Autumn 2001 Victorian Victorian 19 ISSUE andcareandcare LL & CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT

Outfoxing the fox in Gippsland

Wimmera Landcare round-up

Filling the winter feed gap

Direct seeding success stories ad Editorial contributions Carrie Tiffany, Tiffany and Associates CONTENTS 1 Lane Street, Blackburn North 3130 CONTENTS Phone (03) 9894 2169 Fax (03) 9894 2515 E-mail: [email protected]

Mailing list enquiries Direct seeding Upper Wimmera Brenan Wotherspoon, Victorian Farmers shelterbelts Landcare round-up Federation, Phone (03) 9207 5527 Fax (03) 9207 5500 8-9 12-13 E-mail: [email protected]

Advertising Paul Crock Filling the Kids go down Phone 0418 377 264 Fax (03) 9428 4676 winter feed gap the drain Cover photograph: 16-17 21 Kerry Reid collects seed on the property he manages at Ravenswood. The seed is Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management is published for the Victorian Landcare being used to revegetate the bare hills in community by the Victorian Farmers Federation in partnership with the Department of the background. By Rawdon Sthradher. Natural Resources and Environment, Alcoa World Alumina Australia, the Victorian Catchment Management Council and the Natural Heritage Trust. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of statements in Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Magazine the Victorian Farmers Federation, its partners, agents, servants, and contractors disclaim all responsibility for the statements quoted herein.

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LEEDS RFCP29066 FromFrom thethe editors

In this issue we feature several stories on revegetation over the last century direct seeding (this is a good time of year exposing the monumental blunders to start planning revegetation projects). that have spawned environmental weeds Local knowledge and resources about such as blackberries and display the latest direct seeding are abundant. With in today’s revegetation technology. You thorough planning direct seeding can can punt on your favourite trend in the be a quick and cost-effective method of inaugural revegetation stakes and enter revegetation. Greening Australia Victoria fashions in the field for quality prizes. is a good source of information and advice. The festival has a carnival atmosphere Landfest 2001 with environmental and Landcare entertainment, activities, workshops, For a positive start to the Landcare year displays, food, wine and local produce. go to Landfest – Australia’s only Landcare Entry is $3 for adults and free for Deborah Conway will perform at Landfest 2001. festival. Landfest is on again at the children under 15. For more information Victorian Landcare Centre in Creswick, contact the Victorian Landcare Centre so reprinting is welcome, as long as from 10am to 4pm on Sunday 18 March on (03) 5345 2200. the Victorian Landcare and Catchment 2001. Located on Daylesford Road, the Management Magazine is acknowledged centre’s picturesque gardens, walking trails Reprinting our articles as the source. and natural shady amphitheatre make it a We’ve had a number of enquiries from great place to see this year’s top billing Please keep your stories and letters Landcare groups wanting to reprint singer, Deborah Conway. coming. We are always interested in articles or extracts of articles from this hearing from our readers. The theme of Landfest 2001 is fashions magazine in local newsletters. We are in the field. It will highlight trends in keen to spread the word as far as possible Lyall Grey, Jo Safstrom and Carrie Tiffany FOFOXXOFFOFF®® The Proven Solution to fox predation

FOXOFF® may be purchased by holders of an Agricultural Chemical Users Permit at DNRE Depots. For more information about obtaining an ACUP Permit contact DNRE Customer Service 136 186

Autumn is Rabbit Season - Bait NOW with Rabbait® Pindone Oat Bait. RABBAIT® is available at all rural merchandise stores including CRT, Elders, IAMA, Wesfarmers, Murray Goulburn & leading independents in 10kg & 5kg Pails & 2.5kg Small Program Kits

Quality Products from Animal Control Technologies. The makers of FOXOFF®, MOUSEOFF® Zinc Phosphide and NEW MOUSEOFF® Bromadialone. Trade Enquiries Welcome write to - PO Box 379 Somerton Victoria 3062 For technical information please fill in your details, tick product required & return to address above: Name: FOXOFF MOUSEOFF ZP Address: Post Code: RABBAIT MOUSEOFF BD Catchment REVIEW COMMITTEE Management to provide advice on irrigation farm dams

