to help run an event information on the different projects and or project to increase volunteers and activities that are up and running. membership. “The training showed that young people, Peter Smart from the Cowwarr Landcare especially, prefer to communicate online. Group attended the Volunteer Action And if we are trying to attract people from Training in Maffra. Peter describes the different backgrounds it is good to show Cowwarr group as reasonably active, but them in photographs when advertising.

12 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT Farmers share knowledge on measuring emissions

DPI has formed a Carbon Toolkits in Agriculture Network to help farmers stay informed about greenhouse gas accounting tools and to share their on-farm carbon accounting experiences.

According to Sarah Holland-Clift, the project co-ordinator, the network is for anyone who wants to measure, or help landholders to measure on-farm greenhouse gas emissions. Network users can include farmers, farm consultants, farm accountants, Landcare co-ordinators, extension staff and The Echuca Landcare Group involved parishioners from the training providers. Echuca Moama Uniting Church in a planting day at Echuca. The network has a monthly update covering the latest developments This way they’ll feel more comfortable “I came away with a couple of pages in farm-related greenhouse gas about attending,” Peter said. of notes about different techniques accounting tools, upcoming events, we could try,” Rhonda said. training opportunities and resources. Rhonda Day attended the training in Training for farm service providers and Bendigo. Rhonda is an Environmental “Understanding what motivates farmers on how to use the latest tools is Projects Officer with the Shire of Campaspe people to volunteer is very important. being planned and a series of workshops and finding ways of engaging volunteers is We discussed the characteristics of and forums will be held so information one of her constant challenges. different generations and the ways they and experiences can be shared. communicate. Getting information out “We are always looking for new faces to get A series of case studies is also being on Facebook, or by text messaging is involved, share the load and help prevent developed to demonstrate positive, more relevant to young people than our regular stalwarts from getting burnout.” practical action that farmers are taking newsletter articles.” Rhonda said the training was a mix of to measure and manage on-farm brainstorming with the other participants For more information on the Volunteer greenhouse gas emissions. to create a pool of ideas and input the Action project and to access notes from Sarah says many farmers are keen to presenter, Kerrie Spinks, had picked up the training sessions go to http://www. measure their greenhouse gas emissions across the State. landcarevic.net.au/vri/volunteer-action and there are a number of good reasons for doing so. “The loss of greenhouse gas emissions The knowledge – volunteers on a farm represents a significant loss of energy from the farm system. By understanding their on-farm greenhouse • The average age of a Landcare • Some people are looking for a emissions, farmers can start to take member or volunteer is 40 plus and flexible approach to volunteering. positive, practical action in responding to older in some groups. In general They are looking for events that climate change. They can focus on the fewer young people are entering suit their busy schedules. current win-win options, rather than the the farming sector and they are not • Some volunteers are looking future what ifs.” necessarily interested in Landcare. for opportunities to contribute To join the network and for further • While traditional Landcare from home. information contact Sarah Holland-Clift volunteers are always welcome, • Younger volunteers are looking at DPI on 0427 331 627, by email at groups can also use people with for a social component to [email protected] or go other skills including project volunteering. to the website at: www.dpi.vic.gov.au/ management, web design, climaterisk communications, book-keeping/ • Volunteering is increasingly being accounting, administration and undertaken as a step towards human resources. future employment.

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 13 EcoTender gets the job FTLA news done in West Gippsland

The Farm Tree and Landcare Association (FTLA) will be holding a one-day forum incorporating the annual general Under DSE’s EcoTender program, What have you been doing with your meeting in May. The forum is the main landholders are paid to manage their EcoTender funding? land and water resources in ways that way the association gets direction “I entered five bids that were successful provide environmental improvements. from its members, so all members are under EcoTender. Planting was done last The improvements can include weed and encouraged to attend. winter to give trees the chance to establish pest control, fencing and protection of over summer. We’re planning now for National Framework for Landcare native vegetation, protection of gullies the other sites. Our property is in the hills A cross-section of Victorian Landcarers and wetlands and stock control. attended a forum in Melbourne last so I’m organising access. People need to October to discuss the new National Successful landholders enter into carefully consider their plans – the site Framework for Landcare, the impacts of contractual agreements with DSE and they use needs to be freely accessible.” receive periodic payments as they deliver climate change, future funding options What’s your advice for landholders the improvements. and the social aspects of Landcare. thinking of applying for EcoTender? Caroline Ottinger from DSE asked Out of that forum the FTLA submitted a “You should definitely do it. It’s a very Korumburra landholder Andrew Buchanan response to the new National Framework good project. It gives you fantastic flexibility for Landcare emphasising the need about his experience with EcoTender. to work with the funding provided to for basic support for Landcare groups Andrew bought his 92-hectare property achieve your own environmental goals. and co-ordinators. The response was at Kongwak in 2004 and currently runs in line with the model approved by about 140 head of beef cattle. “There is also the flexibility to alter the the FTLA AGM. It stressed the need timing of the contract payments and work How did you get involved in EcoTender? to return to the foundation values of within your constraints. The initial costs Landcare: localism, group action, diversity, “I heard about EcoTender through Landcare of purchasing the trees, fencing, assembly integrated sustainable land management, and thought it might be another way to get and planting are big, and I was able to partnerships, education and longevity. funding. Dave Bateman from the Bass Coast tailor the payment timing to meet these Business plan survey Landcare Network did the site assessments costs.” for the EcoTender. Basically it’s financial To help the FTLA in refining the business The current West Gippsland EcoTender support to do the projects you want to do, plan presented at the 2009 AGM surveys covers the West Gippsland CMA area, and provide a benefit to the environment. have gone out to office bearers and from Warragul to Sale and from the Great There’s a pretty big financial cost to get members. We appreciate that Landcarers Dividing Range to Wilsons Promontory. them up and running and the financial offset are busy, but collecting information is is a great assistance.” To register an expression of interest call the important to make sure the association is DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186, doing the best it can for members. Please What are the steps involved in or email [email protected] take a few minutes to complete the submitting a bid? survey. If you haven’t received a survey More information on EcoTender is available “I did an expression of interest form, and would like to participate contact at: www.dse.vic.gov.au/ecoMarkets and then a field officer came out for a Susi Johnson at the address below. site assessment. Then you do the bid. Committee of Management If the bid is successful, DSE does a five- The FTLA Committee of Management year management plan and contract for has regretfully accepted the resignations you. Michelle Butler from DSE was really of Peter Huthwaite and Kate O’Bryan. helpful. The contracts were extremely We thank them for their service and well done with photographs and site maps. wish them all the best in the future. The wording was very clear and concise.” The committee welcomes David Clark of the Upper Mt Emu Creek Landcare Was the bid process difficult? Network as an ordinary member. “I took part in the Port Phillip and The Committee of Management Westernport EcoTender in 2009. The bid welcomes member input and assistance. process was very straightforward. I had no Openings are available on the forum and trouble with it, although it is time consuming. AGM working party, the governance The aim of the bid process is to get the best working party and the communications bang for your buck. People need to put in working party. the best bid for value for money, so we get the most trees in the ground.” For further information contact Susi Johnson on 9207 5527 or by email at [email protected] Andrew Buchanan has had success using EcoTender to help fund revegetation works on his property at Kongwak.

14 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT Controlling weeds to protect agricultural land and managing native vegetation are very important to the Landcare groups in the network.

From left, Gavin Brock from Melbourne Water, Tony Gardner from the South Gippsland Landcare Network, Glenn Raven from South Gippsland Railways and Ron Barnacle from the Loch Nyora Landcare Group at the launch of the Hilda Falls regeneration project.

Next stop Hilda Falls by Tony Gardner

Five years of work by the Loch Nyora The partnership with the railway is very Landcare Group and adjoining landholders important to the SGLN. The railway is paying off for the beautiful Hilda Falls and the Great Southern Rail Trail cover on the South Gippsland railway line near more than 6000 hectares and over 100 Loch. The falls were a tangle of blackberry kilometres of line, right through the middle and hawthorn before the Hilda Falls of the network. More than 500 rural regeneration project got underway. landholders share a border with the line which is an important wildlife corridor The project has benefited from a and biolink containing creeks, river partnership between the South Gippsland crossings and important vegetation, Landcare Network (SGLN) and the tourist including at Hilda Falls. railway. Two years ago the SGLN started discussions with the railway about weed Controlling weeds to protect agricultural concerns along the track. The project has land and managing native vegetation are now grown to include the regeneration very important to the Landcare groups of Hilda Falls and has brought the railway in the network. The groups see the line enthusiasts into the world of Landcare. as a significant piece of tourism and history for the region and want to see it looked The tourist railway has signed a three- after. year weed management agreement to contain weeds along the track and they The SGLN will continue to help the are also planning to build a small platform railway to develop their management plan at Hilda Falls. This will allow passengers and undertake improvements at Hilda Falls to disembark and enjoy the surroundings and along the railway line. while the train moves on to Nyora and returns to pick them up. The tourist railway recently received funding through DSE’s EcoTender program for weed works from Nyora to Ferriers A platform will be built at Road and through the Foundation for Hilda Falls so railway passengers Regional Rural Renewal for weed mapping. can disembark and enjoy the area.

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 15 Starting up a Landcare network By Ross Colliver

Victoria’s Landcare networks have grown from the local level up. From the mid 1990s Landcare groups started to band together into networks to be more effective at administering government-funded projects and providing technical support to landholders wanting to improve their land management practices.

The Landcare and Community The forum presented experiences on the Working as a network brings in expertise Engagement Unit of DSE has developed motivations and pathways for forming and increases influence. Funders are the Landcare Network Readiness Project networks, the management structures heading towards bigger projects. to support Landcare networks to become that could be used and the ways to strike A network structure lets you build up more effective and influential in landscape a balance between network management expertise to bid for and run such projects. change. In 2009, the project ran a series and local group ownership. There were A network can also handle a lot of of forums across Victoria, facilitated a presentations from the established administrative work and take this load Network Development Group with networks, discussion about the issues off volunteers in local groups. staff and community management from they raised and some reflection from Local groups have to own the network. five networks and researched Landcare participants. Network planning. Long-term vitality depends on local This is a summary of themes from the groups wanting the network and enough The forum held in Castlemaine in April Castlemaine forum. community leaders wanting to step up and 2009 brought together Landcare groups do the work of managing a network. thinking about becoming a network, or Every Landcare network is a one-off. who had recently formed a network, to Every network will have a different focus Local groups have to feel their connection sit down and talk with more experienced and a different management structure. to other local groups. Local groups often networks. Of the 43 participants at the Personalities and community politics are start out thinking they don’t have much in forum 15 were from local groups just often part of the picture. Every CMA common. They need to get acquainted, starting to talk about being a network, relates to Landcare differently. You have to visit each other and see what is 14 were from networks beginning to to negotiate your way to a workable happening in other groups. It is essential formalise arrangements and 14 were arrangement and keep asking – is this to put time into building up this feeling of from established networks. working for us? shared responsibility for the landscape, even though each local group will keep doing their own thing. A landscape scale planning session for the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Landcare Network – an opportunity to see the big picture. The network needs a vision. Groups have to decide what they want out of a network. They need to create a vision of Landcare operating at network level, with collective resources and a potential advocacy role. Part of this might be a vision for the landscape itself – what are they working towards in 20 or 50 years time? The network serves its local groups and landholders. The network has to make a difference that will matter at the local level. A network needs to regularly ask local groups and landholders what they want to do and put this at the centre of its plans and activity. The community manages the network. Members of the network management committee must be clear that their role is to manage the network, not to push the interests of their individual local groups.

16 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT A network needs to regularly ask local groups and landholders what they want to do and put this at the centre of its plans and activity.

The more heads the better. Members of the Jacksons Creek EcoNetwork plan their future projects.

Network work is often back office work. Plan ahead. Don’t just react to funding Look wider than government NRM funding. Networks make proposals, report, criteria. Ask local groups and landholders Networks can get involved in corporate plan and negotiate with government what they want to do over the next five funding, philanthropic funding, industry programs. Don’t expect an easy life. years, put that in your plans, and then see funding and markets for ecosystem Avoid duplication by shifting shared what funding is available. services. Look outside the box. administrative functions from the local If you want new members, talk to them. Talk regularly to other networks in your group level to the network. The network management committee and region. Get together with other networks Local groups need their own autonomy. any staff may be better placed to drum up and set your own agenda for Landcare Networks need to watch that they don’t new business than local groups. in the region. Take your agenda to the take over. They need to deliberately Local groups and networks have a life CMA – don’t wait for them to come support independent action by local cycle. Groups go through periods of to you. groups, get a local flavour into newsletters activity and inactivity – don’t fight against it. All of the groups at the forum who and have local groups planning for their Let groups fold if that’s what they want; were thinking of becoming networks own area. let the network change. identified the tasks they needed to do Be clear about the roles of the network Manage your staff. Set up clear cut next. These included bringing local and local groups. Every network will work employment conditions and look after your groups together to sit down with maps out its own mix of what the network does staff as much as possible. Make them feel and develop a vision for the landscape; and what local groups do. Negotiate an connected to the network and encourage planning social activities so group members arrangement that works in your area. them to contribute their views. can get to know each other, pursuing funding and starting to develop a network Keep the social connections strong. Long-term staff makes life easier. They get strategy. A network is a social connection as to know you, you get to know them, the much as a shared physical landscape. trust develops, and you all get more done The Landcare Network Readiness Networks need to create occasions with less effort. Weathering funding rounds Project also ran forums on setting up and where people can meet each other and makes this difficult, but it is worth working managing big projects and on new roles develop bonds. Social events and holding towards. for Landcare. A report on the forums is network meetings in different parts of the being produced and will be available on area help to keep the social connections Aligning with CMA goals and projects is the Landcare Gateway. strong. valuable, but not what defines a network. CMAs can be valuable partners and For further information contact the Keep the reporting transparent. It’s not just partnerships with CMAs can minimise the forum facilitator, Ross Colliver, on about reporting up to funders and down risk of networks being seen as competitors 0411 226 519 or by email: to members. Find out what members for funding. Negotiate with CMAs and [email protected]. Or contact want to know. understand their planning systems. your Regional Landcare Co-ordinator.

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 17 Soil information now online

The Victorian Resources Online (VRO) website now has a comprehensive soil health section. The development of the soil health section recognises a growing interest in soil and its critical role in agricultural sustainability and ecosystem services. The new section contains material on soil health, including information notes and field manuals. Animations and videos describing soil processes are currently being developed and will be included. Much of the information comes from a four-year healthy soils project which organised soil management workshops and ran soil-pit-based field days in grain Students from the School for Student Leadership are participating in a series of sustainability lessons growing regions across Victoria. thanks to assistance from the Heytesbury District Landcare Network’s craters to coast alliance. More than 5600 attendees at these events received information around topics of interest such as soil biology, soil organic matter management, soil chemical testing, Heytesbury network encourages soil type and soil structure evaluation and subsoil constraints. VRO also includes soil and landform the whole community By Yonie Tiljak mapping for Victoria, downloadable reports and maps. Soil pit site information is available describing major Victorian soils and their key morphological, chemical Four local community groups and two The School for Student Leadership is and physical properties. Some of this schools have been given a funding using the funding in the curriculum at information was collected as part of an incentive in the Heytesbury and District the Gnurad Gundidj campus. NLP funded project that supported the Landcare Network’s (HDLN) craters to Peter Torey, the School for Student running of soil pit field days with Landcare coast programs. The funding is through the Leadership’s curriculum co-ordinator, groups in the 1990s. craters to coast alliance which is facilitated said environmental sustainability lessons by the HDLN to help local school and The soil health section can be found at: are planned. community groups run important projects. http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/vro/soilhealth “We want to provide students with The Simpson Primary School plans to start a practical means to improve the a garden club that will run each week and sustainability of their actions, here and be tied into the curriculum. This will allow now and the learning from this can students to take part in hands on activities be transferred back to their home as part of their curriculum, developing communities,” Peter said. valuable practical skills as well as leadership and environmental ownership amongst the Other projects under the craters to students. coast alliance include installation of interpretive signs in local parkland and According to teacher Ryan Jones, an bushland restoration. The alliance seeks excursion is planned to see an edible to support local environmentally focused garden at another school. community groups with projects that “We wish to start from the little that we benefit not only the local environment, have and develop a garden where students but the community as a whole. New soil health information now available can grow their own food, from seed to For more information contact on the VRO website was collected for a stomach. This funding should help us Yonie Tiljak at the Heytesbury series of workshops and field days like this develop it into a sustained program that District Landcare Network by email: soil pit training exercise held at Dunkeld. runs each year,” Ryan said. [email protected]

18 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT Burn benefits biodiversity at Bald Hill By Brad Henderson

Wannon Water is the regional urban large numbers, but after two seasons Monitoring and evaluating the use of water corporation for south west Victoria, of targeted spraying it has been brought fire as a management tool for heathlands covering about 10 percent of the State. under control. continues at the site. Additional areas are In 2009 Wannon Water released a scheduled for ecological burns and the More pleasing was the abundant return Biodiversity and Land Management monitoring program will be expanded of heath species such as Sand Ixodia. Strategy. The focus of the strategy is on to determine the effect on other sensitive Through the use of motion sensing establishing biodiversity hotspots that species, such as orchids. cameras a number of bandicoots have perform multiple functions and produce also been recorded foraging for food For further information contact multiple values. in the areas that were burned. Brad Henderson on 1300 926 666. Wannon Water has a revegetation target of 25 hectares by 2013. Rather than leaving it at planting trees, Wannon Water is also maximising the benefits to the region by securing long-term sustainability through land covenants and ongoing management plans. Enhancing natural assets already in good condition is also a focus. One example is the Portland heathland management project. Wannon Water has major water and reclaimed water treatment plants located on a 20-hectare site at Bald Hill, south of Portland. The land is part of an extensive heathland complex which stretches around the coast of Portland and is managed by various private and public landowners. The area has recreation and conservation values and is of interest to both the local and wider communities. The heath has deteriorated significantly over recent decades. Shrubby weeds and coast wattle are invading and replacing heath; habitat is being turned into non- habitat. The advanced age in the remaining The degraded heathland site in 2007. heath due to lack of fire is also of concern. To turn this situation around Wannon Water has developed a management plan to protect and restore heath vegetation and dependent fauna. The plan is being implemented in co-operation with neighbouring landowners. In May 2008 Wannon Water, in association with the local CFA, undertook an ecological burn of around seven hectares of the heathland. Pre-burn flora and fauna assessments were carried out to ensure the correct extent and best possible timing of the burn. Several key species of interest, such as Sand Ixodia, a native daisy listed as vulnerable, and the Southern Brown Bandicoot, were not recorded during these assessments. The ecological burn was conducted on a mild, still autumn day, and was successful in terms of the heat of the fire and completeness of the burn. Flora and fauna monitoring of the area started during the The site in January 2010, two years after the ecological burn. spring. Bonseed initially regenerated in The white flower is the vulnerable Sand Ixodia.

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 19 Mistletoe and tree stress By Ray Thomas

Mistletoe plants are native parasites that live by attaching their roots deep into the bark of a tree, and extracting nutrients from the host rather than the ground. There are dozens of different species across Australia, many of them carefully adapted to living in a particular environment. For example, they often cleverly camouflage with the host tree to escape leaf-eating predators.

Mistletoe are often seen as pest plants, but they’re not all bad. In fact they play a valuable role in healthy ecosystems, providing nectar from their flowers, delicious fruits that many birds need and dense branches for birds to nest in. Mistletoes are spread almost exclusively by tiny mistletoe birds, which eat the fruits and then excrete the sticky seeds onto tree branches where the seeds can germinate and take root into the bark. Loss of natural processes Mistletoes are normally kept in balance by several natural processes, but once the understorey is gone, this balance is disturbed and mistletoe becomes a problem. For example, the larvae of several butterfly species need mistletoe leaves as their sole food supply and whole mistletoe plants can be completely A typical case of severe mistletoe infestation in scattered paddock trees. Note the complete lack defoliated by a colony of these caterpillars. of understorey shrubs that are needed to attract the butterflies, possums and birds that keep mistletoe in balance. In the typical rural landscape understorey shrubs and wildflowers have largely disappeared and along with them the nectar source and protective cover for adult butterflies. Without butterflies there are no eggs and no caterpillars, so the mistletoe spreads. Common brush-tailed and ring-tailed possums actually prefer mistletoe leaves to eucalyptus leaves. But lack of tree hollows and the isolation of paddock trees make it impossible for possums to do their control work. In a healthy forest setting there are also a large number of birds that eat mistletoe fruits and drop the seeds randomly on the forest floor where they can’t grow. The lack of protective understorey shrubs in open farmland means most of these birds are no longer present. The hardy little mistletoe bird is without competition and is able to spread the seeds precisely, placing their droppings only on the tree branches where the seeds will grow. Once again the Mistletoe vine site six years later. Note the healthy trees and well-developed understorey. mistletoe is advantaged.

20 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT Mistletoe plants also do better on forest Treating mistletoe root causes of stress, isolation and lack of edges where there is more light available. In severe cases of mistletoe infestation, understorey are not addressed. In the typical rural situation, where trees manual removal will almost certainly be The best approach is to fence off the patch are isolated, all the trees are on the forest needed or the tree could die before the of trees to exclude stock and encourage edge. Once mistletoe has taken over a natural controls can take effect. Both short- natural regeneration, then replant the missing large proportion of a tree crown it out- term and long-term strategies are needed. competes its host for nutrients and water. indigenous shrubs to attract the butterflies For trees that are already suffering other Pruning mistletoe allows the tree to feed and birds. If the trees are too young to have stresses, mistletoe is often the straw that itself, and the regrowth is phenomenal. natural hollows, nest boxes can be placed to breaks the camel’s back. But reinfestation can easily occur if the provide homes for possums.

Mobile Landcarers tackle mistletoe By Doug Parke

The Victorian Mobile Landcare Group serious mistletoe infestation. These trees (VMLCG) has members from all walks provide crucial habitat for many threatened of life who share a common interest in species including the Regent Honeyeater, environmental rehabilitation and four Grey-crowned Babbler, Squirrel Glider and wheel drive touring. The group was Brush-tailed Phascogale. Local landholders formed in 2009 from members of four have been seriously concerned about wheel drive special interest groups the mistletoe as remnant trees are the who have been active in Landcare backbone of future landscape values and and conservation projects. The group sustainable farming. has about 35 members and is actively The recent trip involved the use of a seeking new members. Four wheel drive trailer-mounted 15-metre cherry picker, ownership is not mandatory. generously donated for the weekend by In May last year a small group of VMLCG Boom Sherrin. Pole hand saws were used members travelled to Benalla to help the to clear mistletoe lower down the tree, Volunteers selectively remove mistletoe Regent Honeyeater Project with saving leaving the cherry picker for the otherwise using hand pruning saws on long poles. remnant Mugga Ironbark trees from inaccessible higher canopy work.

The trailer-mounted cherry picker proved invaluable for getting into the higher canopy. Saturday night saw a communal pub meal in Benalla. Most of the team returned to commitments in Melbourne on Sunday morning, but three stalwarts stayed on until the job was finished. Judicious pruning of mistletoe from the severely stressed trees, in conjunction with replanting the understorey, has been highly successful. Monitoring shows vigorous regrowth of the pruned trees and an increase of eucalypts flowering. We expect improved nectar flows for Regent Honeyeaters together with extra seed production to promote natural regeneration. To join the VMLCG or for help with logistics and remote area access on your Landcare projects visit the website at: www.victorianmobilelandcaregroup. onefireplace.com or phone Doug Parke on 0412 300 251.

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 21 Around the State – News from the

Port Phillip and Westernport with recent workshops on farming in projects. Second Generation Landcare Bass Coast Landcare Network hosted a changing climate, understanding soil Grants are underway for 2010. Landcare the successful 2009 Victorian Landcare biology, profitable and practical perennials groups are co-ordinating 20 medium to Network forum at Phillip Island last and dung beetles. Landcare has been large-scale pest management programs October. represented at many community which will be completed by June 2010. festivals including Birregurra, Heytesbury, Planning is also underway for the Second Generation Landcare Grants Winchelsea and the Sustainable Living community and volunteer Landcare have been awarded in the region with Festival in Melbourne. 36 groups receiving a $300 group support planting events around the Grampians, grant, 27 groups a $500 promotional grant For further information contact Little Desert and Yarriambiack Creek and 21 groups a project grant between Tracey McRae on 5232 9100. during July and October. These events are $515 and $20,000. West Gippsland open to new and experienced volunteers so enquiries are welcome. Localised maps and notes have been Landcare has secured approximately $1.78 prepared to help local groups and million of funding across the region for For further information contact networks understand which targets are natural resource management activity. This Max Skeen on 5382 1544. does not include the in-kind and financial relevant to them in the Caring for our Goulburn Broken contributions of individual Landcarers. Country 2010-2011 investment round. Fire recovery has consumed lots of time For further information contact The Yarram Yarram Landcare Network has and effort for the Landcare groups across Doug Evans on 9296 4662. controlled roadside weeds on 40 roads the affected areas. The Upper Goulburn covering more than 300 kilometres of Landcare Network has taken a lead role Corangamite roadsides within the network’s boundaries. in the community recovery. Their new Landcare has faced some challenges in Landcare Fire Recovery Co-ordinator is The Lake Wellington Landcare Network recent months with uncertain funding overseeing several projects including the assisted with a Rotary Bushfire Recovery for on-ground projects and co-ordinator co-ordination of volunteer support. support, but even in tough times the Day that involved over 500 people. The enthusiasm, passion and dedication to Maffra and District Landcare Network The Gecko CLaN have been busy Landcare in our community continues. launched their new community display with their sustainable farming projects trailer with assistance from DSE’s including a pasture cropping project and The Bellarine Coastal Forum was a huge Volunteer Recruitment Initiative. the information sessions on a climate for success with 150 people attending the opportunity. two-day event. Five field trips were run Bass Coast Landcare Network’s land and 24 presenters discussed Swan Bay, stewardship project had 29 successful Landcare in the Shepparton irrigation the coastal saltmarsh, sea grass and coastal submissions with 52 project bids. The area will hold a celebration day in April to Moonah woodlands, the Connewarre South Gippsland Landcare Network was highlight, celebrate and reward all things catchment, wader and shore bird one of 11 new organisations entered Landcare. on the Register of Environmental monitoring, the Marine Biology Centre On a catchment scale the Goulburn Organisations and now has tax deductible and the work of Southern Bay volunteers. Broken CMA is working on funding gift recipient status. Landcare networks and groups continue options for Landcare into 2010/11 which to encourage communities, support For further information contact will focus on demonstrating the services volunteers and recruit new members Phillip McGarry on 1300 094 262. that Landcare provides to agencies as a Wimmera contribution to catchment outputs. Project Platypus hosted a Linking For further information contact Monitoring local wader and shore birds Wimmera Landscape Landcare Forum Tony Kubeil on 5761 1619. at Lake Victoria during the Bellarine in February. This was a follow-up to the North East Coastal Forum. Changing Landcare Landscapes Forum The Ovens Landcare Network held in October 2009. co-ordinated a successful regional Landcare The Project Platypus team presented forum last November. Participants from information to other groups and Landcare across the north east discussed a wide representatives on organisational structure, range of topics and opportunities. managing activities and projects and The Mitta to Murray Landcare Network reporting and the use of GIS. The day held its inaugural gathering last December included a bus tour to a local property to and is now a fully incorporated network. observe on-ground projects and challenges The network is now planning a range of in the Upper Wimmera Catchment. potential projects. It is pleasing to see a few groups had The regional dung beetle project has now success in the last round of Caring for our wound up. The final stages of this Caring Country Action Grants. The funding will for our Country project saw around greatly assist delivery of important local 90 landholders attending a feedback

22 | VICTORIAN LANDCARE AND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT Regional Landcare Co-ordinators

workshop. The workshop presented the East Gippsland A number of groups were successful in findings from the monitoring activities Welcome to Paul Harvey, the newest obtaining Second Generation Landcare across the region and was the public launch member of the East Gippsland Landcare Grants targeting rabbits and weeds. These of the dung beetle song by Peter Denahy. team. programs are now getting underway. Full reports, maps and results are available Groups are reviewing their Environmental on the project website http://northeast. All groups are busy working on their Management Action Plans which involves landcarevic.net.au/dungbeetle projects, holding meetings and renewing action plans. Well done to those groups updating priorities and actions for the Thanks to DSE’s Volunteer Recruitment that applied for Second Generation coming three to five years. We are seeing Initiative and Caring for our Country, the Landcare Grants. a decline in volunteer activity with group North East CMA now has a fully equipped members facing the challenge of stepping Landcare promotional trailer for groups Farming systems agronomist Maarten Stapper into co-ordination and organisational roles in the region. The trailer has a full display ran a successful workshop on soil health and while trying to maintain other volunteer setup, awning, power supply and a large biological farming in March. More information services in their communities. Together barbecue for community events. is available from the East Gippsland Landcare we are working on ways to continue to Network on 5152 0600. support the great work already being done For further information contact while maintaining the core volunteer base. Tom Croft on (02) 6024 9107. Remember to update your group’s website at http://eastgippsland.landcarevic.net.au/ Glenelg Hopkins For further information contact For help with the website or if you require Kevin Chaplin on 5051 4344. A number of groups in the region have any training contact your local Landcare now completed their action plans. Groups facilitator. North Central have been proactive in using Second Second Generation Landcare Grants are Generation Landcare Grants to reflect on For further information contact being rolled out with 35 groups receiving past works and provide future direction Becky Hemming on 5150 3577. major grants for on-ground works and 13 for their members. Some of the groups Mallee groups receiving grants for promotion and include the Hamilton to Coleraine Railway After completing a somewhat mixed education activities. Congratulations to all Line Landcare Group, Gazette Landcare harvest season the dryland farmers of the the groups that were successful in their Action Group, Wennicott Creek Landcare north west Mallee are now gearing up applications. Group, Bushy Creek Landcare Group and for the season ahead. There has been A community grants guide to assist groups the Bahgallah-Killara Landcare Group. substantial rain across the area, although and individuals access support from the Over 20 groups have been successful it has been extremely variable. This has many sources of funding available to not- in obtaining 2009 and 2010 Second allowed farmers to have some confidence for-profit groups has been launched. The Generation Landcare Grants and planning is in the coming season as it provides a guide has tips on the nuts and bolts of underway for revegetation, weed and pest sub-soil moisture bank that will be a great applying for grants with information on help when the autumn break arrives. plant control, erosion control and many incorporation, insurance and volunteer As 90 percent of the Mallee’s Landcare different field days and information sessions. recruitment. The guide can now be groups are dryland farmers this also gives downloaded at www.nccma.vic.gov.au For further information contact confidence with implementing revegetation Tony Lithgow on 5571 2526. and trial projects. Information is being collected for the development of the annual report card. We are aiming to provide a comprehensive picture of what Landcare does in the region, including its sustainable agriculture achievements. A regular network co-ordinators forum is now meeting to provide support to existing and developing networks. Our new Regional Landcare Co-ordinator has been appointed. Welcome to Jodie Odgers who joins the team in late March. For further information contact Melanie Taube on 5440 1883.

Landcarers discuss soil carbon on a property at Tambo Crossing with groundcover and soil ecologist Dr Christine Jones. The two-day event hosted by East Gippsland Landcare, Greening Australia and Evergraze attracted over 150 people.

AUTUMN 10 ISSUE 48 | 23 In brief

Australian Landcare International Karen Brisbane, the third Australian Landcare International (ALI) travel fellow, had a great trip to the US last year. Karen visited community environment and conservation farming projects in Missouri, Kansas, Washington and California, and attended the Land Trust Alliance Rally in Portland, Oregon. She spoke to many groups about Landcare in Australia. The persistence of Secretariat for International Landcare members Sue Marriott and Victoria Mack has resulted in Finland agreeing to support Landcare projects on the slopes of Mt Merapi ALI fellow Karen Brisbane talks about Landcare to staff of the Natural Resources in Java. ALI hosted a visiting German Conservation Services at the Bennett Springs State Park in Missouri, USA. politician, one of the founders of Landcare in Germany, during February. support staff in Victoria. The toolkit Next issue – fire recovery ALI has now distributed over 70 copies includes guidelines and a framework for The next issue of the magazine will of Landcare, Local Action – Global employment. There are templates and feature stories on fire recovery. We Progress to politicians, academics and examples for position descriptions, work welcome your contributions on all community environmental groups. This plans, employment agreements and aspects of fire recovery as well as your engrossing book looks at how Landcare performance reviews. Occupational health general Landcare news and views. has developed in different countries and safety information is also available. through the eyes of local authors Go to: http://www.landcarevic.net.au/ Contributions to the next issue should who are most involved. For further resources/for-groups be sent to the editor by 11 June 2010. information about ALI and copies of the The new Landcare group start-up kit Carrie Tiffany, editor book ($25) contact Horrie Poussard by outlines the formal and informal steps email at [email protected] Victorian Landcare & Catchment required to start a new group. Existing Management magazine New resources on the groups can also find information on how PO Box 1135, Mitcham North 3132 Landcare Gateway to stay healthy, vibrant and effective. Phone 0405 697 548 The employment toolkit is a practical Go to: http://www.landcarevic.net.au/vri/ guide to employing and managing Landcare group-start-up-kit email: [email protected]

The Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management magazine is published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment and distributed in partnership with the Victorian Farmers Federation and the Victorian Catchment Management Council. The magazine aims to raise awareness of Landcare and natural resource management among Victorian farmers, landholders, the Victorian Landcare community and the wider community.

Mailing list enquiries VFF Farm-Tree and Landcare Association Executive Officer, Victorian Farmers Federation Phone 9207 5527 Fax 9207 5500 Email: [email protected] To receive your copy via email alert Contact Sally MacAdams Phone 9637 8039 Email: [email protected] Read the magazine online Back issues of the Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management magazine can be found at www.dse.vic.gov.au/victorianlandcaremagazine

Published on 100% recycled and recyclable paper VICTORIAN

Winter 10 Issue 49 & C atch m e n t m A n ag e m e n t

BUSHFIRE RECOVERY FEATURE Long-range approach to soil conservation Shelterbelts for fire protection Landcare connects community in Christmas Hills Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management

W int e r 1 0 I s s u e 4 9

Contents

15 03 From the Minister

06 Long range approach needed for soil conservation The loss of groundcover due to fires means increased runoff, peak flows, flooding and erosion. 10 Landcare connects the community in Christmas Hills How the Christmas Hills Landcare Group pulled together after the Black Saturday bushfires. 13 Wurundjeri people visit burnt traditional country A bus trip after the bushfires brought Landcare group members and traditional owners together. 16 Fire talks productive at Devilbend Most of the physical work of moving A Landcare group on the Mornington Peninsula is building community the large rice bales was done by hand. links through a series of conversations about fire. 18 Shelterbelts for fire protection 22 Shelterbelts can reduce wind speed – the most important factor driving the speed of a fire. 22 managing pest plants and animals after a fire Practical advice on keeping weeds and pest animals under control. 26 Habitat restored at wildlife shelter Members of the Boolarra South Landcare Group revegetate a local wildlife shelter damaged by bushfire. 28 gardening after the Fire The Sunday Creek-Dry Creek Landcare Group promotes fire recovery with plants and trees.

Care needs to be taken when importing 30 Regional roundup feed for stock after a fire to avoid introducing Find out what’s happening in Landcare across Victoria. weeds.

26 Editorial Advisory Committee Authorised by the Victorian Government, Becky Hemming East Gippsland CMA, John 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. Young Victorian Catchment Management ISSN 1327 5496 Council, Katie Le Blanc DPI, Susi Johnson FTLA, Sally MacAdams DSE, Cathy Heycock DSE. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that this publication is without flaw of Editorial contributions Carrie Tiffany, PO Box 1135, Mitcham North any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular 3132 Phone 0405 697 548 purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for E-mail: [email protected] any error, loss or other consequences which may arise from you relying on any information in this Cover photograph publication. Wildflowers like this Early Nancy (Wurmbea dioica) spotted by Michael The State of Victoria acknowledges contributions Williams are quick to return after fire. made by private enterprise and other persons or groups interested in Landcare. Acceptance of © The State of Victoria Department of these contributions, however, does not endorse Linda Minter, secretary of the Boolarra South Sustainability and Environment 2010. Landcare Group, meets a wombat in Jean or imply endorsement by the State of Victoria This publication is copyright. No part may be of any product, service, or view offered by Quick’s care. reproduced by any process except in accordance contributors. with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.

2 | victorian landcare and catchment management From the Minister

This issue of the magazine features a range Bullengarook Landcare Group and the Facilitator at Warrnambool and a passionate of stories about bushfire recovery, giving Devilbend Landcare Group are also leading supporter of the two groups. The Friends us a chance to honour the resilience and by example with their proactive approach of Westgate Park won the Urban Landcare connections of the Victorian community to fire management in their areas. They Award. while highlighting the vital role Landcare plays have started conversations involving group The ceremony celebrated 20 years of in bushfire recovery throughout the state. members and local agencies to help community environmental volunteering Learning about how different Landcare strengthen communication channels and in Australia with 88 individual and group groups have responded to the effects of links in the community. When things get projects in the running for the prestigious the 2009 fires has increased my respect tough, knowing who your neighbours are National Awards. and admiration for the work and support and what kind of help they need or can I hope to spend more time with Landcare members provide to the community – give is invaluable. groups throughout Victoria, getting to see even during personally challenging times. Congratulations are due to the Victorian first-hand the results of your hard work Examples of support include the work of winners of the National Landcare Awards, and dedication while discussing the issues the Christmas Hills Landcare Group, who held at Parliament House in Canberra affecting you. responded quickly and effectively to the on 24 June 2010. The Warrnambool situation and provided members with a place Coastcare Landcare Group and the Point to talk about their experiences, acted as a Danger Committee of Management won referral agent for wider support programs the Australian Government Coastcare and ran activities demonstrating how the Award. The team who collected the natural environment was recovering. Their award paid tribute to John Amor from work is a credit to the group’s members and DSE who died suddenly earlier this year. Gavin Jennings, Minister for Environment a testament to the social benefit of Landcare. John was the Coast Action/Coastcare and Climate Change MLC

Don McTaggart, Kate McInnes, John Sutherland, Kristie King, Chris Drummond and Tony Flude and Naomie Sunner accepted David Williams from the Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group and the Point Danger the Urban Landcare Award on behalf of Committee of Management display the Australian Government Coastcare Award. the Friends of Westgate Park.

winter 10 issue 49 | 3 Strathewen – a community forged by fire

By Bronwyn South

Ten members of the Strathewen Landcare Group died on Black Saturday, as well as three other residents who were involved in the

O’Dea’s Road 2008. group at different times over the last 20 years. The loss of these people and the contribution they made to our community and the environment will always be remembered.

Strathewen Landcare Group is the second oldest Landcare group in the Nillumbik Shire. Its area covers the catchment of Upper Arthurs Creek. We have around 48 members and they represent all types O’Dea’s Road 2009. of landholdings – primary production, environmental and rural lifestyle. As a peri- urban community most of our members are busy working on their own land with little time for communal Landcare activities. The emphasis of the group has been on grants, supporting agencies working in the catchment and disseminating the huge amount of information available to assist in land management. The Black Saturday bushfires of 2009 left the Kinglake National Park on our western boundary and destroyed almost 80 percent of our Landcare area. Within the line of the fire the devastation was almost complete. The loss of life and destruction of homes were the worst in the state. The first priority after the fire was the safety of the O’Dea’s Road 2010. area for the residents. Roads were cleared, electricity and phone lines restored and Blackberries are the major weed problem in Strathewen. The Strathewen Landcare Group the coroner and other experts gathered runs a roadside weed control program in conjunction with Nillumbik Shire Council. information.

4 | victorian landcare and catchment management In the immediate aftermath of the fires the issues around land management and the environment were technically, physically and emotionally too severe for us to attempt to manage them from within the Strathewen community.

Strathewen Landcare Group members take great comfort from walking and talking about the devastation and recovery on their properties.