This month the Farm Dams (Irrigation) This approach has the additional Proper management of our water resources Review Committee will present its advantage of treating all water users is vital to Victoria’s economic, social and final recommendations to the Minister equally, regardless of whether they ecological well-being. for Environment and Conservation, take water from a waterway or from The committee’s Draft Report and Sherryl Garbutt. the gullies that feed the waterways. more information is available at The committee’s recommendations Thirdly, the committee proposed http://home.vicnet.net.au/~farmdams/ follow an extensive process of community that streamflow management plans be or by calling the NRE Customer consultation that commenced in April developed by local community reference Service Centre on 136 186. 2000, to enable stakeholders to make groups. The purpose of these plans would The Farm Dams Review Committee recommendations and comment on be to develop local management plans to is an independent committee chaired the issues raised. share the available water within the local by the Chief Executive Officer of the catchment on a fair basis and to manage According to Don Blackmore, Chairman Murray Darling Basin Commission, the local streams on a sustainable basis. of the Farm Dams (Irrigation) Review Don Blackmore. Its members are Sylvia Committee, the most difficult issue for Public comment on the committee’s draft Davey (West Gippsland CMA), Tim the community is how to resolve the recommendations closed on 18 February Fisher (Australian Conservation dilemma of there being only a fixed 2001. The committee is now considering Foundation), Christine Forster (Victorian amount of water available in catchments. these comments and expects to provide Catchment Management Council), final recommendations to the Minister Peter Sutherland (Catchment and “In an increasing number of catchments by the end of March. Water Division, NRE) and Peter Walsh the water that is available on a sustainable (Victorian Farmers Federation). basis has already been fully utilised by To ensure both the ecological sustainability existing users. As it stands, if other of our creeks and rivers and that the For further information contact people in the catchment want access security of existing users is protected, it is Kevan Richards, Executive Officer, to additional water this can only be clear that we need to effectively manage all Farm Dams (Irrigation) Review done by taking water off these users, of the water resources in our catchments. Committee, on (03) 9412 4316. or unacceptably damaging our rivers,” Don Blackmore said. In response to this emerging problem, the committee has proposed three major recommendations in its draft report, which was released for public comment in December 2000. Firstly, the committee proposed that there should be no change to the current arrangement for existing domestic and stock water use. Secondly, the committee proposed that the State’s current licensing system should be extended to cover all water harvested for irrigation purposes. This approach was adopted to ensure that the legal rights of existing water users could be protected and that the State’s rivers could be managed on a sustainable basis.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 5 Grovedale West students win the National Landcare Garden Competition

Students from Grovedale West Primary “The calibre of entries in the The garden is valued at $5000 and the School have beaten schools from around competition was exceptionally high students have also won a 4000 gallon Australia to win the 2000 Design a this year so Grovedale students should water tank with pressure pump from Team Landcare Garden Competition. feel justifiably proud of their achievement. Poly, a $500 voucher for Scholastic books and 5000 bonus points from Scholastic to The grade six students put their creative “Given the havoc salinity is causing to be added to Grovedale’s account. talents to good use and designed a our landscape I was particularly impressed Landcare garden for their school, with the students’ involvement in The Grovedale West Landcare garden incorporating projects to protect frogs and Saltwatch and the plans for expanding will have a focus on educational purposes, monitor water quality. The garden also this program when the Landcare garden allowing students to learn more about aims to attract native birds and animals, is installed.” environmental science, maths, technology, promote the Landcare ethic and be a art and aboriginal heritage. The students’ ideas and plans for place where students from other local a Landcare garden will now be The school plans to involve the local schools can learn about the environment. incorporated into a garden within Aboriginal Cultural Centre to liaise on the garden and help promote its significance Chief Executive of Landcare Australia, the school grounds. Building is due to our past and present Australians. Brian Scarsbrick, said it was inspiring to see to start early in 2001 with local how thoroughly the students embraced the Landcare facilitators assisting the For more information contact Dineke Landcare concept in designing the garden. school with technical advice. Matheson on (03) 5241 4776.

Scott Gibson (left) from Landcare Australia with students from Grovedale West Primary School, their teacher, Dineke Matheson and Bronte Payne from NRE.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 6 Research ARROWHEAD – Results a serious aquatic weed in northern Victoria

By Lalith Gunasekera and Kevin Krake

Arrowhead is now found in all channels and drains of the Goulburn Murray water area.

Arrowhead (Sagittaria graminea) is an It was first found naturalised in the attractive, emergent, erect, aquatic Ekibin Creek near Brisbane in 1959. perennial plant that has become a serious By the early 1970s it had spread into problem in a number of irrigation areas, channels and drains around Nathalia watercourses and wetlands along the and Numurkah and soon after to the Stems are erect or occasionally bent near River Murray, including the river itself. Shepparton irrigation area. In the 1980s the middle, five to 20 centimetres long, A recent survey carried out jointly by it gradually spread throughout most of bearing two to 12 whorls of flowers at NRE and Goulburn Murray Water has the Murray Valley area and became well the apex. There are two types of leaves: revealed an alarming spread of the plant established in the Shepparton area in emergent leaves are linear or ovate, from upstream of the Ovens and Murray both channels and drains. tapering abruptly to a point, on a confluence to downstream of the It now exists in all Goulburn Murray triangular cross-sectioned stalk; submerged Torrumbarry Weir. This affects irrigation water areas to a greater or lesser degree. leaves are strap-like, to 50 centimetres on both sides of the river and also The invasion of Arrowhead is considered long and 2.5 centimetres wide. contributes to the degradation of the to be the greatest threat to the efficient It is clear that more needs to be flora and fauna values in the river itself. operation and management of our open, known about the biology of Arrowhead to Infestations have been recorded in riverine earthen channel supply systems. maximise control opportunities. Previous lagoons and waterways, including the Arrowhead can severely retard and research work has been limited to small waterways of the Barmah-Millewa Forest. completely choke water flow in irrigation trials of herbicide efficacy, timing and This aggressive plant spreads rapidly channels, resulting in difficulties to meet a combination of herbicide/mechanical in natural waterways, irrigation supply agreed levels of service. In drains, it methods of control. Little is known channels and drains, where it causes retards water flow, which may result in about the plant’s seed viability and disruption to the flow of water. flooding during rain and periods of high spreading mechanisms. drain flows. Arrowhead originated in North For more information contact Lalith America and has been introduced to Arrowhead roots in the swamp floor and Gunasekera at the Keith Turnbull many countries as an ornamental aquatic. reproduces by seed, rhizomes and tubers. Research Institute on (03) 9785 0111.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 7 Direct seeding shelterbelts – good

Mike and Sally Skermer operate a “What we can’t collect locally, we source 700 hectare wool-growing enterprise from the Greening Australia Alcoa east of Hamilton in south-west Victoria. Portland Seedbank.” Since taking over the farm in 1988, the Sally keeps detailed records of where Skermers have seen the importance of the seed is sourced from and on which native shelterbelts to their farm business. plantations it is used. Provenances are “We see the vegetation belts as a kept separate in different plantations. legitimate means of increasing our “Within a few years we will be able to productivity,” Mike said. collect seed from our plantations and take “By providing stock with shade in the the pressure off the remnant populations summer months and shelter when the Sally collects most of the seed from local we sourced it from. Seed from our weather turns, we reduce stock losses remnant tree populations. plantations could then be on-sold to and produce more wool.” other farmers or back to the seedbank,” Mike used Roundup or Glyphosate at a Sally said. The challenge rate of three to four litres per hectare. As for the species mix, the Skermers do In 1995 Mike and Sally tried their first “Our second spray is just prior to sowing not alter species between rows in a direct seeding into a well-prepared site. and is a mix of Roundup and Simazine. shelterbelt. “We only discriminate between For the Skermers, tubestock planting was The Simazine is a residual herbicide, wet sites and drier sites,” Sally said. too much like hard work and they saw stopping weed seed germination and direct seeding as a cost-effective option The wet sites on the Skermer’s property giving the tree seedlings a head start. for establishing shelter. are (in normal years) subject to heavier “We use Roundup or Glyphosate at a rate of flooding and some inundation, while “The possibility of completing the three to four litres per hectare and Simazine the drier sites are usually gravelly and annual tree planting program as quickly at five to six litres per hectare and include well drained. as possible, while still achieving a good Fastac for the red-legged earth mites.” result, was highly desirable,” Mike said. Ongoing maintenance Mike explained that both sprays are Mike said the first thing to look for are The solution – direct seeding done with a four-wheeled bike with a red-legged earth mites and spray if they Mike explained that site preparation was one-metre-wide boom, only killing the are present. the key to a successful project. areas in strips and not the whole area fenced off. A Hamilton Tree Seeder is “We also watch for slugs, however we “If you want a good result, you can get it used to sow the seed. have not yet had to bait them.” with minimal effort, provided it is done at Follow-up weed control was something the right times,” Mike said. Species selection the Skermers used to do in the autumn “Our experience shows that the first spray Sally explained that they try and following sowing, however they should be in the autumn to knock down collect seed from local species within decided that they killed more trees germinating weeds.” a 20 kilometres radius of the farm. in the process than it was worth.

Good site preparation helps reduce follow-up weed control and makes for a cost-effective revegetation project.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 8 for the farm and easy on the pocket

They now only spot-spray phalaris with Greening Australia hire the Hamilton By Paul Crock Fusilade – a grass-specific herbicide. Tree Seeders and other direct seeding machines through the Alcoa Machinery Mike said it was important to be careful Loan Scheme from $30 per day. with which herbicides you use close to the seedlings and to seek advice The benefits specifically regarding the effect of the product on juvenile seedlings. It becomes evident when looking across Lime Creek that a significant landscape He also explained that they never use change has occurred in a short time. residual herbicides after the initial spraying. According to Mike, they are achieving “With direct seeding, seed can germinate their goals without placing too much extra strain on the resources of the business. up to five years later. Using a residual The Hamilton Tree Seeder herbicide after sowing the seed risks “It is important to realise that while limiting this later germination.” the direct seeding program has not The Hamilton Tree Seeder comprises Budget significantly added to the workload of the a seed box and a small double-sided farm, it is crucial that such a program is mouldboard plough which turns over The Skermer’s main cost is the fencing. undertaken methodically and meticulously the top few inches of soil leaving a Keeping stock out is the highest priority. to achieve the desired results,” Mike said. furrow the seed falls into. One sheep in a plantation can ruin years of work. The cost of chemicals is minimal. “Thorough site preparation, timing and Through the Greening Australia Alcoa diligent monitoring are key elements to Machinery Loan Scheme, seeders Four weeks a year is set aside for achieving consistently good results from such as this one are available to collecting, extracting and recording seed direct seeding.” Landcare groups and individuals for sources. A day here and there is enough to direct seeding projects across the State. collect the seed for large-scale projects For more information contact Mike (>20ha/yr). The cost per kilogram of seed and Sally Skermer on (03) 5350 5526 For more information contact Greening from the seedbank is around $180 but or Dave Warne at the seedbank on Australia on (03) 9457 3024. varies with species required. (03) 5521 7856.

After. December 2000 at 26 months.