Many groups and individuals were quick Other agencies also approached us For the executive of the Strathewen to ask how they could help, but the with information and offers of support, Landcare Group 2009 and 2010 have community’s needs were difficult to in particular DPI, Melbourne Water, passed in a blur. We’ve held meetings, quantify. We needed time to grieve and Parks Victoria and the Port Phillip and applied for grants, run property walks, reconnect with each other, confidence, Westernport CMA. Landcare group hosted visiting politicians and others, companionship, information, material members responded generously when purchased and maintained new equipment, assistance, physical support and equipment. asked to host visiting politicians and natural co-ordinated volunteers, distributed Time passed as we worked through these resource management agency staff on their plants and most importantly, kept the land issues and it was soon apparent that our properties. This has been very valuable, management information flowing. environment was recovering much faster not only in placing Strathewen on the map, We’ve tried not to exceed our limited than we were. but also giving visitors a chance to develop personal resources and have leant heavily a realistic perspective on the challenges Group assists council on the support of the Natural Environment facing land managers after the bushfires. As Landcare was the only associated Recovery Working Group. We are also group in Strathewen whose books weren’t In May 2009 the Nillumbik Natural developing long-term relationships with destroyed, our first funding application was Environment Recovery Working Group other groups so we can call on their for BBQs and chairs so the community was formed. This group brings together energy during the long recovery period could be together and host visits from the community recovery committees of ahead. others. In the immediate aftermath of the Strathewen and St Andrews, with Landcare If the Landcare group is to have a future fires the issues around land management groups, NGOs and government agencies it is important that we maintain our and the environment were technically, involved in bushfire recovery. It has been capacity as a group. This is a challenge physically and emotionally too severe for the focal point in delivering bushfire as we say farewell to many friends and us to attempt to manage them from within recovery assistance to landholders and the neighbours who have found the realities the Strathewen community. very high uptake of the support offered is of living in Strathewen too overwhelming. an indication of the group’s success. In late February 2009 the Landcare We’ve put together a new resident’s group was approached by Nillumbik Environment recovery plan information kit – it’s a great excuse to Shire Council to assist with issues around charts the way forward drop in on new neighbours and welcome the extremely emotive issue of tree The Nillumbik Environment Recovery Plan them to our remarkable community. clearing. The consultations resulted in the is a major milestone for bushfire recovery. Bronwyn South is president of the appointment of a senior consultant arborist. The plan examines our natural environment Strathewen Landcare Group. The use of arborists is still continuing and across private and public land. As a result their presence in the community allows of the plan we will be able to set formal For further information email locals to stop and ask what works are being priorities for the first time. The plan will also [email protected] undertaken and, more importantly, why? allow us to demonstrate the public benefit in works done on private land.

winter 10 issue 49 | 5 Long-range approach needed

for soil conservation By Craig Turton

In February 2009 the Beechworth fire in north east Victoria burnt 12,446 hectares of private land. Landholders are still experiencing problems with soil erosion, flooding, and debris deposition from the fire and they are expected to continue for many years to come. Most farms in the fire-affected area are adjacent to, or have boundaries with, catchments that are very steep and incised on erosive alluvial river gravels with a traditional groundcover of remnant vegetation. The high intensity burn during the fires has dramatically altered the hydrological characteristics of these areas. The burning of vegetation and destruction of ground litter have removed the cover that protects the soil surface and acts to retain runoff. Under a catchment of eucalypt forest the canopy and groundcover act as a buffer to the effects of the rainfall event. The canopy and Debris deposition and soil erosion caused by flash flooding in a fire-affected catchment. groundcover absorb and dissipate the energy of the rainfall. The groundcover slows runoff and promotes water the increased risk of flash flooding. In small catchments at risk of high peak flows or infiltration into the soil and protects or catchments with relatively low peak flows, flash flooding, the do-nothing option needs armours the soil surface from being erosion control and prevention treatments to be considered as any works will be at eroded by overland flow. have been used very successfully. In large higher risk of being washed away. The removal of groundcover means that catchments affected by fire are going to experience significantly increased runoff, peak flows, flooding and erosion and Soil conservation in large catchments deposition events. These events will continue over the next several years. • Think carefully about cleaning out • Construct flood gates or expendable Experience from the 2003 fires in the farm dams which have been filled fences in drainage lines where they north east suggests that it will take with sediment as there is still a high are continually being washed away. risk that a relatively small rainfall around seven years before the vegetation • Protect drainage lines from gully event will cause the dam to fill with recovers enough to return the rainfall- erosion by fencing to exclude sediment again. After the 2003 fires runoff relationship to a more normal livestock and revegetation to one farm dam was cleaned out regime. stabilise the banks. seven times – both expensive and The key message for private landholders frustrating for the landholder. • If physical works on waterways are in burnt catchments is to expect an planned your local CMA and Rural • If a farm dam suffering from ongoing increased frequency and intensity Water Authority may need to be sedimentation is a strategic or key of flooding, soil erosion and sediment consulted. For further advice contact water supply, consider making transport and deposition. Fences across your local DPI office. drainage lines and dams in drainage lines alternative plans if the dam can’t will be affected. be protected by sediment traps or diversion. Landholders need to plan for the fact that these events will continue to occur for some time. Careful consideration should be given to remediation works because of Craig Turton works for DPI Integrated Land Management in Wangaratta.

6 | victorian landcare and catchment management Nesting boxes urgently needed By Bridget Clarke

The huge loss of bush and gardens after have been monitored, birds and animals supplied with tools and protective the Black Saturday fires has meant much have been making good use of them. clothing and supervised by UGLN of the habitat needed to sustain small co-ordinators. More nest boxes are needed. If your animals and birdlife has disappeared. group would like to become a saviour of For further information please email The Upper Goulburn Landcare Network a sugar glider family or perhaps a parrot [email protected] or call (UGLN) is co-ordinating volunteers or a squirrel glider, please volunteer. Chris Coburn on 5797 0104. to replant many areas in the Shire of You’ll be trained in what’s needed, Murrindindi, but these seedlings will not be able to accommodate nests or provide feed or tree hollows for many years. The UGLN is co-ordinating volunteers to make different varieties of timber nesting boxes in various sizes and with entry holes to suit particular occupants. The project is called Operation Coughing Parrot. It can take 100 years for hollows to form in trees. As many birds and small animals need hollows to raise their young, it is important that where trees are not in a dangerous position they should be retained. Even dead trees can provide important habitat. About 120 nest boxes have been installed. In Strath Creek, where they CPA Australia volunteers display their stack of painted nest boxes. Vale Peter Huthwaite

By Kellie Nichols, Paul Speirs, Matthew Stephenson, Lisa Wangman and Roger Hardley

Landcare lost one of its leaders with He pioneered the concept of Parliamentary the death of Peter Huthwaite in June. champions for Landcare, drawing from Peter was the Chairman of the Victorian across the entire spectrum of politics. Landcare Council, Vice Chair of the Bass Coast Landcare Network Board, In this day and age where everyone is Past President of Phillip Island Landcare busy and with no time to spare, Peter Group and a Victorian representative to was always available. His daily drop-in to the National Landcare Network. He was the office to offer his help or opinion was dedicated to the Landcare movement, warmly welcomed. In fact he was hard to a good bloke, a mentor to many and a miss – decked out in his fluorescent lycra Peter Huthwaite (left) and Barry Sibly at personal friend to us all. bike shorts and helmet! Peter helped the staff of the Network through some difficult the International Landcare Conference in Melbourne in 2006. Peter had an extensive history in times. They greatly appreciated his expert Queensland agriculture, farm and property guidance and the knowledge he was out management and journalism; at one stage fighting for them. always good company – at a sausage sizzle he was a rural reporter for Brisbane’s with a glass of red wine in his hand, or in a Courier Mail. While Peter lived in the town Paul Speirs, Bass Coast Landcare Board meeting room contributing his knowledge of Cowes, he was heavily involved in rural member, spent time with Peter recently on and skills. I feel very privileged to have and urban Landcare. one of the Network’s three-day bus tours. shared some special time with him.” Peter loved his politics. On our behalf, “Pete and I organised and helped roll out “Life is mostly froth and bubble. Two things he promoted Landcare ideals beyond what we humbly proclaimed to be one of stand like stone – kindness in another’s the paddock, with the bureaucrats in the most diverse tours we ever did. We trouble. Courage in your own.” – Adam Melbourne, Canberra and beyond. toured, lived and got lost together. Pete was Lindsay Gordon

winter 10 issue 49 | 7 Bushfire and beyond: Minister Jennings reflects on the events of 2009

Victoria’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings, shares his experiences and thoughts about the 2009 bushfires.

Q. How important do you think Landcare Victorians who’d been personally affected Already, Landcare groups are helping is to community resilience? by fires. I also spent time looking at to inform our climate change adaptation through their knowledge of the For over 20 years, Landcarers have post-recovery activities in areas such as environment and their on-ground brought people together while making Kinglake National Park, Marysville and experience as they plant, plan and respond significant improvements to our Lake Mountain. environment. They’ve also often led the to environmental changes on a daily basis. Each visit gave me a chance to meet I see this role continuing, with Landcarers way in developing new ways of dealing some extraordinary people. And whether with natural resource management helping to ensure we tackle climate change I spoke to them in their Landcarer role, in a sustainable and effective way. challenges, such as bushfire recovery. or as someone rebuilding their home, I The reason for this is simple: Landcare is was constantly amazed at their resilience, Q. You’ve been involved with Landcare made up of wonderful people from all walks courage and commitment to move on since it began, so how have you seen it of life who are dedicated to protecting and beyond this tragedy. I was also deeply evolve over time? preserving our unique environment. Their moved by their ability to think of others, I’ve been lucky enough to have met many passion is driven by a personal connection and their desire to help them out – even Landcarers over the years, and to watch to our landscape through their work, or though their own lives may have been this wonderful organisation grow from their commitment to helping others. This dramatically altered. Movements such as strength to strength. And while these makes them an important and crucial part Landcare certainly drive this wonderful groups may have expanded and spread of any community recovery process. community resilience. across the state, there’s been a core of determination and dedication that’s Q. What have been your personal Q. Our Landcare groups have a lot of remained unchanged – inspiring others experiences with Landcare as part of people out monitoring our environment. to join in and lend a hand. Victoria’s fire recovery process? How do you see this role evolving Just after the 2009 bushfires, I visited as Victoria’s climate changes, and So I see Landcare as being part of the several firegrounds to spend time meeting communities try to adapt to change? solution to our future challenges in natural resource management. And I’d like to continue to draw on the ‘Landcare knowledge base’, by working together to develop and implement the strategies we need to benefit our communities and the state. Q. What do you see as the future challenges for Landcare? Finding ways to continue Landcare’s amazing work throughout Victoria is on everyone’s mind – including mine. That’s why I was proud to recently announce $9.9 million funding for Landcare – as part of a Victorian Government investment of $25.2 million over the next four years. The $9.9 million will be mainly spent on funding a Regional Landcare Co-ordinator in each CMA region. Apart from resourcing, Landcarers must also find enough time to commit to their passion, while working in a constantly changing environment – especially with drought and climate change. These are Minister Jennings inspects giant River Red Gums on the banks of the Murray River in north indeed big challenges, but I’m confident west Victoria. Landcarers are up to the task!

8 | victorian landcare and catchment management Yarra Ranges on target

for 25,000 trees By Kelly Castelleti

With around 20 per cent of the Yarra corporate groups, has been engaged to Ranges shire area impacted by the help with the planting days. February 2009 bushfires, the personal and The council is committed to the replanting economic cost to those who were affected as it will help address potential problems has been enormous – so too has the cost with erosion, landslip, water contamination to the environment. and sterile and water repellent soils. It also As residents of bushfire-affected areas acknowledges it will help residents feel at continue to rebuild their lives, work has home in the landscape again. begun to rebuild the natural environment. According to Steels Creek resident Yarra Ranges Council has set a target of Malcolm Calder projects such as Target 25,000 trees to be planted in 20 days 25,000 are assisting the local community to during June and August 2010. get back on its feet. So far the project is right on schedule. “While we didn’t lose our house, we About 11,000 trees have already been lost all of our sheds, farm and winery planted and crews of volunteers are ready equipment, fences and trees and the to assist with further plantings. pastures were badly burned along with The project is the culmination of more large patches of topsoil. than 12 months of volunteer work clearing, “We are thankful to all involved in this cleaning, transporting, fencing, sorting and replanting project for recognising the Kelly Castelleti with Yarra Valley Grammar students building in the region. Another legion of need for a program to assist in property planting trees on a property in Steels Creek. volunteers, including schools and large recovery,” Malcolm said. Volunteers embody the spirit of the Lorax – who speaks for the trees By Bridget Clarke

The Upper Goulburn Landcare Network Understorey Network another 3000. The (UGLN) supports 15 Landcare groups Euroa Arboretum, assisted by Landcare in the Murrindindi Shire. Seven of those Australia funding, has come up with 15,000 groups were burnt out on Black Saturday. seedlings. The seedlings represent 20 The scope of the recovery effort for these indigenous varieties of groundcover plants, groups is enormous. It quickly became understorey and trees. After a few years in clear that local volunteers were exhausted the ground they will do much to restore so the network co-ordinator set to work the natural beauty of the area. sourcing external volunteers. All landholders in the fire-affected areas have The revegetation project the volunteers been offered 300 free plants. This year’s have been working on is called the Lorax stocks are fully allocated and the UGLN is Volunteers from National Australia Bank Project after the popular Dr Seuss book. now planning for next year’s plantings. participate in the Lorax Project. The book is a fable about the plight of the environment – the Lorax is the character Recently 150 volunteers from local to plant trees after earlier work weed who speaks for the trees. hang-gliding clubs worked with UGLN clearing and fencing. president Terry Hubbard and his wife Janet Volunteers have now treated more than on planting out the slopes of the Three More volunteers are always needed. It’s a fun 150 hectares of woody weeds and are Sisters at Flowerdale. The hang-gliders day for members of a group or corporation launching into the planting of trees and will be able to survey their work from who can donate one day during the week. understorey shrubs. More than 28,000 above in years to come. seedlings have been grown from locally For further information email collected seeds. Rotary clubs have Eighty volunteers from National Australia [email protected] or produced 10,000 seedlings, the Tasmanian Bank have recently returned to the area call Chris Coburn on 5797 0104.

winter 10 issue 49 | 9 The fire approaches Watsons Track. Landcare connects the community in Christmas Hills

This is the story of how one Landcare group responded to the bushfires of Black Saturday.

On 7 February 2009, I was at home in At around 4pm in the afternoon I sent an Christmas Hills with my wife, Pip Charlton, email to David Allan of the neighbouring preparing to defend our home. The large Steels Creek Landcare Group about a joint column of smoke from the Kilmore East project to control sweet pittosporum along fire was clearly visible high in the sky a road that forms the boundary between Landcare is still healthy in the burnt out overhead, the fire plan was in full swing the two groups. Christmas Hills. and the radio, CFA website, and CFA At about the same time the bushfires that scanner were being monitored closely. had started in Kilmore some 40 kilometres

Flexible group meets community needs

A survey conducted by an RMIT website. Eleven of the group’s thirty while advice on bushfire recovery student has confirmed the social members responded, many of them and property management was seen benefits the Christmas Hills Landcare providing detailed comments in as beneficial, the greatest benefit the Group provided to the community response to Nicole’s questions. group provided was a space to talk after the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires. to each other, share experiences, Nicole Noy is an RMIT Social Science “As a group member I’m well aware and find ways of helping each other. (Environment) student and a member of the environmental benefits of “The fires really showed a different side of the Christmas Hills Landcare Group. Landcare, but I was interested in getting a broader understanding of the role of the Landcare group. While the group Nicole decided to focus one of her that community groups can play within remained true to its environmental research projects on understanding their local area, especially in the event roots, it had the flexibility to provide what benefits, if any, Landcare provided for the social needs of its members in of a natural disaster or other such within the Christmas Hills community allowing them an outlet to share their tragedy,” Nicole explained. in the wake of the bushfires. Nicole experiences and help with community posted an online survey on the group’s Nicole’s research concluded that recovery,” Nicole said.

10 |  victorian landcare and catchment management “You’ve got to love the lyrebirds! They were back on day two and gave us hope the animals would return.” Jo Hayter

Landcare connects the community in Christmas Hills By Doug Evans

This is the story of how one Landcare group responded to the bushfires of Black Saturday.

away were arriving in Strathewen and parts of St Andrews and were soon to burn through parts of Christmas Hills, on through Steels Creek and beyond. More than 390 hectares of Christmas Hills was burnt in the fires, affecting 38 properties along Skyline Road and Wallace Road. Eighteen homes were lost, although not all properties had houses to start with. Fortunately no lives were lost in Christmas Hills, unlike the communities either side in St Andrews and Steels Creek. Of the affected properties in Christmas Hills, ten In April 2009 a walk around several properties demonstrated how the environment was recovering. are owned by members of the Landcare group, including two who lost their home, recovery information to people, many of The focus of this first event was quickly and another whose home was badly whom were now displaced. changed to become one of sharing damaged. experiences of the fires and helping Originally planned in late 2008, the first An immediate response each other out. With Darren and Vanessa’s An almost immediate response came from event programmed for our Landcare place lacking power and a working toilet, the two families in the Landcare group, Jo group in February 2009 was to be a weed venue was changed to another property, Hayter and Adrian Dyson, whose home control demonstration on Darren Bennett and then changed again on advice from survived the fires, and Jan Cranwell and and Vanessa Reid’s Wallace Road property. the local fire brigade due to continuing fire Phil Styles, whose home narrowly escaped. Darren and Vanessa were away for the activity in the area. These two families stepped forward to Black Saturday weekend. They didn’t learn On 22 February over 40 people, mainly host a social gathering two weeks after until the following day that the fires had Landcare group members, gathered at the fires for fire-affected people to share burned through their property, and that the Christmas Hills North fire station. their experiences. They also provided their home had survived undefended, but a communication conduit for circulating all the bush on their block was burnt. continued

winter 10 issue 49 | 11 Over a couple of hours we shared our different stories from the day. Some had made lucky escapes driving through flames, some had been aboard fire trucks fighting the fire, some were contemplating what next after losing their house and possessions, some had been at home wondering when they were going to be hit, some were now wondering about the adequacy of their fire plans, and at least one left a fire truck to find his house alight, arriving just in time to prevent its complete loss. Offers of support and assistance were being circulated by agencies and councils almost immediately after the fires. The Port A photopoint was set up on a group member’s property to record the gradual return of the bush. Phillip and Westernport CMA compiled This photograph was taken in April 2009. the offers related to land management and circulated them to Landcare group contacts. I received these as the primary contact for the group and passed them on to Jo Hayter and Jan Cranwell to circulate to the fire-affected folk. Erosion and revegetation The first land management issue to emerge was the threat of serious soil erosion. The group changed the topic of the next event in its 2009 program to focus on basic erosion control. In early April eighteen group members gathered at Darren Bennett and Vanessa Reid’s property for a session on simple post-fire erosion control and recovery monitoring. We heard a basic explanation The same site in April 2010. of the impact of fires on soils and were shown how to recognise different fire intensities by looking at the impact on the The session included a walk through the “Our roadside verge, lower dam area tree canopy – green, brown, or gone. burnt bush across several adjacent properties. and front garden area were revegetated. As we walked, we observed the signs of One year later these little saplings have different fire intensity, noting the impact taken hold and are a constant reminder on the soil as well as examples of soil to us of the goodness of people in times accumulating behind fallen branches. We of need.” turned larger pieces of fallen timber around Recovery – looking small to align with the contours – a simple method By August, after months of being told that “The walk around at Darren of slowing down the movement of the the bush would recover with time, yet erosion-prone soil after rain. A photopoint with little to show for it, some landholders and Vanessa’s place was a real was set up on one of the properties to were questioning whether or not the monitor the gradual recovery of the bush. eye-opener, showing us the recovery would actually come. In May, the group received an offer In response, the group held a session on simple things that can be done of indigenous plants from the North observing early post-fire recovery at Jo to prevent post-fire erosion. Warrandyte/Osborne Peninsula Landcare Hayter and Adrian Dyson’s property. We Group. The offer was not only for the practised ‘looking small’ to observe the The August gathering was plants, but also included people to help early signs of recovery of many native an education – we learnt plant them. plant species that were regenerating from According to Jo Hayter the offer was tree trunks, sprouting from root stock or about the different plants gratefully taken up by many locals. underground bulbs, or germinating from and trees that were springing seed that had dropped into the ash bed or “They came out to our place loaded with was already stored in the soil. back to life.” Brigid Bell. plants, grasses, tree guards and tools and got stuck into it. They were kind and The recovery of people is equally complex. Jo Hayter found the day upsetting. sympathetic to the burden we faced in reconstructing our property and getting “More experienced members were in over the years of work landscaping and awe of the tiny new shoots, buds and planting having gone up in smoke. mosses along the creek and in the forest.