Before. April 1999 at six months.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 9 Direct seeding success at Willatook

The Hopkins-Moyne Land Management A small amount of funding was gained “We were lucky – heavy follow-up rains in and Farm Tree Group is an active through the Federal Government’s One January probably contributed to the great Landcare group working in the Hopkins Billion Trees Program to assist with survival and fast growth rates,” she said. and Moyne River catchments. With over signage and site preparation. Helen explained that despite the 120 members the group is one of the In conjunction with the Recreation timely rain, on average, the year was largest in the Glenelg-Hopkins region. Reserve Committee, the group fenced the still a dry one. The group have their own Hamilton site and sprayed the area to be seeded. Tree Seeder and a number of the members The results “We sprayed five weeks prior to sowing with have consistently achieved excellent Roundup, at four litres per hectare, to knock After the first two years, group members results over the last seven or eight down the weeds. The second spray, just were interested to note that the dominant years using this machine. prior to sowing, was with Roundup again at species at the site was Kangaroo Apple (Solanum laciniatum). The challenge four litres per hectare, but this time we also added Simazine at six litres per hectare for According to Geoff Harbel, another group Mick Stevens, a member of the group’s residual weed control,” Mick said. member, they appeared to act as a nurse executive, said they had sought to crop and provide quick shelter. encourage others to adopt direct seeding The residual weed control was to enable as a cost-effective revegetation option. the seedlings to get established with “At first we thought it was a weed and minimal competition in the first year. we were all worried that it would spread. “We decided that a demonstration site In the medium term it became apparent should be established to show people According to Mick, Simazine was effective that the slower-growing species, including how successful direct seeding could be in keeping the weeds under control. gums and sheoaks, seemed to benefit from and to encourage more locals to adopt “We didn’t over-spray for weeds in the the Kangaroo Apples.” direct seeding.” following autumn as group members had had mixed success with this method of Three years later, nearly all of the Kangaroo Apples were dominant initially but follow-up.” Kangaroo Apple has gone and the other died out allowing longer-lived species to flourish. longer-lived species are beginning to The group purchased their seed from dominate the site. the Greening Australia Alcoa Regional Seedbank at Portland. Success

Sowing the seeds Dave Warne, Greening Australia Alcoa Regional Seedbank Manager at Portland, Following the careful site preparation said that since the project’s success direct a mixture of seed was sown using a seeding adoption rates have increased Hamilton Tree Seeder. dramatically in the area. Helen Keegan, the President of the group, “The project highlighted how effective said the seed mix was the same for all the demonstration sites are in helping lift rows in the plantation. adoption rates. The group has also “We abandoned the idea of different obtained funding for a Hamilton Tree species mix for the outer rows as experience Seeder which is used continuously had shown that some species were slow to throughout the direct seeding season. germinate or died out leaving gaps.” “The site broadcasts a clear message – She said group members were really thorough site preparation, timing, pleased with the excellent rate of monitoring and follow-up action are all germination at the site. necessary if a project is to succeed,” he said. For more information contact Mick Stevens from the Hopkins Moyne Land Management and Farm Tree Group on (03) 5560 6253, or Dave Warne at the seedbank on (03) 5521 7856.

Clear signage identifies the site and an interpretative board describes the project. spreads the message SALINITY

By Paul Crock and the law Emerging legal issues surrounding dryland salinity in Australia left farmers and catchment managers with plenty to think about at Australia’s National Dryland Salinity Program (NDSP) Salinity Stocktake conference held in Bendigo last November. Keynote speaker at the conference, environmental law specialist from Wollongong University’s Centre for Natural Resources Law and Policy, Professor David Farrier, told delegates that dryland salinity was not only one of the most significant environmental problems facing Australia, but also a massive social problem. Professor Farrier said that existing Commonwealth legislative initiatives under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act, 1999 failed to take a whole-of-landscape approach to natural resource management. He warned that the difficulties of regulating landuse by introducing tradeable permit systems should not be overlooked. Ian Turley, Barrister and Solicitor, Supreme Courts of Victoria and NSW, told the NDSP conference that dryland salinity was likely to spawn many common law claims for damages. “It is arguable that methods of agriculture and water management advocated, implemented or even mandated by various private entities and public authorities may have contributed to the problem,” Ian Turley said. Other speakers examined the role of local government in the battle against salinity, the role of taxation and financial incentives in salinity management, and salinity credits. For further information contact NDSP Communication Co-ordinator, Jo Curkpatrick, on (03) 9328 530.

The change in species mix over time is an interesting feature of the Willatook demonstration. Richard Price from NDSP (left) with Professor David Farrier at the Salinity Stocktake conference in Bendigo. Upper Wimmera Land

Hill country rabbits down for the count

The rabbit calicivirus disease, along with rabbit warren ripping works, has caused a dramatic increase in vegetation on the hills of the upper Wimmera River catchment. Large-scale rabbit warren ripping campaigns conducted by landholders since 1996 have seen rabbit numbers plummet from 50-70 rabbits per kilometre to 1-2 per kilometre. Until 1996 most farmers considered it virtually impossible to control rabbits in the hills of the Pyrenees Ranges. The Rabbit Buster Program provided incentives to support large-scale community ripping programs in Ron and Barry Leslie have achieved rabbit-free status on their hill country property near Stawell. the steep hill country of the upper Wimmera River catchment in 1996. Previously, farmers had found steep hill Now, three hill country landholders have The scheme aims to raise the standard country ripping cost prohibitive due the been accredited as rabbit-free under the of rabbit control, protect previous specialised equipment required such as Rabbit Free Scheme, which is an initiative investments in rabbit control and give bulldozers and excavators, and the large of Rotary International, NRE and the recognition to good land managers. scale of the rabbit problem. Catchment Management Authorities. The previously severe impact of rabbits in the upper Wimmera River catchment has Rabbits cause severe land degradation in the hill country. been significantly reduced. An increase in vegetation regeneration has reduced soil loss thereby reducing sedimentation and eutrophication of the degraded Wimmera River. Benefits to biodiversity and improved stock carrying capacity have also been achieved. Where warren-ripping works have been undertaken rabbits have been held at very low numbers for the past four years. Only minimal control efforts have been required to keep numbers at very low levels. The requirement for rabbit baiting in the Stawell district has been reduced by 97%. Some rabbit control figures for the recent activities in the upper Wimmera River catchment include: 22,000 hectares ripped; 58,000 warrens ripped; 360 landholders involved; rabbits reduced by 81%; $452,000 in ripping costs.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 12 Group By Andrew Scanlon News care round-up and Mark Farrer