12 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Wurundjeri people visit burnt traditional country By Carrie Tiffany

Parks Victoria organised a bus tour who were compassionate in response. We just wanted to reach out and help for Wurundjeri people to visit bushfire- It was also intriguing that most of the them. The scale of it all was really beyond affected areas on their traditional country Wurundjeri we met are no longer words. None of us have ever been around Christmas Hills in June 2009. living in the area and hadn’t had the through a fire like that so we could only opportunity for connecting with their imagine the horror of it. We went up a The Wurundjeri people were keen to bushland until this disaster came along.” very steep hill and when we got to the meet some Landcare people who share top all we could see were blackened trees their interest in caring for the land. Wurundjeri elder Alice Kolasa said the trip stretching for miles and miles into the A country-in-common gathering was was a good opportunity for members to distance.” held at Doug Evans and Pip Charlton’s connect with each other and to connect property. Around 20 members of the with their traditional country. The participants on the trip included Christmas Hills Landcare Group had “Going back to look at country is very two representatives from Parks Victoria, afternoon tea with 17 Wurundjeri important. Our country is our cultural four senior elders, the CEO of the people. This was their last stop on heritage that exists through our land and Wurundjeri Council, other elders and the bus tour, but the informal meeting waters. It shows us who we are. The members of the next generation and established a connection where both land has spiritual values to us because it their children. groups agreed to come together again, is our birth region.” Alice said the group didn’t want to and to allow more time. Alice said the trip was also a very invade the privacy of people after the Jo Hayter from the Christmas Hills emotional experience. fires, but they were welcomed warmly Landcare Group believes the meeting by everyone they met. would have been meaningful at any time, “It was shocking – the closer we got to the burnt areas the more devastation we “The afternoon tea at the local Landcare but linking it with the fires made it more saw. All of us felt huge sympathy for the group was a very positive way to end significant. people in those towns and communities the day. Like us, Landcare people are “On a personal level I was able to share who lost so much. The suffering and loss interested in taking care of country. my fire story with some of the women of people and homes was very upsetting. Doug and Pip were lovely. We hope to come back and see how the Landcare group members are rebuilding their lives and perhaps to plant some trees and help them along the way.” Alice said the day was a memorable experience for the Wurundjeri. “Any opportunity to go back to these areas is very important. We need to look after these places. When we go back to country we feel the spirits of our ancestors welcoming us onto the land – we feel them around us, when we are out there. The ancestors left the country for us for our future – we all have to respect the land and that means looking after it.” Alice thanked the Christmas Hills Members of the Christmas Hills Landcare Group held a country-in-common gathering for Landcare Group and Doug Evans and Wurundjeri people on a bus tour of their bushfire-affected traditional country. From left, Pip Charlton on behalf of the Wurundjeri Winnie Bridges, Di Simmonds, Ross Coupar, Nicole Noy and Vicki Nicholson-Brown. Council, elders and community members.

All I could see was the devastation, our than people. The fires exposed a lot Skyline Road has been a complete trees gone, blackness and a feeling of more than just views of the valley or success. There is no sign of any overwhelming labour ahead of us to get suburbs in the distance.” pittosporum over a year later! our vegetable gardens and native gardens Doug Evans is the secretary of the started again. The work of the Landcare group continues side by side with the task of recovery. The Christmas Hills Landcare Group and “It has taken another year for the fires have shown us that the group has been the Regional Landcare Co-ordinator comments from that day to realise able to pull together in a time of crisis and for the Port Phillip and Westernport themselves. Now we understand bush to strengthen the bonds of the community. CMA. For more information visit: regeneration and the explosion of nature portphillipwesternport.landcarevic. that occurs in the aftermath. In fact the In closing, I’m pleased to report that our net.au/Christmashills Or email: bush would seem to be a lot more resilient sweet pittosporum eradication project on [email protected]

winter 10 issue 49 | 13 Landcare attracts strong interest at city festival

By John Robinson

Landcare had a high profile presence at Melbourne’s Sustainable Living Festival at Federation Square in February. For the first time the three-day festival Usually more at home in the paddock or featured a Landcare precinct with 11 themed rural hall, Landcare makes a mark in the centre of Melbourne. Landcare marquees.

The Landcare precinct occupied a and Landcare Team at DSE with the aim were able to get close to a range of prominent position on the steps leading of displaying the diversity and breadth small and scaly bugs. This was the first into Federation Square. There were of opportunities open to everyone exposure to Landcare for many of the marquees on Landcare education, interested in getting involved in Landcare. city visitors. More than 430 people junior Landcare, urban Landcare, registered to volunteer with Landcare waterways, biodiversity and threatened More than 4,800 people visited the and Coastcare or to stay informed about species, volunteering, sustainability and Landcare displays at the festival and future opportunities to get involved. climate change, connecting communities, met with over 70 community Landcare The Sustainable Living Festival was a coasts, Landcare farming, and Landcare volunteers and regional and local Landcare great way to bring landholders and co-ordinators who staffed the displays. Victoria. communities together in a fun and The Landcare precinct was organised The Landcare education marquee was informative way. For a wrap up of the by the Community and Engagement especially popular among the kids as they festival visit www.youtube.dsevictoria

The Junior Landcare displays were a big attraction for city kids at the Sustainable Living Festival.

This was the first exposure to Landcare for many of the city visitors.

14 |  victorian landcare and catchment management The ash and soil that builds up behind the straw can be used later as a planting bed. The bales can also be broken up and spread across an area to introduce much needed cover.

Most of the physical work of moving the large rice bales was done by hand.

Rice straw for erosion control by Dianne Dixon

In May 2009 the Rotary Club of Southern The lowest point in the barrier must be in A demonstration site has been established Mitchell, supported by the Pretty Sally the middle of the drainage line so that water at Clonbinane in partnership with Garden Club, had loads of rice straw baled spills over the barrier rather than going GreenCorp and Mitchell Shire Council. and transported out of Deniliquin. The around the side and creating a new line of Rice straw, fallen branches and ring lock straw was donated by local farmer Colin erosion. Several barriers can be placed in fencing recovered from fences damaged Bull and made available free of charge to series down a drainage line. Solid structures by the fires have been strategically placed property owners in fire-affected areas on like stumps and old machinery are not to slow down and spread out water flow steep country to help with erosion and recommended in drainage lines – water from rainfall, preventing further ash and siltation control. will bypass them creating more erosion and sediments entering Sunday Creek. they may cause water pollution. Rice straw doesn’t harbour pasture weeds A demonstration day on managing erosion and holds together as a mat so it doesn’t The ash and soil that builds up behind after fire was held in August 2009. The blow away in the wind. The rice straw takes the straw can be used later as a planting day included a demonstration of rice straw around a year to decompose and generally bed. The bales can also be broken up and techniques and fire-affected landholders animals do not find it palatable. During our spread across an area to introduce much were encouraged to collect rice straw from unseasonably wet summer a number of needed cover from heavy rain and build a nearby stockpile. property owners reported that rice had up biomass on the soil. The straw needs The Sunday Creek-Dry Creek Landcare sprouted, but of course it was short lived. to be thinly spread – if it is too thick it may prevent plants from growing. Group has assisted in delivering the The bales are broken up into biscuits about rice straw program, together with a 10-20 centimetres thick. The biscuits are GreenCorp team. Landcare Australia packed close together across slopes and came on board in June 2009 which meant drainage lines to create low barriers. These two more truckloads of straw could be barriers take the velocity out of the water purchased and delivered. One load of flow and restrict the movement of soil and straw was provided to the Baynton Sidonia gravel. Ring lock fencing and posts salvaged Landcare Group for use in the Redesdale from the fire are placed down slope from fire area. the straw, with the netting folded back The rice straw program, trial site and under to help hold the straw in place. demonstration day have created a greater On slopes, the contours are followed awareness of what Landcare is all about. to avoid channelling the water. Fallen Our group has made some new friends branches and small burnt trees can also A fairly typical silt trap made from rice straw and gained a substantial increase in be placed across slopes to slow water. and old wire not long after installation. membership.

winter 10 issue 49 | 15 Fire talks productive at Devilbend

By Carrie Tiffany

The meeting at the Moorooduc CFA was progressing well – then they set fire to the table. Susan Todd from the Devilbend Landcare Group explains that DSE officers had brought a special fire table to the meeting.

“The table was a replica landscape with toy Landcare group is having with DSE and “We’ve been lucky in recent years with people, houses, farms, sheds, fences and the local CFA. There have been three fire in this area, but that doesn’t mean livestock. We each chose a house similar to meetings to date and more are planned for we’ll continue to be lucky. There was our own – in my case a place close to the the spring. a small fire in 2008 in the Devilbend bush. Then they lit the table and we stood Reserve when a power line fell on Susan Todd says that group members have back to watch it burn. pine trees. The Landcare group has been greatly concerned since the tragedy been a strong advocate for firebreaks “It was remarkable to see the fire progress. of Black Saturday. in the reserve to protect neighbouring Once it was well ablaze one of the CFA “We were told it could happen on landholders. The meetings were a good guys used a fan to create a wind stream the Mornington Peninsula. About 20 forum for raising these practical, local and we were stunned at how quickly locals came to the first meeting at the issues.” the fire moved and how erratically – it Moorooduc Hall and we were like sponges didn’t just go in one direction but formed Susan has lived in the area for 18 years. – wanting to learn as much as possible. a number of different fronts, sometimes Half of her 12-acre property is lowland The meetings have involved experts from surrounding houses in the way we have native forest. A contractor she met at the DSE, Parks Victoria and the local CFA. heard Black Saturday survivors speak of.” meetings has since assisted with clearing There was a lot of knowledge shared and the forest away from the house under the The meeting at the CFA was part of an it was great to hear from some of the newly introduced 30-metre rule. ongoing conversation about fire which the oldtimers in the CFA.

Meet the Devilbend Landcare Group

The Devilbend Landcare Group at inland waterbody on the peninsula By forming a Landcare group they Moorooduc on the Mornington Peninsula and provides habitat for 155 species were able to stay informed about the formed in 2007 when Melbourne Water of birds including more than a dozen planning process for the reserve and decommissioned the Devilbend Reservoir threatened or vulnerable species and to have a say in its development. They and handed it over to Parks Victoria. a number of rare migratory birds. were then able to develop policies for The neighbours and local community sustainable land husbandry and wildlife The 1000-hectare Devilbend Natural preservation on their own properties. Features Reserve contains the largest who live around the reserve were keen to be involved in its future. The group has around 35 active families and Susan Todd says members share knowledge, education and advice. “This area is a rural community, of mainly hobby farmers. There are a lot of people in the equestrian industry, also vineyards and orchards. The group is a great way to get funding for projects, get to know our neighbours and be a collective voice for our community.” Devilbend is a very active group. A planting day at the Devilbend Natural Features Reserve attracted helpers from six Much of its work focuses on restoring weeks to around 80 years of age. More than 2000 trees and shrubs were planted in a the Devilbend Natural Features maze fashion at the site. Reserve with a regular program of

16 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Susan believes the fire meetings have encouraged everyone in the group to prepare a fire plan and the group has learnt that the fire risk is something that needs to be worked on all year.

Fire table demonstrator Greg Harry discusses fire behaviour with members of the Devilbend Landcare Group, the Moorooduc CFA Brigade and Parks Victoria.

“We have a very thick understorey and Susan believes the fire meetings have “We are all a lot more clued up now. while we want to preserve the bush encouraged everyone in the group to At our next meeting we’ll be talking about as much as possible – for instance by prepare a fire plan and the group has the approaching fire season and discussing removing the invasive sweet pittosporum – learnt that the fire risk is something that the findings of the Royal Commission – we need to be fire safe.” needs to be worked on all year. making sure we are up to date with all of the latest knowledge.”

weeding and planting. Members have also done birdwatching courses, learnt to propagate native plants from seed and developed their bushland management techniques. Last year they held a Christmas tree hunt in association with Parks Victoria – a thinly disguised plan to remove young invasive pines from an improving area of wetland. This activity helped to get rid of the pines and spread the news about the work of the Landcare group in the community. Regular activities include Clean Up Australia Day and involvement with the rescue of injured wildlife. The group’s next event is a major planting at the reservoir reserve – in an area where sea eagles nest. This is the third year that this event has been held and the results of the earlier years are now visible. Matt Ray and his sons enjoy the planting.

winter 10 issue 49 | 17 Shelterbelts for fire protection by Rod Bird

The role of trees in providing shelter on farms is well known. Shelterbelts generally improve the productivity from pastures and crops while providing many other benefits. Modelling studies have indicated that when 10 percent of a farm is planted in belts and blocks of trees, with no further grazing on that land, there is an overall long-term improvement in farm productivity.

Shelterbelts can play an important role in to be reduced. A good windbreak like either by a slow flanking fire or by fire fire protection on farms. Shelter reduces the shelterbelt at Helm View shown in creeping through the belt. wind speed, the most important factor the photograph on page 20 (bottom) can Designing a multi-purpose driving the speed of a fire. Shelter can also reduce wind speed to 30 percent of that in shelterbelt assist in protecting buildings. the open – this will decrease the fire speed The best shelterbelt design for fire Shelter reduces wind speed to about 20 percent of that in the open. protection on a large property has four On open land the passage of a firefront is Even a very poor windbreak might still or more rows. This layout is achieved by largely dependent on wind speed and the reduce the wind speed to 70 percent of putting short and medium height species amount of dry grass on the ground. At high that in the open – reducing the fire speed in two rows (rows one and two in the wind speeds a small increase in wind speed to about 60 percent of that in the open. illustration) on the southern side of a belt results in a proportionally greater increase in Aerial photographs clearly show the aligned east-west, or on the eastern side fire speed. The opposite is the case where sheltering effect of shelterbelts. This is for belts aligned north-south. The tall trees the wind speed can be reduced and this is are together in rows three and four. illustrated in the photograph on page 20 where the benefit of a shelterbelt arises. (top) taken after the 1982 fires. It should be The layout can be varied for belts on The use of shelterbelts to reduce wind noted that the area behind the shelterbelt is western and northern boundaries, when speed will enable the speed of the firefront often burned after the firefront has passed, the tall species would be put on the

18 |  victorian landcare and catchment management paddock side of the belt to allow part of the belt area to be grazed once the trees are established. At that time the fence on the windward side may be moved to a permanent position below rows two and three, allowing stock access beneath the tall trees to reduce fine fuel levels there. This is a good agroforestry design that is multi-purpose, with the tall trees high-pruned to produce timber free of knots. The structure of the shrub rows is preserved by keeping stock out of that section. The function of the low shelter is to prevent burning debris blowing through the belt. Consideration should be given to planting some species which are less flammable in the belt. Blackwood (A. melanoxylon) is a good choice for row two (Casuarina glauca, Casuarina obesa or C. cunninghamiana for wet sites). Sticky boobialla (Myoporum viscosum), saltbush (Atriplex nummularia), most acacias, Hop Goodenia (Goodenia ovata), Moonah (Melaleuca lanceolata) and other species of low flammability could be used in the shrub row. In a fire, the shrubs in row one may ignite, but there is less danger of the taller trees catching fire if the second row is resistant. Clean-limbed species, such as spotted gum (E. maculata), or sugar gum (E. cladocalyx) in rows three and four would reduce the danger, as would high-pruned pines or cypress. The ends of shelterbelts are critical points. Wind speed is accelerated at these points and this could allow a breakaway. Shelterbelts that have lost the lower level of branches, or the shrub layer, pose another problem. Wind speed under such belts may be 30 percent greater than in the open. This would allow burning debris to blow through the belt, across a firebreak, and against or under buildings. While the wind speed further away from such a belt is much reduced the fire can burn out beyond the shelter and break away again. While efforts should be made to remove fine fuel from the edge and from under shelterbelts, removing the lower limbs or shrubs will markedly reduce the value of the belt as a windbreak and degrade its appearance. Paradoxically, shelterbelts which are open at the base (perhaps because the fences have been removed to allow stock access) do not readily burn – fuel levels are low and the fire sweeps through quickly. Where there are more than two rows the leeward rows are more likely to be damaged.

continued

winter 10 issue 49 | 19 A grassfire was deflected by the shelterbelts in this photograph taken in the western district after Ash Wednesday 1982. The areas behind the shelterbelts provide important shelter for livestock.

Shelterbelts for protecting buildings fires, at least, are deflected over such on their properties. Shelterbelts will have Shelterbelts can be planted to protect belts, leaving an unburned island of their effectiveness reduced, or may not buildings from windblown embers, direct buildings or paddock behind the belt. be effective at all, in extreme weather conditions. flame contact and radiant heat. The The short species should have low shelterbelt acts as a filter to reduce ember flammability while the tall species should Rod Bird is a retired DPI officer from attack. Direct flame contact can be reduced be clean-limbed or deciduous species. Hamilton. The material in this article was when species with low flammability are The belt should, ideally, be placed about drawn largely from Trees and Shrubs for used as they are less likely to catch fire and four to six heights from the building, the South West Victoria (1996) by PR Bird, the shelterbelt may act as a physical barrier point of maximum shelter. This would GA Kearney and DW Jowett (Agriculture to radiant heat. also reduce the danger from radiant heat Victoria) and from Farm Forestry in Shelterbelts to protect buildings need if the belt catches fire. Southern Australia – a focus on clearwood production of specialty timbers (2000) be only two rows in width if space is Shelterbelts are one of a number of tools by PR Bird (Agriculture Victoria). limited. Experience has shown that grass landholders can use to reduce fire risk

Shelterbelts can play an important role in fire protection on farms. Shelter reduces wind speed, the most important factor driving the speed of a fire. Shelter can also assist in protecting buildings.

A shelterbelt of eucalypts and casuarinas on the western district property, Helm View. This is an average type of shelterbelt common to many farms. While the belt doesn’t look particularly dense it substantially reduces wind speed. Belts that are taller and more dense (but with no gaps) will provide even better shelter close to the belt and for a much greater distance across the paddock.

20 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Firebrand research reveals the cause of spotfires by Andrea Wild

Australia is a hotspot for spotfires due to greater distances occurs when firebrands the nature of our eucalypt trees which are lofted by the convection of a hot readily release firebrands – burning pieces bushfire, sometimes thousands of metres of material such as bark – during bushfires. high. When the firebrand falls out of the convection column it is transported ahead Firebrands and the spotfires they create are the most unpredictable aspect of bushfire of the main firefront by the prevailing behaviour. They can cause uncontrollable wind, falling toward the ground at the bushfires and produce hazardous firebrand’s terminal velocity. Whether a A piece of eucalypt bark flies in the firebrand will start a spotfire where it lands conditions for firefighters and anyone CSIRO wind tunnel. caught in a bushfire. depends on many factors, including how long it will burn during flight, its combustion Firebrands are also the main cause of characteristics at its terminal velocity and house loss at the urban-bush interface. whether it will be flaming when it lands and Days of extreme fire weather will be more therefore able to ignite leaves or grass. trees appear to be the main culprit for common in Australia’s future climate and concentrated shorter-distance spotting up understanding how spotfires start, how The CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship to around three to four kilometres. they behave and their effect on firefighting has been using a purpose-built vertical wind efforts will increase in importance. tunnel to study the combustion characteristics “The bark ignites readily, is easily detached of different types of eucalypt bark. and lofted by a fire and remains flaming According to bushfire behaviour researcher at its terminal velocity for a long time. Dr Peter Ellis of CSIRO multiple spot fires “We can’t just light a piece of bark on a Spotfires that occur at distances of 10, 20 are harder to predict and control than a skewer and see what happens,” explains or even 30 kilometres are associated with firefront burning in one location. Dr Ellis. streamer-like gum-bark eucalypts, such as “Spotfires can trap firefighters, jump fire “The wind tunnel experiments simulate candlebark. We are yet to figure out how breaks and create other spotfires in a the conditions a firebrand will experience these types of firebrands keep burning for chain reaction. Black Saturday was a classic during its travel and allow us to study how the 10 to 30 minutes needed to travel example of firebrands creating multiple a firebrand and its aerodynamics change as such long distances.” spotfires, up to 35 kilometres ahead of it burns, and for how long it remains alight The research is part of ongoing work the main fire and sometimes causing mass under those conditions.” looking at firebrand behaviour, how ignition of whole areas.” Eucalypts are the most common vegetation spotfires ignite and what conditions are Wind alone can usually only carry a type associated with catastrophic likely to result in the hazardous situation firebrand about 100 metres. Spotting to bushfires. According to Dr Ellis stringybark of mass spotfires.

A bushfire in a eucalypt forest – firebrands are being released which can cause spotfires many kilometres away.

winter 10 issue 49 | 21 Care needs to be taken when importing feed for stock after a fire to avoid introducing weeds. Managing pest plants and animals after a fire

The risk of infestation by pest plants and animals dramatically increases during and after an emergency such as fire. The cover that protects pest animals is removed and many pest plants regenerate rapidly after fire.

Unless action is taken invasive species Pest plants populations can increase rapidly and Importing hay and grain as stockfeed and further damage the viability of rural reintroducing livestock onto farms poses businesses. a significant risk of spreading weeds. Be The problem is often compounded when especially careful of feed imported from the spread of pest plants and animals is interstate which could potentially carry overlooked as people are dealing with new weeds into Victoria. more pressing response and recovery Stockfeed on farms should be checked for The post-bushfire issues. origin. Has it come from a known weed- environment provides The post-bushfire environment provides infested area? Ask the supplier for written a unique opportunity to a unique opportunity to reduce the certification on any potential weed content. impact of pest plants and animals on the Where possible source locally grown feed reduce the impact of landscape. There are some simple actions to reduce the chance of introducing weeds that land managers can take to minimise that are not already present and known in pest plants and animals risks which may also save money, protect your locality. on the landscape. environmental values and avoid stress in Keep records of purchased hay or grain. the long term. These should include content, source It is also an ideal time for home gardeners location, producer, date purchased, to think about what to replant in the transporter and feed-out area. Feed out in garden and ensure they are not introducing a confined area away from drainage lines invasive species. (stock containment areas) to reduce the likelihood of invasive plants being spread

22 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Rabbits will also be stimulated to breed with the influx of new growth so it is critical that control action is timely and well targeted.