The hills are alive with the sound of music Landmates work for Landcare This March the Wimmera hills will once again be alive with the sound of music. In 1999 the Concongella Landcare Group hosted the first Annual Landcare Tune-up Music Festival. The event featured a line-up of local farmers and landholders musically talented and keen to strut their stuff. In particular the Kilpatrick Brothers, who have been very active in the Great Western Landcare Group, played to a packed house. The Granite Creek Landcare Group, who were guests of Project Platypus, came all the way from the Seymour area to witness the event. In 2000 the Crowlands Landcare Group hosted the Tune-Up at the Crowlands Hall. The weather was foul, the wind was howling and the dust was thick, but Landmate Supervisor, Keith Price, looking down Landcare in the upper Wimmera people came from far and wide to be part the long line of burnt fencing being removed on is benefiting from a close working Brendan Hall’s property near Stawell. of the action. Herb Krelle and his band relationship with HM Prison Ararat. from Horsham headed the line-up and The Landmate Crew Initiative involves takes the highest priority without once again the fabulous Kilpatrick Boys prisoners in community and question, NRE tasks come next and then hit their straps and produced a fine show. environmental projects. individual landholders.” This year’s Landcare Tune-Up Music The Ararat Prison Landmate Crew is The crews, whose numbers vary from six Festival will be held on 31 March 2001 in operated by prison supervisors Keith Price to eight prisoners, have a strong work the Stawell area. All those with a love of and Mark Nestor, in conjunction with ethic and a reputation for quality work. music and the land are welcome. For further Andrew Scanlon and Brian Howlet The work is popular amongst prisoners as information contact Andrew Scanlon from from NRE. The crews work on fencing, it allows them to give something back to NRE Stawell on (03) 5358 1588. weed and pest control, tree planting, the community, help the environment, The fabulous Kilpatrick Brothers site preparation and miscellaneous take part in on-the-job training and play to a packed house at the 1999 community work. prepare for reintegration into life outside Landcare Tune-Up Music Festival. the prison walls. Last year the Crowlands Landcare Group, in conjunction with NRE and Project Landmate Supervisor, Keith Price, said the Platypus, hosted the first major community crews have a good understanding of what tree planting event in the upper Wimmera needs to be achieved. – Plantout 2000. The Landmate Crew “We have little wins day to day. did all the site preparation for the event. The members of the crew understand This included rabbit-proof fencing, spot what is required of them and they do the spraying for trees, rabbit control and rabbit work to their utmost ability. The work harbour removal. is interesting and often our office – Andrew Scanlon said that without the the upper Wimmera – affords us some crew the site would not have been ready spectacular views.” for planting on time. The crews are currently helping to restore “Landmate Crews are in high demand the fencing lost in the recent Stawell fires. from all quarters. Landcare group work Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 13 Outfoxing the fox in

By Paul Crock The Anderson’s Inlet Landcare Group, in According to Martin Fuller, Bass Coast conjunction with NRE, recently completed Landcare Projects Manager, these results a highly successful Foxoff baiting program highlight just how serious the fox problem in the Pound Creek and Screw Creek has become in Victoria. catchment areas in South Gippsland. “The group devised the program The group tallied their results and because foxes have an enormous impact concluded that the program had on members’ farming businesses. eliminated at least 700 foxes – an incredible effort when one considers “Foxes kill lambs, maul calves and maul the target area was teats off dairy cows and are known to less than ten square spread diseases amongst livestock, While not many kilometres. not to mention their impact on fox carcasses are native wildlife populations,” he said. usually found after a Foxoff baiting “30% of a fox’s diet is sheep and lamb, program, the ones that are found 30% rabbits, mice and insects and 30% remind the others native wildlife,” Martin said. to stay away.

Lalith Gunasekera with Dense Waterweed (Egeria) infesting the Merri Creek. Group South Gippsland News