New growth will be tempting for rabbits, but the removal of cover by the fire provides a good opportunity for destroying warrens to prevent rabbit breeding.

Managing pest plants and animals after a fire By Katie Le Blanc

throughout your property. Monitor feed- of weeds before they enter or leave the provides a window of opportunity to out areas regularly and be suspicious of any property. Where possible use contractors target rabbit warrens for destruction as unfamiliar plants that germinate. who are accredited in vehicle/machinery there is little or no cover. The warren is hygiene. the key to the rabbits’ ability to re-establish Take care to avoid the spread of pest in bushfire-affected landscapes, so plants onto road reserves and adjacent Weed seeds can also be spread easily destroying their warrens is the key to land when transporting hay or grain. by water flow across bare ground during long-term rabbit control. Vehicles should be cleaned down after rain events. deliveries. Vehicle cleaning should occur Home gardeners should seek advice Rabbits are preferential feeders and in a designated area to prevent weed from local plant nurseries before will target newly germinated vegetation dispersal and to make the management re-establishing gardens to ensure new communities after a fire which will impact of new infestations easier. species are non-invasive and suitable to heavily on the rate of regeneration. Rabbits will also be stimulated to breed Building up stock numbers when recovering the region. Consider carefully before with the influx of new growth so it is from an emergency is also another high risk accepting plants or offcuts from friends critical that control action is timely and activity. Quarantine new stock for up to 14 and relatives to guarantee the species well targeted. days, allowing time for viable seed to pass is appropriate for, and not restricted in, through the animal. Check for weed seed your area. Equally important to controlling rabbits is in fleece and continue to check for weeds in Pest animals the need for a soft footprint on the landscape. areas with new stock. Purchase shorn sheep The potential impact of pest animals such Landholders must be careful to avoid further where possible. Try to avoid areas of known as rabbits, foxes and wild dogs increases damage to the environment when using weed infestations when moving stock along after fire. With reduced levels of available machinery. It is also important that the roadsides. food and the removal of protective necessary permits and approvals are obtained for works in culturally sensitive areas, Pest plants may also be spread by fire- vegetation and fencing there is likely to be alongside waterways or where the control fighting activities. Monitor burnt areas for higher predation by these animals as they effort may impact on native vegetation. weed germination. Vehicles entering and recolonise and potentially move to new areas. Landholders need to remain vigilant. For information and advice contact DPI leaving your property to replenish water Advice on any concerns or options for on 136 186 and your local council. supplies, rehabilitate fire breaks, clear fence management can be sought from DPI. lines and re-establish vegetation also pose Katie Le Blanc is a Community a risk. Ensure all vehicles are clean and free The removal of vegetation after a bushfire Engagement Officer with DPI in Echuca.

winter 10 issue 49 | 23 Bullengarook group reaches

out to its community By Carrie Tiffany

Located midway between Bacchus Marsh and Gisborne, the Bullengarook Landcare Group is made up of 65 local families. Many of them work outside of the area, but enjoy living on small holdings, running horses and cattle and having an opportunity to connect with the land.

Norris McCarthy, the president of the group, explains that Landcare got underway in the area with the rehabilitation of the Waterloo Flat Reserve. “The reserve was badly overgrown with willow and blackberries. Over a number of years the reserve was cleaned up and planted with native grasses and other indigenous plants. “Along the way the group identified a need to work on weed control on roadsides and individual properties. Blackberries, gorse and English broom are the main offenders.” A grant from the Federal Government together with support from the Port Phillip and Westernport CMA and the local council enabled the group to purchase weed spraying equipment which has been used to greatly reduce large weed infestations in the area. The local scout group helped the Bullengarook Landcare Group with a streamside planting day.

The spraying program is now used to help flora walk in the Pyrete State Park run recruit new members. in conjunction with the Ballarat Field Naturalists is always well attended. “We offer to assist people with their weed problems, but we also leave them with an The whole-of-community feel is being Our local CFA already application form for the group and suggest extended to this year’s AGM. Committee does the technical stuff they join up and help others in return,” member Cherie Salmon and secretary Norris said. Juli Robinson have been keen to reach well. These conversations Family fun day for AGM out to the many young families that have are an opportunity for the Community awareness is one of the moved into the area. The group has group’s priorities. All of their events have planned its AGM as a big family fun day. wider community to come a whole-of-community feel. A series of The children’s environmental theatre group together under the umbrella Friday night community evenings with a Vox Bandicoot is booked to perform, the guest speaker and a BBQ have been well CFA will run a sausage sizzle (with food of the Landcare group to attended. Speakers of note have included provided by DSE) and the local playgroup talk about fire. Rob Gell, who came out to speak on is putting on afternoon tea. The group is climate change, while Dr Lindy Lumsden advertising the day with a real estate board, spoke about bats. a letterbox drop and through the local press. The group works with a local nursery to propagate indigenous native plants and According to Cherie the day will also around 1000 plants are given away to be an opportunity to talk about fire. the community every year. An annual Bullengarook is in a wildfire overlay area

24 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Bullengarook Landcare Group members preparing to plant at Waterloo Flat Reserve.

and the Landcare group has been involved in a series of community conversations about fire that started just after the fires in February 2009. Cherie explains that the conversations aren’t lectures or technical sessions. Volunteers from National Australia Bank assisted with fence removal at Buxton. “Our local CFA already does the technical stuff well. These conversations are an opportunity for the wider community to come together under the umbrella of the Landcare group to talk about Fencers go beyond boundaries fire.” Fire conversations cathartic By Bridget Clarke Matt Campbell from DSE helped to organise and facilitate the fire conversations. The first meeting took The Black Saturday bushfires destroyed more than 3500 place not long after Black Saturday and according to Cherie Salmon many people kilometres of fencing in the Shire of Murrindindi. The Upper found it cathartic. “Emotions were running high and it Goulburn Landcare Network (UGLN) has been supporting gave people a chance to talk about the Fencers Without Boundaries project since March 2009. their fears.” The conversations have helped to open up the communication channels between The project has seen volunteers to keep livestock in or out is a the different agencies – the sessions were pull out almost 250 kilometres of very tangible way of helping them. attended by DSE, the CFA, the local burnt-out fencing and rebuild more Many clubs and large companies have council, Parks Victoria and DPI, as well as than 200 kilometres. come forward with volunteers who the local community. Allan Stafford, a volunteer with the are trained in the tasks to be performed, Cherie believes they have also been Uniting Church in Benalla, has been supplied with tools and protective important for building contacts and one of the stalwarts of the project clothing and supervised by Allan and connections at a local level. in Murrindindi. Allan has trained and UGLN co-ordinators. So far more than co-ordinated countless volunteers 500 volunteers have helped, but the “We’ve been able to plan things like and been on site to operate heavy enormity of the task means that many telephone trees. And getting to know equipment. more are needed. who is in our neighbourhood is really positive. If we know who everyone is Around 1400 houses were destroyed If you can help please email we can look out for each other in an in Murrindindi and many residents [email protected] or call Chris Coburn on 5797 0104. emergency.” have not yet rebuilt. To assist people to clean up debris, to define their land and The response to the conversations has been positive and Cherie says they are set to continue.

winter 10 issue 49 | 25

Jean was despairing when she returned to the blackened landscape after the fire. As she normally released wildlife on the property it was important that the cover be replaced as soon as possible.

Linda Minter, secretary of the Boolarra South Landcare Group, meets a wombat in Jean Quick’s care.

Habitat restored at wildlife shelter By Peter Newgreen

Jean Quick has been caring for injured and property it was important that the cover be The plants selected were indigenous to orphaned wildlife for more than 20 years. replaced as soon as possible. the area and by planting out tubestock the Working from her wildlife shelter at Boolarra group hoped to speed up the revegetation Rotary volunteers stepped in to rebuild the she is tireless in her attempts to save a joey of the property. A deterrent, Sen-tree, animal enclosures and the Boolarra South removed from the pouch of a kangaroo Landcare Group decided to do something which consists of egg powder, an adhesive killed on a road, or a fledgling magpie that’s about the burnt-out landscape. The mature and silica carbide grit was applied to the fallen from a nest. Any animal needing care eucalypts were soon sprouting from the tubestock before they were planted to is taken in and gets the best of treatment. trunks, but many of the understorey protect them from browsing animals. In February 2009 the Delburn complex species were killed by the intense heat and The group got busy and soon had 550 fire raced through Jean Quick’s property. fire – leaving little cover for wildlife. plants planted over a substantial part of Although her house was spared the In August 2009 about 20 members of the the property. After planting we got to understorey plants and animal pens were Boolarra South Landcare Group along with meet some of Jean’s patients. Kangaroos, burnt to the ground. a number of volunteers from the adjacent wombats, wallabies, a possum and a Jean was despairing when she returned Yinnar-Yinnar South Landcare Group got magpie were all getting a chance to heal to the blackened landscape after the fire. together to replant the understorey plants before being returned to the wild. As she normally released wildlife on the at Jean’s wildlife shelter. Nine months down the track the understorey plants have established Landcare group members plant understorey at Jean Quick’s wildlife shelter to provide cover for well with over 75 percent surviving. injured animals when they are released. Some are flourishing. In addition natural regeneration has been extensive and it won’t be long before the property will provide suitable habitat for the release of wildlife. Jean Quick lives for her animals. She is extremely independent and doesn’t like to ask for help. The local Landcarers have been there for her consistently and will continue to help into the future. For further information contact Peter Newgreen, Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network Co-ordinator, on 0429 808 411.

26 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Volunteers contribute to speedy recovery after Bunyip Ridge fire by Bridgette McCallum

The communities of Labertouche, Jindivick, Drouin West and Tonimbuk were devastated by the Bunyip Ridge bushfire on Black Saturday 2009. We were fortunate that no lives were lost; however, many families lost houses, farms, livestock, fencing, fodder, shelterbelts and shedding.

The area that was burnt is home to In late July 2009 over 200 volunteers many commercial dairy and beef farmers gathered at the Labertouche Hall to help Rebuilding got underway quickly after along with smaller lifestyle holdings. The replant on six properties. In just over the Bunyip Ridge fire – fences are being commercial farmers were unable to sit back three hours more than 8000 indigenous replaced while silage still burns nearby. and take stock of what had happened as trees and shrubs were planted. It was a livestock had to be cared for and fences remarkable morning’s work that helped rebuilt – life had to go on. For many, to change the blackened landscape. This rebuilding began the day after the fire front funding came through Landcare Australia. the fires were employed through the DSE had passed; for others it took many months Drought Employment Project. This created Support for the rebuilding process also came before they were able to start rebuilding. some additional income for farmers who from the Australian Government through in some cases didn’t receive any other Immediately after the fire the Baw Baw Shire the Caring for our Country program. This income for many months. established a drop-in-centre at the local hall was administered by the Port Phillip and where people could go to register their details Westernport CMA who employed a project Although the recovery process is well and receive assistance. It was also a place officer to assess each property. Funding was underway there is still much to be done. where people could talk or just have a cuppa. used to assist landholders to protect their The success of recovery can by measured environmental and biodiversity assets such by the hard work of the volunteers, the Westernport Catchment Landcare as remnant vegetation and waterways, and determination of local landholders and the Network Project Officer Peter Ronalds to control weeds. This funding allowed resilience of our local community. enlisted the help of the local Warragul some financial stress to be lifted from Community Church to begin the huge task Bridgette McCallum is the Westernport landholders, helping them to rebuild their of cleaning up and re-erecting fences. Catchment Landcare Network Co-ordinator properties and protect their assets. and Bushfire Recovery Officer. She can be According to Peter the support from the More than 40 local farmers and farm contacted on 5941 8446 or by email at local church has been remarkable. employees who lost their jobs because of [email protected] “It’s hard work and long hours. Some days they had three teams of up to 50 people working on several farms at once. They have been providing support to fire-affected people from day one and they are still out fencing two days a week 18 months after the fires,” Peter said. Other volunteers came forward to assist with rebuilding. VisionStream donated two weekends of fencing. They supplied tractors and rammers just a couple of weeks after the fires when this equipment was difficult to source, along with 43 volunteers and much expertise. The Bass Coast Landcare Network along with VisionStream had a team of 50 volunteers for a planting weekend on eight properties. They were able to replant over 6500 indigenous trees and shrubs. It was a huge effort and one that didn’t This large plume of smoke was visible looking northwest towards the town of Labertouche just go unnoticed by the local landholders. before the fire hit.

winter 10 issue 49 | 27

The Landcare group has never been busier. The gardening program has helped to bring people together. Stories have been shared and children have played together while cars and utes are loaded up with plants.

The Sunday Creek-Dry Creek Landcare Group set up a plant donation scheme after the fires to help landholders re-establish their home gardens and farm trees.

Gardening after the Fire By Elyse Kelly

The Black Saturday bushfires burnt through much of the Sunday Creek-Dry Creek Landcare area. All of the group members were affected in one way or another.

The Gardening after the Fire program The first round of plant donations were with plant donations from the Pretty Sally was set up to help people who lost their mainly to people who lost their gardens Garden Club and advanced tree donations gardens and farm trees in the fires. While and farm trees, but not their homes. through a program delivered by the Rotary we acknowledge that gardening and Gradually more people who are either Club of Southern Mitchell. revegetation may not be a high priority for rebuilding or have completed rebuilding The Rotary Club’s advanced tree program some people, these activities are part of are turning to re-establishing their gardens. is running alongside the gardening the fire recovery process for many. So far over 7000 plants, as well as guards and stakes, have been distributed. The program. The supply of advanced trees The Landcare group discussed the risk guards and stakes were purchased with to fire-affected landholders has seen very of weed and disease spread, especially assistance from the Mitchell Community generous donations from Mount William when there were no other plants to out- Health Bushfire Relief Program. Advanced Tree Nursery, Naturelinks and compete the weeds. We developed simple Metro Trees. The Rotary Club has been guidelines for the donation and propagation Building on the plant donation scheme, assisted by funds raised by the Rise above of plants. They included not supplying the Sunday Creek-Dry Creek Landcare the Blaze activities in Kilmore. plants that have the potential to become Group hosted a free garden workshop, environmental weeds, disinfecting all pots generously run free of charge by The Landcare group has never been prior to potting and only using potting mix, Sustainable Gardening Australia. More busier. The gardening program has helped rather than garden soil. than 50 people listened and laughed along to bring people together. Stories have been with presenter Helen Tuton who spoke shared and children have played together Donations of plants came from local native about sustainable gardening practices, soil while cars and utes are loaded up with nurseries, the Pretty Sally Garden Club, condition after fire and fire-smart gardening plants. The work speaks volumes for the neighbouring Landcare groups (such as the techniques. strength of our community. Upper Maribyrnong Catchment Group) and backyard gardeners, including lavender Helen both educated and entertained at For further information contact struck by a 94-year-old grandmother from the workshop. One participant said it was Elyse Kelly on 5781 0155 or Brunswick. great therapy. The day was topped off [email protected]

28 |  victorian landcare and catchment management FTLA news By Susi Johnson New on AGM Survey More than 45 members and guests In order to ensure FTLA services are gathered at the 2010 AGM of the Farm appropriate to members’ needs, more the Gateway Tree & Landcare Association (FTLA) than 1100 surveys have been sent out in Melbourne on 7 May 2010. The to groups and office bearers. In the keynote speaker Kim Chance, chair of the results received so far, members report The Victorian Landcare Gateway is reconstituted Australian Landcare Council, using a range of FTLA services including the statewide community portal for asked those assembled to tell the council the governance training program, advice, information on all Landcare regions, how to take Landcare forward. information bulletins and hiring agreements. groups, networks, newsletters and events. Attendees raised a range of issues including: Members reported a high interest in local priorities being valued and funded; the ideas of the FTLA on developing The Gateway provides the opportunity access to facilitators who have a well- services in grant assistance, devolved to share information, knowledge defined role; administrative and IT support grants for member groups, training and experiences, as well as contacts, for groups and networks; and recognition programs and property insurance. resources, links and discussions on issues of unfunded work by landowners and affecting Landcare groups and members. other volunteers. The importance of Renewals working together as groups rather than Renewals were due on 30 June 2010. The Network Readiness project was individuals was also emphasised. The FTLA has made every effort to a social research project designed to support Landcare networks to be more Attendees also participated in sessions on keep the membership fees down while effective and influential in landscape the proposed reforms to natural resource continuing to provide high levels of service. change. The project generated a lot of management organisations under the Land If you aren’t sure whether your group useful material that is now available on and Biodiversity White Paper, community has renewed please call the FTLA on engagement, engaging alternative funding 9207 5527 or email [email protected]. the Gateway. Reader-friendly booklets and pest plants and animals. Some groups assume they are covered have been prepared which summarise by FTLA insurance when they are the theoretical and research findings, By Elyse Kelly The 2010-11 committee of management actually non-financial. the tools created and the implications is Susan Campbell, President; Alex for planning and knowledge sharing. Arbuthnot, Vice President; Peter Berrisford, New people Go to: www.landcarevic.net.au/vslt/ Treasurer; Richard Jamieson, Secretary; Welcome to Joanne van den Broek network-readiness Artur Muchow and David Clark, ordinary who started working with the FTLA members, and Andrew Stewart, Immediate in April on a part-time basis. The new Volunteer Management Past President. Two ordinary member Manual helps groups engage, recruit,

positions are currently vacant. retain and get the most out of volunteers. Go to: www.landcarevic. net.au/vri/volunteer-action DSE in partnership with the University of Melbourne have piloted a social network analysis tool with Landcare groups. Go to: www.landcarevic.net. au/vslt/social-profiling Landcare groups and networks, support staff, regional co-ordinators, the DSE Community Engagement and Landcare team and Charles Sturt University have been busy collecting and reporting Landcare data over the past couple of years. Go to: www.landcarevic.net. au/vslt To find the latest statewide resources on the Gateway go to a new search page that lists all the new content added to the Resources, Volunteering, and Victorian State Landcare Team sections sorted by date. Go to: www.landcarevic. net.au/resources/latest-resources

John Cable and FTLA secretary Richard Jamieson chat at the AGM in May.

winter 10 issue 49 | 29 Around the State – News from the Regional Landcare Co-ordinators

Wimmera Landcare champions with funding from negotiate the re-establishment of a suite Wimmera Landcare Network Facilitators the Victorian Government’s Volunteer of positions to support community-based completed their contracts on 30 June 2010 Recruitment Initiative. This funding also natural resource management groups and the support model for groups and supported the Otway Agroforestry across the region. Network who held a very successful expo networks now looks very different. While Landcare groups and networks are being on trees for conservation and profit. some groups and networks might be invited to participate in natural asset uncertain of the future they remain For further information contact identification workshops for different parts determined to continue the good work for Tracey McRae on 5232 9100. of the region, to contribute to the next which they are renowned. The CMA is Goulburn Broken Port Phillip and Westernport Regional committed to Landcare support through the Catchment Strategy. Regional Landcare Co-ordinator role and Over the past few months we have delivery of programs where Landcare fits been working at a network level to For further information contact with regional, state and national priorities. secure funding for facilitators through Doug Evans on 9296 4662. the provision of community engagement North East The enthusiasm of volunteers is evident services to existing programs and individual More than 120 landholders attended the again in this year’s community plant-out projects. projects. Project Platypus, Grampians Little recent Soil Carbon – Myths and Facts Desert Biolink, Yarrilinks and Hindmarsh More than 120 people attended the Forum. Speakers included Dr Jeff Baldock Landcare Network have large community Shepparton Irrigation Region Landcare from CSIRO, David Griffin from DPI activities planned throughout July and and Local Area Planning Celebration. and three land managers. A range of soil August. The events will help plant another The Gecko CLaN hosted the Victorian carbon and soil health issues was covered. 100,000 trees across the Wimmera. Parliamentary enquiry committee into More than 200 landholders are completing soil carbon and a delegation from the soil tests and starting training under the soil For further information contact European Union, these groups being carbon project. Max Skeen on 5382 1544. interested in the impact of pasture Five groups received Volunteer cropping on soil carbon and sustainable Corangamite Action Grants through the Victorian farming. Landcare in Corangamite has faced many Government’s Volunteer Recruitment recent challenges, with uncertainty of The Recycling for Recovery program has Initiative. Groups have also submitted funding for projects and support roles and been keeping the South West Goulburn applications for the Second Generation an increasing need to seek investment and Upper Goulburn Landcare Networks Landcare Grants for 2010/11. from alternative sources to government. busy. Substantial planning resulted in 39 A collective proposal including all four However, the dedication of volunteers expressions of interest in the program. Landcare networks in the region was and staff has seen many outstanding Success in obtaining funding here will developed for the Caring for our Country achievements across the nine networks further cement Landcare as a significant Landcare Facilitator funding. If successful, and associated groups. deliverer of environmental recovery works. the Ovens Network will act as host. With support from several incentive For further information contact programs and corporate investors an CD and DVD versions of the dung beetle Tony Kubeil on 5761 1619. resource kit are now available. estimated $2.35 million worth of projects Port Phillip and Westernport has been implemented in the region. For further information contact An application to the Federal Government Tom Croft on (02) 6024 9107. Five Landcare networks will implement for Landcare facilitator funding, and promotional projects such as welcome potential funding from other sources, East Gippsland packs for new landholders, interactive are all part of pre-merger discussions the The five-year Landcare report card displays at local events and support for CMA is holding with Melbourne Water to was launched at Lakes Entrance in May.