The program Martin said it was a very ambitious project, but that the dedication The baiting program saw over 1070 and resolve of the South Gippsland individual Foxoff baits laid in strategic Landcare community to take on the locations across farmland in the Screw fox problem head-on should not Creek and Pound Creek catchments. be underestimated. All of the baits were taken. For more information contact Daryl Hook, a woolgrower in the Screw Martin Fuller on 0417 051 132. Creek catchment near Inverloch, helped organise the program, and explained the approach used to run the baiting project. “Firstly we had to assess the problem – to try and determine the numbers of foxes we Foxoff program tips were up against. The group had a series of Do spotlight nights to estimate fox numbers in their area. NRE staff were of great • Read and follow product directions – assistance to the group providing us with not folklore. advice. We worked with them to develop • Notify and work closely with neighbours. a plan as to the best locations for laying the Foxoff baits. • Replace all baits taken over a two to To celebrate the success of the group’s baiting four week period. “We identified over 300 sites – mostly project, Daryl wore a fox pelt to the meeting and encouraged others to follow his lead next year – • Chain up or muzzle all working dogs along fence lines and tracks, spaced about much to the amusement of those attending. and pets while baits are being used. 200 metres apart.” • Store baits only for the duration of Members buried the Foxoff baits just under Having a co-ordinated approach, with the program – locked away from the surface, as per the recommendations, neighbours working closely together, food areas and children. and marked each location clearly with got us the best results we could have • Be prepared to make a reasonable either stakes or ribbons tied to fences or hoped for,” he said. overhanging branches. effort selecting bait sites and checking All members reported that they had regularly. Individuals monitored their own bait encountered fewer problems with foxes • Recover uneaten baits at the end of the stations and replaced the baits every during the lambing and calving season program and burn them. three to four days to make sure that all than in the past. They also realised that the foxes in a given area had the chance while their little patch of Gippsland was Don’t to take a bait. fox-free for a short time, infiltration of • Underestimate the size of the problem. Darryl explained that the community neighbouring foxes would soon mean they • Invent your own special method. group approach to fox baiting proved would have to repeat the program. highly successful. The future • Store baits for next time – get more as or when required. “It is no use getting rid of foxes on your “The success of the project was such that farm if they are replaced by others from • Place baits too close together. the South Gippsland Landcare Network your neighbour’s place or further afield. are now looking to try and replicate it • Drag a continuous lure scent trail. across a much wider area of the district,” • Place baits near boundaries or housing. Martin Fuller said. • Place more than one bait in each hole. “We hope to build on the example set in • Use baits if there is a risk to non-target the Pound and Screw Creek catchments When foxes native animals. If in doubt seek local are the only and see if we can get the other 32 advice. roadkill, it Landcare groups in the network to run a points to huge • Worry about human scent. populations and joint baiting program covering most of an enormous South Gippsland.” impact on native wildlife populations. Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 15 Research Results Filling the winter

Alan (Blue) and Bev Smith run 2200 A legume-special fertiliser (6:16:0:10) “Where once we would have been pushing fine wool merinos and 200 first-cross was drilled at the same time. 130 sheep, we were running 420 weaner ewes on their 290 hectare property replacements. “Super potash 3:1 was topdressed at a at Deereel. rate of 100 kilograms per hectare and “We added another 480 wethers to graze Tired of the rising costs of supplementary we sprayed for red-legged earth mite in the crop down and reduce the likelihood feeding and fodder conservation, the early April,” Blue said. of it going to seed.” Smiths teamed up with other farmers Results For more information contact in the Mt Mercer area to form a local Alan (Blue) Smith on (03) 5346 1244 neighbourhood group. Their aim was According to Blue, the increase in feed in to trial different methods of filling the the paddock was remarkable. or Cam Nicholson on (03) 5258 3860. winter feed gap.

The problem Blue explained that phosphorous, potassium and pH levels in the paddocks were low and that bent grass was endemic. “We chose to try a winter fodder crop as an option in our bent grass control, as it can get too wet for a conventional crop of oats.” Blue opted to sow Winfred Rape and Progro Ryegrass in a paddock that he said would have been hard pressed to carry 130 sheep without hand feeding. “Our involvement in the Mt Mercer Group – and support from our Sustainable Grazing Systems Co-ordinator, Cam Nicholson – gave us the confidence to give the Winfred Rape and Progro Ryegrass mix a go,” Blue said. The stocking rate over the short term equated to 420 weaners from late May through until mid The solution December (190 days) and 480 wethers from July and part of August (38 days). Alan sprayed the paddock out with Roundup CT at a rate of 2l litres per hectare in early November. “We followed up with a very hard THE BUDGET graze to remove the dry material and Pre-renovation: Renovation phase: cultivated in February to remove any weeds present. Keeping the area Stocking rate – 2.5 DSE Stocking rate – 43 DSE/ha weed-free was important to maintain Gross margin – $76.87/ha Gross margin – $159/ha the moisture levels for sowing in Income: Income: March, but also gave us a chance to 2.5 DSE/ha x $40/DSE = $100 43 DSE/ha x $18/DSE work-in lime to lift the pH,” Blue said. Costs: (over six months) = $387/ha Animal health – $3 Costs: The crop was sown down in early Feeding – $6.25/hd Animal Health – $1 March, with the Winfred Rape and 2.5 DSE/ha x $9.25 = $23.13/ha] Crop establishment – $185/ha Progro Ryegrass drilled at a rate of 1.5 $43 + $185 = $228/ha and six kilograms per hectare respectively.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 16 feed gap By Paul Crock

Estimating carrying capacity

The carrying capacity of the crop in DSE grazing days was calculated as follows:

420 weaners x 190 days x 1.2 DSE = 95,760 DSE 480 wethers x 38 days x 1.0 DSE = 18,240 DSE Total grazing days = 114,000 DSE

Over 14 hectare crop area = 8142 grazing days per hectare or 43 DSE/ha.

“Grazing the weaners at an average winter/spring stocking rate of 43 DSE/ha avoided the need for Alan to supplementary feed and more than paid for the first year renovation of the bent grass paddock.”– Cam Nicholson

Blue inspects his Winfred Rape and Ryegrass crop for red-legged earth mites. IN BRIEF

National Action Plan for The strategy, outlined by the and water quality and that the strong Salinity and Water Quality Commonwealth, involves detailed focus of the proposed new arrangements scientific assessments to decide the areas on community-developed catchment The Federal Government will commit needing attention and the most effective action plans is wholeheartedly supported $700 million Australia-wide over the next action; setting targets and standards for by Victoria. seven years to the National Action Plan for natural resource management; developing Salinity and Water Quality in Australia More information on the National Action integrated plans for catchments and the first comprehensive national strategy to Plan for Salinity and Water Quality in regions so that solutions can be tailored to address salinity and water quality problems. Australia can be found at www.affa.gov.au the differing problems; and empowering The Commonwealth is seeking a dollar communities to help themselves so they Victorian Landcare Awards for dollar matching commitment from the can play a significant role in developing There is no doubt that Landcare states in order to address dryland salinity plans and carrying them out. and deteriorating water quality in key continues to make an outstanding catchments and to build on the work In Victoria, this will put considerable contribution to the management of established under the Natural Heritage focus on regional catchment strategies our natural resources. Trust, the Murray-Darling Basin at the broad level and on salinity The Victorian Landcare Awards will Commission, state strategies and the management plans and water quality/ be held during 2001 and are a great CoAG Water Agreement. nutrient management plans at the opportunity for individuals, groups more detailed level. The funding will be applied to practical and networks to reflect on their remedies including protecting and Minister for Environment and achievements and celebrate their rehabilitating waterways, improvements Conservation, Sherryl Garbutt, said that successes. to native vegetation, engineering works Victoria is well-placed to enter into For information on closing dates and to address salt intrusion and land and partnership with the Commonwealth in application forms contact the NRE water use changes. addressing the major challenges of salinity customer service centre on 136 186.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 17 Paired catchments in the Great Western

Catchment The Great Western Paired Catchment To test the recommendations two Management Salinity Control Project has been testing adjacent, similar catchment areas the effectiveness of salinity control existing in a saline system – one measures in Victoria’s Wimmera for the being the test site and the other the past five years. control – were required. Julie Andrew measures water flow at a The trial was established to scientifically Thirty sites were investigated before V-notch weir on one of the catchments. test recommendations for salinity control, Bill Kilpatrick’s 2000 hectare grazing specifically in upper catchments in lower and cropping property was chosen. rainfall areas of 500 to 600mm. According The paired catchments on the Kilpatrick’s to Julie Andrew from NRE at Stawell, the property were about the same size, had findings will have important implications very similar characteristics, were adjacent, for future management of recharge areas experienced the same 520mm rainfall and, in Victoria’s inland catchments. most importantly, had good support from The 1992 Wimmera Salinity Management the landholder. Plan recommendations for high recharge SKM assessed the sites for water movement areas, based on information available at through the catchments, salinisation Both catchments are being monitored for that time, included fencing out and high- processes, how different geologies affect salinity and water flow through groundwater density tree planting of greater than 500 salinisation and the water balance. bore readings along drainage lines. trees per hectare on steeper country and Monitoring will be undertaken for eight planting perennial pastures on lesser An agronomist recommended pasture and years and possibly longer depending upon slopes. stock management to consider what size paddock subdivisions were desirable, how the results. often stock rotation should occur and Bill Kilpatrick monitors The figures up to the last financial a bore on the Great recommend stocking rates. An economist is year have shown the control catchment Western Paired assessing the economic impact to the farmer. is, on average, in front financially, but Catchments trial. Bill Kilpatrick said salinity has Bill Kilpatrick does not believe this always been an issue for farmers around is an accurate assessment of the trial. Great Western, with his family trying “We couldn’t have picked three worse years to combat the problem for the past 40 to compare.” He also believes the sudden years, including fencing out salt-affected rise in wool prices this financial year will areas, gully battering and building see a change in the figures, putting the rock structures. treated catchment flock in front. Following the assessments both catchments While Bill Kilpatrick is looking forward (about 50 hectares in size) were fenced to gathering more substantial data from according to land capability and internal the trial, he has obviously seen enough subdivision fencing on the treated positive changes to encourage him to catchment pasture was installed for continue with his salinity control program. rotational grazing. “Eventually I would like to fence the hills Stocking rates were reduced, with to the ridge lines, plant the northern sides 120 merino whethers running in the to trees and the south to phalaris and control paddock and 240 merinos in cocksfoot, and I might also consider the treated paddock. agroforestry. On the trial catchment hill paddocks, “In the back of my mind I’m thinking selected tree species such as Red Gum, the hills are not productive anyway Yellow Box, Red Stringy Bark and Red and we didn’t stock the hills when Box were planted. The flatter sections times were good.” were sown down to perennial pastures of clovers, phalaris and cocksfoot. The trial is considered a work in progress as it could take up to 20 years to reach One existing saline area was already scientifically sound conclusions. fenced out and sown down to tall wheat grass, while another was planted with tall For further information contact Julie wheat grass and other salt-tolerant species. Andrew on (03) 5358 1588. Catchment Management

Construction and design students from Thornbury Darebin Secondary College work with local fencing contractor Robert Reid (left).