30 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Around the State – News from the Regional Landcare Co-ordinators

The report details the activities, the The Kulkyne Way Landcare Group of long-serving members such as Bill participants involved and the on-ground has received a Victorian Government Golding and Gordon Page, along with works Landcare has completed over the Volunteer Recruitment Initiative grant to many others has seen important work past five years. For example, more than produce Environmental Management Plans completed in this beautiful corner of 400,000 trees, shrubs and grasses have for up to four Junior Landcare groups. the country. been planted by groups, networks and These plans will outline the activities and Good steady rain on most of the volunteers. projects that the groups can focus on over the next 12 to 18 months. catchment means the planting season Congratulations to the groups who have got underway with a feeling of optimism. renewed their five-year action plans. These For further information contact The Victorian Government’s Second documents are central for groups planning Kevin Chaplin on 5051 4344. Generation Grants have funded 20 on-ground works and capacity building West Gippsland projects with many more unfunded projects in the region. GippsLandcare had the support of the works planned as part of landholders’ normal practice. I have recently moved to another position Richmond Tigers during the round 14 AFL at the CMA in catchment planning. My clash at the MCG between Richmond For further information contact thanks to all of the wonderful people and Sydney. The game was a Landcare- Tony Lithgow on 5571 2526. branded match in a partnership between who have supported me as the Regional North Central Landcare Co-ordinator. I look forward to the Richmond Football Club and the West Congratulations to the Echuca Landcare catching up with you in my new role. Gippsland CMA. Group who launched their Native Birds The Victorian State Landcare Team and the The Landcare message went out to 40,000 of the Echuca-Moama District brochure Editorial Committee of the magazine thank plus Richmond members and the wider at Echuca in May. More than 60 people Becky Hemming for her contribution to football public. Richmond CEO Brendon attended the evening. The City of Greater Landcare and wish her well in her new role. Gale said the club was proud to be in Bendigo hosted a biolinks forum in Bendigo partnership with the West Gippsland CMA. for community members, Landcare groups For further information contact the Regional and networks and industry to discuss Landcare Co-ordinator on 5150 3577. “We hope that we can help to raise awareness of Landcare in Victoria, leaving biolinks in the region. Mallee our landscape in a better condition for The North Central CMA continues Most groups have implemented their upcoming generations,” Brendon said. to produce Groundcover, a monthly Victorian Government Second Generation newsletter for Landcare groups. Each Landcare Grants for 2009/10 and have For general information contact month the newsletter features regional completed their on-ground works. Rabbit Phillip McGarry on 1300 094 262 news, events and funding opportunities. ripping has produced mixed results as Glenelg Hopkins We are always interested to hear what rabbit numbers have rapidly increased Gateway training has been taken up by 25 groups are up to and to feature them in due to summer rain. Recent reports of a group members in the region. With the the newsletter. renewed outbreak of RCD could prove upgrading of broadband availability and timely. an increase in the number of landholders Thanks and farewell to Melanie Taube, we wish her well in her new role as a Most groups have now updated their using the web the training held in Ararat, parent. We welcome Jodie Odgers to Environmental Management Action Plans Hamilton, Portland and Warrnambool has the position of Regional Landcare and are using them to target different been very useful. Co-ordinator programs and funding opportunities. Members of the Great South West Walk Groups are adjusting slowly to their celebrated 25 years of conservation work in For further information contact reduced capacity and increased workload. the Cape Bridgewater area. The dedication Jodie Odgers on 5440 1883.

winter 10 issue 49 | 31 In brief

Fire ecology resources The DSE fire ecology web pages have recently been updated. The pages include a range of information on fire ecology principles with new resources on fire recovery. A set of posters, featuring seven stories on fire ecology, is also available. Each poster focuses on a different theme – a great resource for group field days and displays. Go to www.dse.vic.gov.au/fireecology Regrowth Parks Victoria and DSE have a bi-monthly publication called Regrowth about rehabilitating and reopening public land. To subscribe to Regrowth go to www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/fire Next issue – biolinks and biodiversity The next issue of the magazine will feature stories on biolinks and biodiversity. We welcome your contributions on these issues as well as your general Landcare news and views. Contributions to the next issue should be sent to the editor by 15 October 2010. Carrie Tiffany, editor Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management Magazine PO Box 1135, Mitcham North 3132 Phone 0405 697 548 Email: [email protected] Neville Ragg from the Christmas Hills Landcare Group noticed this golden orb spider was soon back at work in an area burnt by the Black Saturday bushfires.

The Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management magazine is published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment and distributed in partnership with the Farm Tree & Landcare Association and the Victorian Catchment Management Council. The magazine aims to raise awareness of Landcare and natural resource management among Victorian farmers, landholders, the Victorian Landcare community and the wider community.

Mailing list enquiries Executive Officer Farm Tree & Landcare Association Phone 9207 5527 Fax 9207 5500 Email: [email protected] To receive your copy via email alert Contact Sally MacAdams Phone 9637 8039 Email: [email protected] Read the magazine online Back issues of the Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management magazine can be found at www.dse.vic.gov.au/victorianlandcaremagazine

Published on 100% recycled and recyclable paper VICTORIAN

Summer 10 Issue 50 & C atc h m ent m A N AG E m ent

th 50issue

BIODIVERSITY AND BIOLINKS FEATURE Spotlight on South Gippsland Biodiversity on the farm Linking the irrigated landscape Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management

S u m m e r 1 0 I ss u e 5 0

4 Contents 03 From the editor

04 Partners protect rare chain of ponds The Gippsland Plains Conservation Management Network is working to protect the unique chain of ponds in Perry River and Forge Creek.

06 Biodiversity on the farm – is it worth the effort? Ray Thomas from the Regent Honeyeater Project explains the practical benefits of restoring biodiversity on the farm.

10 Habitat fragmentation threatens the Grey-crowned Babbler A Flame Robin and Jacky Winter at Forge The Friends of this highly social bird are aiming to save the species one Creek’s chain of ponds. The site is being family at a time. fenced to protect large old trees and recreate habitat for woodland birds. 12 50 issues – another milestone for Landcare in Victoria Barry Clugston shared his thoughts on Landcare in the first issue of the magazine in 1996. To celebrate our 50th issue Barry is back with some musings on what 10 Landcare has achieved and where it is heading.

16 Biodiversity spotlight on South Gippsland Belinda Brennan outlines three exciting projects – Friends of the Strzelecki Koalas, one million trees and remnant gems of the Tarwin Catchment.

21 Jarrahmond landscape links The Jarrahmond Landcare Group has been working for 20 years to protect and improve the river flats bordering the Snowy River. 22 Regional roundup Find out what’s happening in Landcare across Victoria.

Friends of the Grey-crowned Babbler at work. Editorial Advisory Committee © The State of Victoria Department of Karen Brisbane Victorian State Landcare Team, Sustainability and Environment 2010. Melissa Whitelaw Landcare Australia Limited, This publication is copyright. No part may be John Young Victorian Catchment Management reproduced by any process except in accordance Council, Katie Le Blanc DPI, Susi Johnson FTLA, with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. 21 Sally MacAdams DSE, Cathy Heycock DSE. Editorial contributions Authorised by the Victorian Government, Carrie Tiffany, PO Box 1135, Mitcham North 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. 3132 Phone 0405 697 548 ISSN 1327 5496 E-mail: [email protected] The State of Victoria and its employees do not Cover photograph guarantee that this publication is without flaw of “I was giving my son driving lessons on a any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular dirt road when we saw these two goannas purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for fighting. Goannas are at the top of the food any error, loss or other consequences which may chain in our local ecosystems and are often arise from you relying on any information in this an indicator of healthy woodland. Finding publication. these two animals behaving like this is extremely rare. What stunned me most was The State of Victoria acknowledges contributions that this battle was silent. You might expect made by private enterprise and other persons lots of hissing and scratching, but it was or groups interested in Landcare. Acceptance of The Jarrahmond Landcare Group’s twitter very quiet. The two lizards tried to wrestle these contributions, however, does not endorse display – where Landcare meets art. each other to the ground for several minutes. or imply endorsement by the State of Victoria Suddenly it was over and they both ran their of any product, service, or view offered by separate ways.” Dirk Spennemann. contributors.

2 | victorian landcare and catchment management From the editor

Welcome to the 50th issue of the Victorian Landcare Magazine. This issue features stories from Landcare groups and networks about biodiversity and biolinks.

2010 is the United Nations International page are a fine example. Thanks to the Year of Biodiversity. Over the last 200 photographers for allowing us to use these years Australia has suffered the largest images throughout the magazine. decline in biodiversity of any continent. Fire readiness The stories in this issue demonstrate the We had a very positive response from range of biodiversity projects that Landcare readers to the last issue of the magazine groups and networks are undertaking – – a feature on fire recovery. Many of from local projects aimed at saving a single the stories stressed the importance of species to large-scale biolinks aimed at addressing fire readiness throughout the reconnecting the landscape. year. We are now on the cusp of another Biodiversity snapshots fire season and it is a good time to make An exhibition of photographs highlighting sure you are up to date with all of the the rich biodiversity of the Riverina region new knowledge and information. is now on tour after a successful showing The CFA website has a fires and at the Albury Library-Museum. Many of the warnings section that lists current CFA photographs were taken by members of and DSE fire and incident details, fire the Institute for Land, Water and Society at warnings and days of total fire ban. The fire danger ratings are your trigger Charles Sturt University. Go to www.cfa.vic.gov.au. Familiarise to act. The fire ready section of the CFA The photographs (featured on page 10) yourself with the nine new fire districts website has a fire ready kit, a household illustrate biodiversity at its best. The alpine across the state and spend some time bushfire self-assessment tool and details of trees recovering from fire featured on this looking at the fire danger ratings. community meetings, neighbourhood safer places and how to book a site assessment. DSE manages fire on Victoria’s 7.6 million hectares of public land. The DSE website is the place to go for information on planned burns. Go to www.dse.vic.gov.au/fires. The website also has a current incident summary and updates on significant fires. If you are concerned about smoke it is a good idea to check the DSE website. Smoke can travel considerable distances and it may be coming from a planned burn. To have another look at the fire recovery issue of the Landcare magazine go to www.dse.vic.gov.au/ victorianlandcaremagazine. There are a number of fire survival and recovery stories as well as practical information on erosion control after bushfire, managing pest plants and animals, and shelterbelts for fire protection. Carrie Tiffany, editor [email protected] “This photograph was taken after the 2006/07 bushfires that ravaged much of our region. I was driving around the alpine area looking at the burnt trees. Then I went for a walk near a sphagnum bog and took this photograph. The contrast of the moisture on the trees in a burnt landscape provides a stunning contrast.” Jake Pollard.

summer 10 issue 50 | 3

The chain of ponds are an important refuge for the temperate eucalypt woodland birds that are disappearing across south- east Australia, as they provide a permanent water source even in drought.

Romawi Landcare Group president Michelle Judd stands in the eroding gully head on Forge Creek. Repair works are now underway.

Partners protect rare chain of ponds By Trish Fox

The Gippsland Plains Conservation woodland birds that are disappearing ecological gains to be made from managing Management Network (GPCMN) became across south-east Australia, as they provide them well. The project also shows the interested in the Forge Creek Water Reserve, a permanent water source even in benefits of a partnership approach. south of Bairnsdale, when they learnt of the drought. Research has demonstrated that The GPCMN does not have a volunteer unique nature of its chain of ponds. Forge Creek supported 32 bird species base for on-ground projects, but by Dr Ian Rutherfurd, Director of Integrated identified as in decline by researchers in working alongside Landcare volunteers River Health with DSE, told GPCMN 2005. some much-needed attention has been members that the chain of ponds in Within the reserve, the Landcare groups brought to the beautiful chain of ponds and the Perry River and Forge Creek areas are focusing volunteer activity with monthly their surrounding woodlands. were some of the last intact systems in working bees to remove rubbish and Trish Fox is the Gippsland Plains Conservation south-east Australia. Highly vulnerable deal with the many environmental weeds Management Network Facilitator. to disturbance, the chain of ponds also that have invaded the grassy woodland. For further information email Trish at discharges into the internationally important The Landcare groups are also talking to [email protected] Gippsland Lakes and are significant biolinks. residents’ groups who are interested in The GPCMN responded by supporting restoring areas along the southern reach a Caring for our Country application for of the creek system where it enters the Gippsland Lakes. two of the groups that cover Forge Creek Conservation management – Romawi and Cobblers Creek Landcare The Landcare groups also received funding networks Groups. to repair an eroding gully head which was Funds were received to fence off large moving upstream. The community interest Conservation management networks old red gums in adjacent paddocks on shown in the proposal so impressed the address one of Australia’s major private land beside the Forge Creek Water East Gippsland CMA that they then applied environmental challenges: managing Reserve. These giant old gums are remnants for state funding to support the work. bush in fragmented landscapes of the once widespread, but now critically Restoration of the chain of ponds with across land tenures. Conservation endangered, Gippsland Red Gum Grassy small engineering structures and vegetation management networks usually focus Woodlands. They offer vital nesting sites for is now underway. on one vegetation type – it doesn’t threatened bird species such as the White- matter if it is public or private land Although the chain of ponds are unique, bellied Sea-Eagle and Peregrine Falcon. – with the aim of managing the they have not been considered to vegetation at a landscape level. The chain of ponds are an important be priorities for funding. This project refuge for the temperate eucalypt demonstrates that there are considerable

4 | victorian landcare and catchment management DSE staff get down and dirty

during Landcare Week By John Robinson

The DSE Community Engagement and Landcare Unit organised three planting days for staff during Landcare week. Staff helped to plant and guard 2450 plants.

Working under the shadow of the Although some DSE staff had never in the recovery efforts of the Strathewen Westgate Bridge in Port Melbourne, done this type of work before they community which was severely affected staff helped members of the Friends of appreciated the opportunity to play a part by the Black Saturday bushfires. Westgate Park plant 1000 indigenous plants and spread 40 cubic metres of mulch. The Friends of Westgate Park won the 2010 National Urban Landcare Award for a decade of work transforming an urban wasteland into a biodiversity oasis. At the planting day in Newham, near Woodend, staff planted 900 understorey plants with members of the Newham and District Landcare Group. This planting, on private land along the upper reaches of By Trish Fox Deep Creek, is part of the group’s larger vision to create a biolink from Macedon Regional Park to the Cobaw Ranges. The third planting day at Strathewen went ahead despite very wet and muddy conditions. Staff planted and guarded 550 native grasses and sedges with members of Strathewen Landcare Group and Nillumbik Shire’s Environmental Co-ordinator. Spirits were high and some brand new gumboots got a good workout. The wet conditions also meant the plants didn’t need to be John Robinson, Lindsey Brown and Jess Hasker from the Community Engagement and Landcare watered in. team at DSE plant native grasses and sedges at Strathewen.

Goulburn Broken Strategy launched

Victoria’s Commissioner for ahead; most importantly, climate change. The strategy has identified five key areas for action over the next five Environmental Sustainability, Dr Kate “The new strategy focuses on building years: adapting to change; nurturing Auty, officially launched the Biodiversity resilience of ecosystems rather than on partnerships; investing more wisely; Strategy for the Goulburn Broken specific species. It also acknowledges building on the ecological infrastructure; catchment for 2010-2015 in June. that the achievement of biodiversity and legitimising biodiversity According to Goulburn Broken CMA outcomes relies on the strong conservation. Chair Peter Ryan the directions for partnerships with programs, agencies, biodiversity conservation have been and traditional owners on both private The strategy is available to download updated to reflect the new challenges and public land,” said Peter Ryan. from www.gbcma.vic.gov.au

summer 10 issue 50 | 5 Biodiversity on the farm –

is it worth the effort? By Ray Thomas

There’s a lot of talk about biodiversity and ecology these days. Governments are producing strategies, teams of scientists are assisting the recovery of endangered species and there are grants to help plant extra habitat. That’s a lot of public money and you may be wondering if it’s really worth it.

Much of the habitat that needs restoration nutrient levels in pastures, they attack the scarce resources and brutal competition is on private land, so the buck stops with trees more voraciously than they do in some species lose out. We call them farmers. In these tough economic times natural forest. And here’s the rub – with endangered and almost accuse them of when farmers are struggling to make ends no shrubs present, there are fewer birds having some kind of problem when we meet does it really matter if biodiversity and wasps to pull the insects back into line. really need to be looking at the problems declines and if we lose a few species? The ecosystem has lost its capacity for self- of the ecosystem itself. regulation; it’s out of balance. I think the answer is a very big yes. The Taking advantage of natural push for biodiversity is more than a museum Trees are under constant stress and there biological controls mentality. Diverse ecosystems are healthy, is extra mortality in tougher summers. By re-establishing the ecosystem balance self-sustaining ecosystems. When there are As more trees die, the remaining trees farmers can have the natural biological many plant and animal species living together, are even more isolated and have to cope controls working for them. Planting Silver there are built-in checks and balances to keep with more and more hungry insects. It’s a Wattle, Golden Wattle or late Black the system operating for the benefit of all. downhill, one-way process. Eventually the Wattle under old trees will attract glider Plants, insects, birds, predators, birth, death, ecosystem crashes into severe dieback. It possums in search of the sugary wattle decay, nutrient cycling, shelter and habitat – has been said that the loss of wattles is the sap. Then just watch those gliders eat everyone’s catered for. start of an ecological cascade – a tumbling their own body weight in Christmas down of ecosystem health as species after Rebalancing the ecosystem beetles in a night. Gliders are like vacuum species drops out and the system becomes cleaners in the tree tops. They clean up Simplified ecosystems don’t have it so good. less resilient, less self-regulating. Take for example the rural scene we’ve the insects that would otherwise chew come to accept as normal – scattered Our endangered species, like the Regent the tree to death. Honeyeater, are really indicator species trees, grazing land and no shrubs. When Birds will be attracted to the wattles for which show how tough the going is. With insect populations increase due to boosted nesting and shelter. Birds eat up to 60% of the available insects in a healthy woodland. Planting the right shrubs will help put an end to the relentless insect attacks that lead to dieback of valuable old trees. Nectar-rich shrubs like Sweet Bursaria, Tea Trees, Rice Flowers and Everlasting Daisies also attract a range of parasitic wasps and flies that are very helpful to the farmer. With nectar as their energy source, these wasps will hunt all day for insect pests like Cockchafer grubs and Christmas beetle larvae that destroy the roots of pastures. Mistletoe proliferation and the rise of Noisy Miners are two more symptoms of ecosystem imbalance. They both lead to serious woodland degradation if not addressed. The natural control agents for mistletoe include certain butterfly larvae A typical case of tree dieback in the rural landscape. The branches of the trees are dying and and possums (both of which eat the leaves) there is a huge reduction in leaf cover. Replanting the missing shrubs around these trees will and a host of birds that eat mistletoe fruit attract birds, gliders and wasps. The natural insect control will help restore the health of the trees. without spreading seeds around the trees.

6 | victorian landcare and catchment management In these tough economic times when farmers are struggling to make ends meet does it really matter if biodiversity declines and if we lose a few species?

A tree planting weekend for the Regent Honeyeater project in September 2010. More than 100 people planted 4600 seedlings – creating more than five hectares of new habitat.

But without a shrub understorey there well adapted for survival in the local benefits for farmers and the environment. is no habitat for possums and butterflies soil and climate. They will even replace Landcare groups are a great place to seek and the control mechanism breaks down. themselves by natural regeneration out and share knowledge about local Mistletoebirds, on the other hand, are over time so that the trees won’t have ecosystems, the indigenous plants and quite at home in the more open habitat. to be replanted. animals, and how they work in together. They enjoy the freedom of the trees and Learning how we can protect and restore Ray Thomas is the Regent Honeyeater spread mistletoe seeds as fast as they like. biodiversity in our rural landscapes has Project Co-ordinator. The parasitic load can eventually kill the trees. Noisy Miners have gained a similar supremacy in rural habitats. Clearing and Regent Honeyeater grazing have left many districts with little more than narrow tree lines along the The Regent Honeyeater is an and improving water quality, stock roads and scattered paddock trees. Gone endangered bird once common in shelter and natural pest control. are the hordes of woodland birds that the Box Ironbark forests of Victoria. For more information and details once scoured the bush for insects. The The Regent Honeyeater Project of upcoming planting days go to Miners defend their territory aggressively. has established itself as one of the www.regent.org.au Without protective shrubs for cover, the most active volunteer conservation smaller birds are easily excluded and the projects in the nation. leaf-eating insects multiply rapidly. A whole farming community is A balanced ecosystem looks engaged in restoring remnant after its own health Box Ironbark habitat for the The message is simple; balanced endangered Regent Honeyeaters ecosystems look after their own health. still living in the district. Propagation Restoring bushland on your farm by and planting days are organised planting understorey under the old trees each year for a thousand students will allow the bushland creatures to help from more than 20 local schools look after your farm. and hundreds of volunteers from universities, walking clubs, church To get the ecosystem as fully operational groups, bird observers, scouts, as possible, it’s obvious that we need to environment groups and the like. restore as much of the original vegetation as possible. Local species are critical. Almost 1300 hectares of restored As well as providing long-term habitat habitat with more than 450,000 for wildlife, and biological pest control new seedlings planted is reducing for your pastures, these local plants are salinity and erosion problems,

summer 10 issue 50 | 7

What an opportunity to barrack for the mighty Tigers and see Landcare receive wider promotion. And we won the game!

Laura Brennan, daughter of SGLN Co-ordinator Belinda Brennan, runs out onto the MCG as team mascot for the Richmond tigers.

Tigers roar in support of Landcare By Phillip McGarry

On 4 July 2010 a dedicated group of The game was an opportunity to get “Landcare is about communities achieving Landcare members and friends from West the Landcare message to 40,000 plus good outcomes for sustainable landscapes, Gippsland sat together in the Ponsford Richmond members and the wider healthy waterways and connected stand at the MCG to watch the Tigers football following public. The promotion communities. Having Richmond help raise roar for Landcare. was about reaching a totally new and the profile of our region’s GippsLandcare different demographic of people to The round 14 AFL game, Richmond versus brand will promote much wider awareness those who are the traditional audience Sydney, became the first ever Landcare of the important role Landcare plays in for Landcare. branded AFL game in Australia when the natural resource management”, said Geoff. Richmond Football Club and the West Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said Trevor Colvin from Wonyip Landcare Gippsland CMA formed a partnership the club was pleased and proud to be Group tossed the coin at the start of the to promote awareness of GippsLandcare in partnership with the West Gippsland match and also attended the Richmond and Landcare in Victoria. CMA. Football Club President’s lunch. “We hope that we can raise awareness “To see the function room decked out about Landcare in Victoria, and help with information about Landcare for promote action for improved landscapes 230 corporate members was fabulous. now and for future generations,” he said. This promotion was a brilliant, exciting The promotion reached the 39,383 and effective way of taking the Landcare people at the match on the day. More message to more people,” Trevor said. than 100,000 were also exposed to the Ian Wilson, a member of South Gippsland Landcare message through articles in Landcare Network (SGLN) and long-time 48,000 nationally syndicated AFL records, Tigers supporter, said the day was fantastic. plus three weeks exposure on the official Richmond football club website and radio “What an opportunity to barrack for the air time on ABC Gippsland and the ABC- mighty Tigers and see Landcare receive 774 Coodabeen Champions show. wider promotion. And we won the game!” Geoff Hocking, CEO of the West The game was a tight struggle, fortunes The team ran through a giant banner: Gippsland CMA, said the promotion was ebbed and flowed and in an action-packed Tigers Roar Support for Landcare! Get an exciting opportunity to engage and nail-biting finish Richmond won by 4 points: involved today! Go to www.landcarevic.net.au involve a lot more people, through the 14-5-89 to Sydney 12-13-85. Landcare reach of the Tigers and AFL football. was definitely a winner too.

8 | victorian landcare and catchment management Orr Road biolink restores the legacy of irrigation By John Laing

The Shepparton Irrigation Region is one and Campaspe Rivers. Water is also River and Waranga Basin by revegetating of Australia’s most productive areas. Fruit, diverted from here for Bendigo. drainage lines, mapping and removing tomatoes, dairy and a range of irrigated weeds, putting up nesting homes and One of the legacies of the development creating a biodiversity corridor. crops all contribute to the region’s multi- of irrigation in the region has been the billion dollar output. Water for the region fragmentation of the landscape. The pre- With only three wide road reserves in the is diverted from the Goulburn and Broken European vegetation was mainly Victorian area suitable for vegetation corridors we Rivers and distributed through a series of Riverina; this is now classed as 100% are lucky to have one of them running channels and storages. fragmented without any largely intact east-west at the point where the basin and Waranga Basin is one of these storages. landscapes remaining. the Goulburn River are closest. Approximately 15 kilometres from the Since it was formed in the mid-1990s The hills around Waranga Basin also Goulburn River near Murchison, the basin the Dhurringile and District Landcare contain remnant goldfields vegetation stores water for distribution to towns and Group has been working to reconnect including blue, green and Kamarooka irrigation districts between the Goulburn the landscape between the Goulburn Mallee and Broughton’s pea. The Orr Road biolink is also home to the endangered Grey-crowned Babbler. The project has had involvement from many organisations and received funding and support from local, state and federal governments. The city of Greater Shepparton, Goulburn Broken CMA, Goulburn Murray Water, Goulburn Murray Landcare, the Goulburn Valley Environment Group, DPI, DSE as well as Murchison, Toolamba, Dhurringile and Tatura Primary Schools have all been involved at some stage. For further information contact John Laing at [email protected]

Orr Road, looking east from the bridge over the Stuart Murray Canal, in 2007.

One of the legacies of the development of irrigation in the region has been the fragmentation of the landscape.

Orr Road in 2010 after a joint planting day with the Dhurringile Landcare Group and Goulburn Valley Environment Group.

summer 10 issue 50 | 9 Grey-crowned Babblers are highly social birds. When their habitat becomes fragmented populations shrink in size and become isolated from each other. Habitat fragmentation threatens the Grey-crowned Babbler

The Grey-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis temporalis) is one of Victoria’s most endangered bird species. Fortunately it has a large group of loyal friends. The Friends of the Grey-crowned Babbler Group, in partnership with many other organisations including Trust for Nature, have worked actively over the last ten years to protect their habitat and to try to increase their numbers.

The Grey-crowned Babbler lives in open Fragmentation causes For this highly social species woodlands. It prefers mature eucalypt social disruption habitat fragmentation trees interspersed with younger trees The major cause of the Grey-crowned and shrubs and other ground cover. The Babbler’s decline in Victoria has been has caused major social babbler is highly social and lives in groups the loss of their preferred woodland disruption. of up to 15 birds. All of these birds help to habitat. These areas have been cleared defend the territory and to raise the young, for agriculture, wood collection and mining. with more young being raised by larger As a consequence babbler populations groups. At night, the entire family roosts have shrunk in size and have become in the same nest. The nests are easily isolated from each other. The number seen in trees and understorey and look of birds in each family group has also like footballs made of twigs and leaves. declined, because smaller populations of The babblers eat insects they find on the babblers produce fewer young. For this ground among leaves and fallen branches highly social species habitat fragmentation or behind bark on trees. has caused major social disruption.

10 |  victorian landcare and catchment management The group’s conservation mantra is to try to save the species one family at a time.

Grey-crowned Babblers are highly social birds. When their habitat becomes fragmented populations shrink in size and become isolated from each other. Friends of the Grey-crowned Babbler at work. Habitat fragmentation threatens the Grey-crowned Babbler

By Tiffany Inglis

To conserve the babbler, Dr Doug • Increase the quality and availability In 2009, with funding support from the Robinson of Trust for Nature and the of habitat at known babbler sites to Norman Wettenhall Foundation and Friends Group says there have been increase group size and breeding Goulburn Broken CMA, researchers some successes, but that the low babbler success. from the University of Melbourne and numbers are still a concern. • Increase the connectivity between Trust for Nature compared babbler “Overall, we estimate that the population isolated groups or patches of habitat. populations at sites where landholders in Victoria has declined by at least 90% This creates more opportunities for birds had protected habitat compared with over the past 150 years and now consists to disperse and colonise. sites where there was no habitat of just six hundred families – so the species improvement. • Undertake regular surveys of babbler is still at a high risk of extinction. But in populations to watch population trends Their study showed that babbler groups those areas where we have focused our and to determine the effectiveness of were more likely to have persisted at conservation efforts, we have generally their conservation activities. sites where there had been habitat works, seen positive responses in terms of survival breeding success was higher at sites with and breeding success. We know now Friends try to save one family additional habitat and the number of that it is possible to help Grey-crowned at a time Babblers – it’s just a matter of having the The group’s conservation mantra is to try young raised per family at sites with resources and the time to do it.” to save the species one family at a time. additional habitat was nearly double Doug Robinson says he never imagined that of babbler families at sites with no Given their understanding of the threats to people would commit to the cause for additional habitat. the Grey-crowned Babbler, the Friends of such a long time. the Grey-crowned Babbler Group have The commitment of the Friends Group focused their efforts on four major activities “I started studying the Grey-crowned is clearly paying off – their efforts have to: Babbler back in 1991. And in 2000 a group been pivotal in maintaining populations of us formed the Friends of the Grey- of the Grey-crowned Babbler. • Increase the total amount of habitat crowned Babbler Group with a few other available for babblers in priority areas like-minded people. But here we are, ten To get involved in the Friends of by encouraging the protection and years on and those same people are still Grey-crowned Babbler Group contact restoration of habitat on private land. committed.” Doug Robinson at [email protected]

summer 10 issue 50 | 11 50 issues – another milestone for Landcare in Victoria

The first issue of the Victorian Landcare Magazine published in spring 1996 featured an article by Wimmera Landcare stalwart Barry Clugston. To celebrate our 50th issue we asked Barry to share his thoughts with us on the Landcare journey.

Landcare is a practice, philosophy, concept improving regions for our wildlife, and hugely successful activist program protecting biodiversity, and looking after across Victoria, the nation and as an export the birds and insects. to other countries. The wonderful song by Many, many people have been involved Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody, “From Little and dramatic and subtle changes have Things Big Things Grow”, could have been been wrought on large areas of farm, written about Landcare. shire and crown lands. The activists within I was at the launch of Landcare by Joan each community have applied imagination, Kirner and the late Heather Mitchell hard work and clever negotiations to in 1986 near Paradise, just over from achieve real gains for their district or Navarre. It was later launched as a national region. A whole industry of rural people initiative between the federal government, who have learned new skills to deal with the Australian Conservation Foundation their local concerns has evolved. Because and the National Farmers Federation. of Landcare, we will be better placed to tackle climate change. The Landcare message quickly caught the rural imagination – the people who have Government agencies and local shires have made it work. Different communities often been called on to join in the work. have concentrated on different aspects Some have responded in magnificent of Landcare – pest destruction, soil fashion while others have dragged the conservation works, weed control, linking chain, but the real success for Landcare is city and farm groups, eradicating rabbits, when the community and agencies work developing farm plans and catchment together for a common goal without ego plans, tree planting schemes, cat control, or high praise.

12 |  victorian landcare and catchment management 50 issues – another milestone for Landcare in Victoria

Barry Clugston was the first president of the Upper Wimmera Tree Group. He has been a CMA board member and chaired the first Victorian Landcare Council. Barry is a farmer, a former councillor for the Australian Conservation Foundation, a naturalist, Chair of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, a councillor for VEAC and an exhibiting artist. Barry is now living with Parkinson’s disease.

Each family, each farm enterprise, each and support each other through hard agency, each school, each shire and each times. government faces its challenges; many are Landcare is a huge success story with a barely resolved before new challenges proud background. This can and should emerge. Change is always with us and it continue into the future. There is still much is our ability to respond to change that to be done and we can all play a part. reflects our stamina, our courage and our development as individuals and as We have come a long way, but many a community. Some districts have lost challenges remain and I am confident population and Landcare has worked to we will respond to these new issues in link those who remain with other groups a collaborative fashion – that is the true and agencies so they can continue to meet success of Landcare.

summer 10 issue 50 | 13 Pinkerton link – creating Landcare photography competition

a forest from nothing By Kylie Smith Readers are invited to enter our 2011 Landcare Photography Competition.

Entries are invited in three categories: sustainability, water and ‘what Landcare means to me’. There is a general prize in A sludge paddock used to dispose of the each category and prizes for primary and solid by-product of sewage treatment secondary students. may not sound like the most promising Each prize winner will receive $150 for place for a wildlife corridor. Yet the their school, Landcare group, or charity. former sludge paddock at Western Water’s Melton Recycled Water Plant is The winning entries will be published on the way to becoming a showcase for in the magazine. To enter, send a low the linking of habitats to help protect resolution jpg (under 200KB) to landcare. endangered native species. [email protected] with your name, contact details and a caption. Prints and The paddock stretches between two CDs will also be accepted and should islands of bushland: Pinkerton Forest and be posted to: Project Officer, Victorian Bush’s Paddock, in an area that skirts the Landcare & Catchment Management Werribee River, west of Melbourne. The Magazine, DSE, PO Box 500, East link is part of a long-term vision to connect Melbourne 8002. these sites to the Werribee River corridor. You will need to gain the permission Pinkerton Forest, owned by Western of anyone who is recognisable in your Water, is endangered remnant Greybox photographs. A high resolution file (over Grassy Woodland, and home to a pair 1MB) will be required if your photograph of endangered White-bellied Sea Eagles. The endangered remnant Greybox Grassy is to be published. The competition closes Bush’s Paddock, owned by Melton on 10 June, 2011. Shire Council, is Basalt Plains Grassland, Woodlands in Pinkerton Forest will have a positive future due to a partnership between a vegetation class listed as critically Photographs from the Biodiversity of Western Water and the Pinkerton Landcare the Riverina exhibition: endangered. and Environment Group. Daryl Akers, of Pinkerton Landcare and Environment Group (PLEG), says it is Different revegetation techniques are vitally important to create links between now being trialled at the site – these such habitat islands. include weed control and planting native “These small woodlands are important tube stock to scraping off a layer of the on their own, but they are more high-nutrient contaminated soil and significant when joined together. Linking direct seeding. them enables wildlife to move between The Landcare group has been involved areas and recolonise and makes them with planning the works and have less vulnerable to natural disasters.” collected a large amount of seed. Western Water stopped depositing Daryl Akers says there are now about biosolids in the paddock in 2008 due to 150 species of birds in Pinkerton concerns about possible contamination. Forest, and the list is growing. “About 130 million years ago much of That left the disused paddock as an “Over the years it has been transformed Australia was submerged under a shallow obvious place to create a link between – it has been a real success story. The sea. As the sea retreated, it left behind Pinkerton Forest and Bush’s Paddock. White-bellied Sea Eagles raised two sediments and enormous quantities In 2007 Western Water signed a chicks in the forest last year, and have of salt in what is now the Murray Basin. Memorandum of Understanding with returned this year to nest again. These salts accumulated in shallow evaporation PLEG, including a commitment to basins (lakes) in the western part of the “That’s a validation of all our efforts.” basin. The colour of these lakes can be rehabilitate the area. A 2009 grant startling: ranging from dusky mauve to from DSE Vision for Werribee Plains For further information contact bubblegum pink. The lake hues are caused got the project off the ground and a Tim Hatt, Western Water’s by algae that inhabit the waters.” management plan in place. Environmental Officer, on 9218 5502. David Taylor.

14 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Landcare photography competition

“The Victorian Frog is a stunning little tree frog whose plaintive call is often heard after rain. Like many frogs this species lives in natural water bodies and dams that have some grass and trees around them. Fallen branches also provide good sheltering spots for frogs. You can make a contribution to frog conservation by retaining some vegetation around your ponds and dams.” David Hunter.

“Both the ANU and Charles Sturt University are conducting studies into the ecology and conservation of insectivorous bats in rural landscapes. These studies show that roost sites are a key habitat requirement for most species of bat. In Australia 18 species of insectivorous bat are classified as threatened.” Craig Grabham.

“Scorpions are arachnids, which means that they are related to animals such as spiders, ticks, mites and harvestmen. They are nocturnal hunters, feeding mainly on beetles, cockroaches, spiders, slaters, centipedes and “Sturt’s Desert Pea is referred to as the flower of blood by some Indigenous groups. The name millipedes. The scorpion digests its prey by comes from a story about a young woman who escaped marriage to an elder by eloping with a pouring digestive juices onto the prey and younger lover. The spurned man and a few of his friends tracked down the couple and killed them breaking it up with its jaws. The hard outer both. Sometime later, the old man returned to the place where the deaths took place and found body casings are discarded. The main predators the ground covered in these scarlet flowers. This is just one example of how biodiversity and culture of scorpions are carnivorous marsupials such are intimately and inextricably linked. Our environment shapes our culture, our identity, and our as the dunnart.” Dirk Spennemann. lives.” Dirk Spennemann.

summer 10 issue 50 | 15 Biodiversity spotlight on South Gippsland

Saving Sam – Friends of Strzelecki Koalas

Many people remember Sam. Sam vegetation by strategically connecting was the Strzelecki koala who survived areas of remnant vegetation, reduce the Black Saturday bushfires with the the threat of pest plants and animals help of a local fire fighter, but later lost and raise community awareness of his life. The plight of Sam touched the the importance of remnant vegetation nation, but many people don’t realise in the Strzelecki Ranges. While the that more koalas will be lost if we fail project has koalas as a focus, any to protect and enhance the Strzelecki work to protect and improve the region they call home. landscape improves the environment In May 2010 the South Gippsland for all species, including humans. Landcare Network launched the Friends A recent partnership with HVP of Strzelecki Koalas – a three-year Plantations has been very important project to increase habitat and the for the project. HVP donates ecological resilience of the landscape resources including finance, data, This koala lives in the Dollar area near for Strzelecki koalas and other time and land to the communities Foster North. important native species. that surround its plantations. HVP Protecting and enhancing our high has prepared a Strzelecki Koala quality remnant vegetation and creating Habitat Atlas in conjunction with biolinks between remnant bush will allow the Australian Koala Foundation. koalas to move across farmland rather The atlas identifies primary and partners and philanthropic trusts. than along the roadsides where they secondary koala habitat and the All donations over two dollars are often come off second best against cars. Landcare network is working with tax deductible through the South Crossing open farmland can also leave HVP to identify the work needed to Gippsland Landcare Fund. link these areas. them vulnerable to attack by foxes. If you are interested in becoming a The project aims to protect remnant The project is also funded by donations Friend of the Strzelecki Koalas check vegetation by fencing and active from the public and we hope to the website at www.sgln.org.au for management, increase areas of raise additional funds from corporate details and a membership form.

Members and friends of the Mardan Mirboo North Landcare Group at the launch of the Friends of Strzelecki Koalas.

16 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Biodiversity spotlight on South Gippsland By Belinda Brennan

One million trees

In September 2009 the South Gippsland Propagation kits were developed as Landcare Network launched a project part of the launch of the one million to plant one million trees over the next trees project. The kits contained potting five years. By September 2010 more mix, tubes, a spray bottle, instructions than 86,600 indigenous plants are in the and enough seed for 500 trees or ground, with many plantings still to be shrubs matched to a specific ecological recorded. vegetation class. By increasing the extent of vegetation The kits were launched at Mossvale in the region we hope to improve the Park in September 2009 with a level of resilience of our high value ecosystems. frenzy and excitement generally reserved The project has been supported by for the January sales. The day was an Linda Whitaker from the Arawata Landcare the West Gippsland CMA and South outstanding success with the level of Group with the results of her 500-seed Gippsland Water. Works undertaken in demand for kits taking us by surprise. propagation kit. the first year have included the creation Propagation workshops were held of biolinks, revegetation and weed over the spring and the results have bought a second kit because her first control for Fisher Lake wetlands and been highly variable. One grower kit produced more than 600 seedlings. retiring steep land and revegetation to reported that her seed yielded more However, we did have a number of control erosion. than 900 seedlings. Another participant growers who reported poor results.

A site in the Mardan Mirboo North Landcare Group area before works (left) and after five years of waterway protection and revegetation works (right).

Remnant gems of the Tarwin Catchment

The upper reaches of the Tarwin The project is specifically targeting All of these projects are the result of Catchment are the focus of a project landholders in the upper reaches of the partnerships and collaborations. The aimed at protecting high quality Tarwin Catchment who have very high South Gippsland Landcare Network remnant vegetation and improving quality areas of remnant vegetation on thanks the West Gippsland CMA, South water quality. Funding for this project their properties. Herbicide will be made Gippsland Water and HVP Plantations has been provided by the West available to control weeds. There is for their support for these important Gippsland CMA and the project is also assistance available to landholders biodiversity projects. being delivered by the South Gippsland to fence out and revegetate creeks or For further information go to: Landcare Network. waterways that are closely linked to www.sgln.org.au existing areas of remnant vegetation.

summer 10 issue 50 | 17 Biodiversity and human well-being By Margrit Beemster

Researchers have found that demographic factors such as age, gender and years lived in a neighbourhood are more important in influencing personal well-being than variations in biodiversity or natural features in neighbourhoods.

A Charles Sturt University research project Society, led the study examining the “Perhaps people choose where they live analysed responses from nearly 1000 relationship between biodiversity and because they are choosing an area that surveys delivered to randomly chosen well-being, comparing the responses from is going to make them feel better. Access households in 36 local neighbourhoods in the survey with data on biodiversity (bird to green space and biodiversity might be nine regional centres and towns in Victoria species richness and abundance, plant attractive to people without them even and NSW. The results were analysed in density, vegetation cover, and levels of realising it. Using the Neighbourhood three different studies. urban development). Well-being Index it appears that people Associate professor Gary Luck, an ecologist “Basically there was no strong relationship in a richer, more biologically diverse from the Institute for Land, Water and between variations in neighbourhood environment are expressing more environment and personal well-being,” satisfaction and happiness than those in a said Dr Luck. less diverse environment, bearing in mind the demographic factors are still important.” “People who lived in neighbourhoods with more birds and more flowering plants Dr Boxall found a small but significant didn’t get a higher score than those who correlation between the Neighbourhood lived in neighbourhoods with less birds and Well-being Index and connectedness to plants. There are other factors which also nature. That is, the higher the sense of influence people’s well-being, such as your neighbourhood well-being the greater age and how much income you had. the connection to nature. “The same went for people’s “Feelings of neighbourhood well-being connectedness to nature. We did find, and connectedness to nature might be however, a stronger, more positive associated with people’s long-term care for relationship between the natural features the environment,” said Dr Boxall. “If we of the neighbourhood and neighbourhood can understand what makes people feel Dr Dianne Boxall’s social research project well-being, but still demographic factors connected then hopefully we can improve showed that people with a higher sense tended to be more important.” people’s care for the natural environment.” of neighbourhood well-being feel a greater connection to nature. Dr Dianne Boxall, a psychologist from Dr Penny Davidson, a social researcher the Centre for Inland Health, led the study from the Institute for Land, Water and on relationships between neighbourhood Society, looked at how factors such as well-being and connectedness to nature, outdoor activity levels and demographics and personal well-being. influenced connectedness to nature. “The idea is that, from an evolutionary She found that people who were more perspective, human beings have an active felt more connected to nature. inborn predisposition to prefer the natural Women felt more connected than men, environment, and are more likely to relate as did people with a higher level of to it than an artificial one,” said Dr Boxall. education, and people with pets.

If we can understand what makes people feel connected then hopefully we can improve people’s care for the natural environment.

Researchers from Charles Sturt University were surprised to find that demographic factors played a bigger role than neighbourhood biodiversity in people’s sense of well-being.

18 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Landcare message hits the media

Landcare broke new ground during Landcare week in September with its first ever series of community service announcements released to television, print and radio. The advertisements were developed by DSE and Landcare Australia Limited in partnership, and celebrate the achievements of current volunteers as well as encouraging people to get involved in Landcare across Victoria. More than 100 community members and 115 school students were involved in television filming over two days in August. The finished advertisement depicts volunteers from many different walks of life climbing out of a coin collection can in different settings. The aim is to persuade people to donate their time, rather than money, to Landcare. Terry Hedt’s property near Little River Laura Berg and Katie Ryle survey coastal grasses at Anglesea for the filming of the benefited from the planting of more Landcare community service announcement. than 1200 seedlings during filming. The advertisement also features spectacular Geelong Landcare Network Westgate Park members Tony Flude, views of Ross and Lynn George’s Co-ordinator Bronte Payne and Naomi Sunner, George Fotherington property, Westgate Park on the Yarra Landcare volunteer James Pettit worked and Lecki Ord organised the volunteers River in Melbourne, Lilydale Sanctuary behind the scenes to ensure the filming for the filming at Westgate Park. along the Moorabool River and the ran smoothly at Geelong. Friends of To view the finished product visit Anglesea coastline. www.landcarevic.net.au/news/landcarecsa City creek links culture and community

Flemington’s rich culture was celebrated in May with a tree planting and community day at CityLink’s ornamental pond on Moonee Ponds Creek as part of National Tree Day.

The project was jointly funded by a Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter performed a Melbourne Water Community Grant and smoking ceremony to mark the beginning CityLink’s Neighbourhood Connections of a strong community connection with Program. Families from the surrounding the Moonee Ponds Creek and the community and representatives from local greater environment. There was also a councils planted 300 trees to revegetate performance from the Minua Gidij Murra the area around the pond, under the Dancers and a rendition of a Koorie song supervision of the Victorian Mobile by the Debney Meadows Primary School The Victorian Mobile Landcare Group assisted the Flemington community at a planting day Landcare Group. choir. on Moonee Ponds Creek. The day provided CityLink’s neighbouring The tree planting is the latest in a number communities with the opportunity to get of CityLink community projects designed involved in the Moonee Ponds Creek to improve the Moonee Ponds Creek environment while celebrating their environment, including Clean Up Australia cultural diversity. Day and the Evans Street mural project.

summer 10 issue 50 | 19 Woodside Landcare Group turns 21 by Bronwyn Johnson

In 1989 Frankie MacLennan came home sustainable farms and restoring the beautiful first president Fergus Irving and speeches from a meeting at Phillip Island and told South Gippsland Plains followed. from Rob Youl and Neville Penrose. her husband Graeme that she was going On 18 September 2010 the Woodside The event was an opportunity for the group to start a farm trees group in Woodside. Landcare Group celebrated its 21st to discuss past experiments in shelterbelt The group later became known as the birthday with a traditional country roast construction and roadside restoration Woodside Landcare Group. Twenty-one dinner at the Woodside Hall. There was and reminisce about misadventures with years of dedication to the idea of creating music, fine local wine, a history lesson from home-built seeders and questionable species choices. We shared our failures and successes and lamented the loss of knowledge and staff from the area as funding priorities shifted. It was an opportunity to remember, reconnect and laugh. There were 26 people at our first meeting; 14 of them are still members today and another 30 families have joined along the way. We all agreed that one of the secrets of our longevity is the superb suppers provided at all our meetings by Kay Belcher – a passionfruit sponge and a pragmatic sense of humour can get you through anything!

The 21st birthday organising committee. Back row from left, Charles Meckiff and Bryan Walpole. For further information please contact Front row from left, Frankie MacLennan, Kay Belcher, Bronwyn Johnson, Elizabeth Balderstone, Bronwyn Johnson on 5175 7893 or by Rosemary Irving and Fergus Irving. email at [email protected]

Landholder knowledge sought for critical grasslands

The Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion is the main threats and educate the wider invaluable. Vanessa and Melissa are keen a massive 2.3 million hectares stretching public about the beauty and importance to hear from landholders. They can be from Melbourne in the east to Portland of these grassy ecosystems. contacted by email, or by telephone and in the west. In spring, the small, scattered are also available to attend field days. Many of the grasslands and grassy remnants of native grasslands are dotted woodlands are on private land and the For further information please contact with wildflowers in shades of yellow, knowledge of landholders in identifying the Vanessa Craigie on 9637 9851, or by orange, purple, red and white. best techniques for management will be email at [email protected] The native grasslands and grassy woodlands occur on highly fertile and arable lands and have undergone a massive decline. In recognition of this, the Natural Temperate Grasslands and the Grassy Eucalypt Woodlands of the Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion have been listed as critically endangered under the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The listing requires that National Recovery Plans be prepared to establish what needs to be done to conserve these communities. Vanessa Craigie and Melissa Doherty from DSE are working on a Recovery Plan to guide the management of both communities. The plan will identify key areas where these communities occur, document the threats facing them (such as weed invasion), identify actions to address Native grasslands with Everlasting and White Sunray Daisies on a property near Dunkeld.

20 |  victorian landcare and catchment management by Bronwyn Johnson

Members quietly contribute by carrying out small- scale projects on their own properties and adding to them, according to their capabilities, every year.

Taken from Jarrahmond Road, this photograph shows the landscape scale connectivity beginning to occur across the Snowy River Flats near Orbost. Jarrahmond landscape links bring back the birds

For close to 20 years members of the “It’s only a small community and some Jarrahmond Landcare Group have worked are absentee landholders who come steadily to protect and improve native down on weekends. I’ve been impressed vegetation on river flats bordering the by the group’s attitude. Members quietly Snowy River. The focus has been on contribute by carrying out small-scale fragments of native bushland in paddocks projects on their own properties and An owl box produced for the Jarrahmond Landcare Group by the Orbost Men’s Shed vulnerable to weed invasion, grazing adding to them, according to their is installed by a local arborist. and incremental clearing. By fencing out capabilities, every year.” livestock and restoring native plants, vital The project has received over $125,000 wildlife habitat has been conserved. from various funding sources in the eight A few years ago the group upped the ante years since its formal inception. The More recently Jarrahmond Landcare with a bold plan to reconnect these restored funding has supported tree planting and Group members decided to monitor birds and native remnant areas and to create a fencing materials and has been used to in the area to see if the environmental continuous native plant corridor between the geometrically correct aerial photos of works were causing a return of different Yalmy State Forest and the Snowy River. It the group’s 4800-hectare region to help species. Community members were became known locally as the Linkages project. prioritise replanting activities and measure invited to contribute to a bird species list progress over time. and have now put together a brochure on Far East Victoria Landcare Co-ordinator the birds of Jarrahmond. More than 120 Penny Gray said a total of 21 landholders Along the way partnerships have been photographs were donated to the project had participated over the years. formed with the East Gippsland CMA, by the people of Gippsland. Parks Victoria, DPI and DSE. Field days “Altogether they’ve put up 25 kilometres have been held on seed collection, The Landcare group has also formed a of fencing and planted over 25,000 learning how to use a GPS and rainforest partnership with the Orbost Men’s Shed plants across the lower catchment of the revegetation techniques. who are making boxes for use by barn Snowy River, with all landholders signing owls. The boxes will soon be seen scattered agreements to maintain the new fences, Greening Australia has contributed across the Snowy River flats in an attempt to remove weeds and pests and prevent welcome expertise while volunteers encourage the birds to nest in the area. or minimise the impacts of grazing. An from the Orbost Youth Club, Forestech average of eight properties participate TAFE and Orbost Secondary College For further information contact annually,” Penny said. have assisted with the tree planting. Penny Gray on 5161 1365.

summer 10 issue 50 | 21 Around the State – News from the Regional Landcare Co-ordinators

North East Above average rainfall through winter and spring has seen a number of flooding events with significant damage to some catchments – particularly those that were fire affected. Landcare groups have been taking advantage of the good rainfall to undertake as much revegetation as plant supplies will allow. A collective of Landcare networks in the North East was successful in gaining funding for the Caring for our Country Regional Landcare Facilitator, and is now recruiting. This is a great result for the networks, showing they can plan and undertake region-wide projects. The Mudgegonga Landcare Group was awarded more than $100,000 in funding from the Recycling for Recovery Nungurner Primary School students enjoyed getting their hands dirty on National Tree Day. program for fire recovery work with four neighbouring groups. lower end of Lake Tyrrell with Green Lake. For further information contact East Gippsland Meantime the The Yelta Landcare Group Tom Croft on (02) 6024 9107. Landcare is alive and well in the region has planted over 3500 trees throughout the with high participation rates and an Mallee Merbein area west of Mildura. extensive range of on-ground works The Mallee is having one of its best seasons underway. The networks have run a in the last decade and confidence in the Rabbit control is a priority this year. The good season for farming has created ideal number of well-attended field days, area is once again on the rise. A number including a workshop in Buchan with DPI of landscape scale projects are being conditions for rabbits. There has been a rapid increase in rabbit numbers and, if not on wild dog management. One network implemented, both on and off farms and the is now implementing their new Junior Sea Lake Landcare Group has a project that contained, they will be a major headache for farmers and the environment in the Landcare Program. In the Far East a dinner involves ten landholders along 12 kilometres held during Landcare week attracted of the Dunmunkle Creek working to link the year ahead. The locust issue is another major concern. more than 100 attendees. Comedian Rod Quantock provided the entertainment for For further information contact the evening. Kevin Chaplin on 5051 4344. Welcome back to Natalie Jenkins, who Goulburn Broken has returned from maternity leave to Our fire recovery networks are working co-ordinate activities for the East Gippsland to deliver the Recycling for Recovery Landcare Network and best wishes to Program projects. Several facilitators have Penny Gray who is on extended leave moved on recently and it takes some time from Far East Victoria Landcare. Thank you to rebuild knowledge and capacity in the to everyone for being so supportive during region. The Pasture Cropping project is my first months as Regional Co-ordinator. The Mallee is having one going from strength to strength. Courses are now being delivered in NSW and For further information contact of its best seasons in the information is being provided to interested Sandie Brown 5150 3581. last decade and confidence Landcare networks in Tasmania. Port Phillip and Westernport in the area is once again This is an exciting time for Landcare in our Volunteer Landcarers from across the region. Our facilitators are working on the region gathered at Federation Square in on the rise. delivery of wetland tenders and to support September for the CMA’s 2010 Regional the communication and community Landcare Awards. Wurundjeri elder engagement activities of agency programs. Bill Nicholson Jr and the Jindi Worobak We hope to sustain this momentum dance troupe performed a welcome during the institutional change process and to country after an inspiring speech on the development of the new Catchment community leadership by Dr Rhonda Authority. Galbally. The master of ceremonies for the day was Dr Kate Auty, Victorian For further information contact Commissioner for Environmental Tony Kubeil on 5761 1619. Sustainability.

22 |  victorian landcare and catchment management Around the State – News from the Regional Landcare Co-ordinators

Congratulations go to Balnarring Primary Senior Deputy Chair with the Victorian government, land managers and the School in the Young People Caring for Landcare Council. Surf Coast & Inland Plains Network Land category, Nillumbik Shire Council in Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network A huge thank you to the Geelong, Lara, the Local Government Caring for Land has recently recruited two new Landcare Batesford and Anglesea volunteers category, Vicki Boyle in the Individual groups. South Gippsland Landcare who gave up their time to be involved Caring for Public Land category, Friends Network held its AGM in September in the Landcare Community Service of Merri Creek in the Community Group and the number of new board nominees Announcement project. We couldn’t Caring for Public Land category, Janet exceeded the positions available. have done it without them. Truscott and Grant Murray in the Individual Caring for Private Land category, Faye The new desalination plant has created For further information contact Tuchtan and Graham Wood in the Primary some opportunities for the Bass Coast Tracey McRae on 5232 9100. Producer Caring for Land category and Landcare Network. The network has Wimmera Labertouche Landcare and Sustainable also been reflecting on the sad passing Max Skeen stepped down from the Farming Group in the Community Group of Peter Huthwaite. Peter’s commitment position of Regional Landcare Co-ordinator Caring for Private Land category. and dedication to Landcare, his group in September after completing an and his network was exceptional. He is For further information contact outstanding innings. It was great to see his sorely missed. Doug Evans on 9296 4662. efforts recognised by so many Landcare supporters across the Wimmera and North Central Region For further information contact Phillip McGarry on 1300 094 262. around the State. Joel Boyd has moved We’ve had a challenging couple of months into the position and is keen to build on after a downpour on the first weekend of Corangamite Max’s achievements. September brought flash flooding to parts Several Landcare groups participated in of the region. National Tree Day with thousands of The Victorian Landcare Forum at Halls trees planted. The 2010 Rip Curl Planet Gap was a great achievement for the Eight groups were put through their Day was also a huge success, with 200 region. We now have three part-time paces at Landcare Gateway training. volunteers planting 15,000 seedlings across Regional Landcare Facilitators supported The groups learnt about the Gateway nine sites between Point Impossible and through Caring for our Country funding. and then developed their own pages Point Addis. The event was a collaboration with news items, activities, newsletters We welcome Gail Harradine to the region between local volunteers, corporations, and photos. The CMA also hosted as the new NRM Indigenous Facilitator. three native vegetation identification The Wimmera River Community Recovery workshops in Rochester, Castlemaine Project has received funding through the and Inglewood attended by more than Recycling for Recovery program to protect 60 people. and enhance the natural and cultural values of the Yanga Track area affected by the Coinciding with Landcare Week, the 2009 Remlaw fire. CMA distributed the latest edition of the Community Grants Guide – August 2010. For further information contact The guide is available on the Landcare page Joel Boyd on 5382 1544. of the CMA website and also on the North The Victorian State Landcare team Central page on the Victorian Landcare bids a special farewell and thank you Gateway. to Max Skeen, one of the original For further information contact members of the team from its inception Jodie Odgers 5440 1883. in 2002. West Gippsland Glenelg Hopkins The Yarram Yarram Landcare Network’s Many groups have been involved with Jack & Albert River Restoration Project is revegetation projects. Planting has been underway. going ahead with optimism following good winter and spring rains. In some Network co-ordinator Paul Martin and his areas planting has been delayed due to wife Gemma are leaving the region and too much water – a rare occurrence. everyone wishes them well. Paul leaves the network in the hands of a capable and A number of groups have taken advantage committed new board. of the Gateway website. The uptake is slowly increasing and the CMA has planned Maffra & District Landcare Network is further one-on-one training with group going through its new strategic planning Rip Curl staff worked with Landcare members to take place before Christmas. process with its new co-ordinator, Darren volunteers at the Rip Curl Planet Day. Williams, while Beth Ripper, chair of the Seedlings were planted at nine sites For further information contact network, has taken on an extra role as between Point Impossible and Point Addis. Tony Lithgow on 5571 2526.

summer 10 issue 50 | 23 In brief

ClimateWatch ClimateWatch is an online database developed to improve understanding of the effects climate change is having on Australia’s plants and animals. Landcarers are invited to get involved in ClimateWatch. As a registered ClimateWatch user you can observe the timing of natural events, such as the budding of flowers, falling of leaves, calling of frogs and the appearance of migratory birds and record these observations on the ClimateWatch website. The data collected will contribute to an online database for people studying the impact of climate on ecosystems and will help shape Australia’s scientific response to climate change. Go to “The Curl Snake is a small venomous snake that shelters within soil cracks and www.climatewatch.org.au and follow beneath fallen timber. Habitat loss has been linked to population declines in this the simple steps to register. species. We found it by using recycled railway sleepers and roofing tiles. Surveys of this species by the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian FTLA Annual forum and AGM National University will help improve our understanding of reptile distributions and Farm Tree & Landcare Association habitat requirements.” Damian Michael. (FTLA) members and friends are invited to attend the association’s annual forum in a positive and friendly atmosphere. Contributions to the next issue should be and AGM in Melbourne on 24 February sent to the editor by 15 February 2011. 2011. The event will celebrate the 25th For further information call the FTLA anniversary of the FTLA. on 9207 5527 or email [email protected] Carrie Tiffany, editor Victorian Landcare & Catchment Professor Allan Curtis from Charles Next issue – Managing water Management Magazine Sturt University will present the results The next issue of the magazine will PO Box 1135, Mitcham North 3132 from his latest Landcare survey and feature stories on managing water. Phone 0405 697 548 a discussion session will be held for We welcome your contributions on Email: [email protected] members to talk about the future this topic as well as your general direction of the FTLA and Landcare Landcare news and views.

The Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management magazine is published by the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment and distributed in partnership with the Farm Tree & Landcare Association and the Victorian Catchment Management Council. The magazine aims to raise awareness of Landcare and natural resource management among Victorian farmers, landholders, the Victorian Landcare community and the wider community.

Mailing list enquiries Executive Officer Farm Tree & Landcare Association Phone: 9207 5527 Fax: 9207 5500 Email: [email protected] To receive your copy via email alert Contact Sally MacAdams Phone: 9637 8039 Email: [email protected] Read the magazine online Back issues of the Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management magazine can be found at www.dse.vic.gov.au/victorianlandcaremagazine The print size of the magazine can be enlarged online for easier reading.

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