Building bridges tackles salinity at Broadford

A partnership involving secondary The Rotary Club of Northcote and NRE horticulture and building and construction students, NRE and community groups developed Building Bridges to expand on and places them in an environment where has launched a special project to help the existing partnership with Glenaroua they can make real contribution to a battle salinity in the Broadford area. Land Management Group. community. The Building Bridges Sugarloaf to Darebin Using its links with Thornbury Darebin “The project aims to provide attitudinal project is growing 11,000 trees per year Secondary College, the Rotary Club learning for students, as well as to be planted on farms in the Broadford of Northcote is involving young people involvement. We are aiming to improve area – which has one of the highest salt in solving some of the environmental understanding of each other’s lives and to loads in the Murray Darling Basin System. problems we face. foster mutual respect and tolerance.” Building Bridges Project Co-ordinator, “It is imperative, if programs such as Critical to the project has been the Brad Costin, said the project highlights this one are to continue, that we have support of many of its partners, including a need to involve a wider sector of young minds and hands working on the the Natural Heritage Trust, Glenaroua the community in natural resource project too,” said Fred Farugia, President Land Management Group, NRE, management, hand in hand with hard- of the Rotary Club of Northcote. Thornbury Darebin Secondary College, working groups such as Rotary. The works undertaken by students will Mitchell Shire Council, Common Ground Cooperative at Seymour, Department of “If one Rotary Club can facilitate the be incorporated into school curricula Defence Puckapunyal, local fencing growth and planting of 11,000 on an to ensure the project and the learning contractor Robert Reid, Greening annual basis, imagine the improvement will continue long into the future. Australia and the Goulburn Broken to existing and future land and water Noel Spooner, Principal of the Thornbury Catchment Management Authority. resources if even a fraction of the existing Darebin Secondary College, said the Rotary Clubs across the nation were project draws real world linkages with For more information contact Cate Culley to take up projects such as this.” science, environmental education, at NRE on (03) 5784 0600.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 19 AA fishyfishy freewayfreeway forfor thethe OvensOvens RiverRiver

Catchment By Margrit Beemster Management

The native fish that live in the lower In summer, when the river drops, the reaches of the Ovens River and in boards are replaced, creating a pool Lake Mulwala in north-east Victoria from which the water treatment plant are now able to make their way back 100 metres upstream can draw water. to their old breeding grounds via a Veronica says because Sydney Beach newly constructed fishway. is a popular swimming spot, the Works done by the North East City of Wangaratta was consulted. Catchment Management Authority The North East Region Water (NECMA) at Sydney Beach on the Authority, NRE and NECMA Ovens River at Wangaratta this summer workshopped various options have provided a simple but effective to help solve the problem. solution to the problems caused by The group decided to make use of physical barriers to fish movement. an existing overflow channel to “By removing the barrier to fish the north of the weir. The channel movement, the Golden Perch and flows in winter. However, in Murray Cod that could not come summer it is not deep enough upstream from Mulwala to spawn in to allow fish to move upstream. the Ovens are now able to do so,” says A survey of levels showed that project manager Veronica Lanigan, simply digging a defined channel Water Quality Officer with NECMA. a little deeper than what existed “There are remnant populations of and removing some rocks from native fish upstream of Sydney Beach the channel mouth was Weir but there’s been no recruitment sufficient for fish passage, for 27 years. What we are doing will providing the boards were help restore fish quality and numbers in the weir all summer. to what they were before.” The work was done with a crowbar and a shovel. Potential barriers to fish movement across Victoria were identified in 1996 Veronica says the solution when a statewide barriers database, partly was both simple and cost- funded through the Murray Darling effective. Basin Commission’s Barriers to Fish “The project cost around Veronica Lanigan at Migration Project, was completed. $950. Formal fish ladder the Sydney Beach Weir In the Ovens catchment alone some on the Ovens River at structures can cost as much Wangaratta – no longer 134 barriers ranging from waterfalls to as $35,000.” a barrier to fish movement. fords to dams and weirs were identified. The project, which is being Sydney Beach Weir, a 1.2 metre monitored, is part of the dropboard structure, was built in 1973 CMA’s overall program of by the Wangaratta Council to maintain improving stream health and a weir pool from which Wangaratta’s water quality. town water supply is drawn in summer. For further information In winter, when the river is high, about the fishway program the dropboards are removed and contact Veronia Lanigan the flow passes over the weir. on (02) 6055 6119.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 20 Junior Landcare

Kids use drains to clean up our rivers By Margrit Beemster

Three bright-yellow fish, coupled with The exercise, part of a statewide scheme Keen helpers Ashleigh Knott, from year the slogan ‘Street to Stream’ in vivid managed by the various Catchment three at Wodonga South Primary School, blue, are helping to raise awareness of Management Authorities’ Waterwatch and Thomas Trotman from year four, the problems associated with stormwater programs, is taking the message home to the clearly understood the purpose of pollution from the streets of the border children’s parents and the wider community. their work. town of Wodonga in Victoria. “For example, we had one child who came “What happens when you drop litter on The eye-catching message, that has been and told us that he helped his dad put the the streets is that it eventually finds its stencilled across 150 drain covers, is the lawn clippings round the garden after the way down the drains and into streams and work of 500 students from ten urban schools lawn had been mown instead of hosing rivers,” Ashleigh said. that have taken part in the two-phase them down the drain as he had in the “By putting the stencils on the drains it Wodonga City Drain Stencilling Program. past,” says Fran. helps people remember,” says Thomas. “We are getting a lot of enquiries,” “For a lot of people in urban areas, it’s a “Water is very, very important so we have says Fran Sorensen, north-east regional case of out of sight, out of mind. They to look after it.” Waterwatch Co-ordinator. don’t realise the impact on water quality from litter that’s been dropped in the For further information contact NECMA “We’ve had parents come and help the streets or from lawn clippings, dog Water Quality Officer, Veronica Lanigan, children and people in the street have droppings and soap suds from washing on (02) 6055 6260. asked the children questions about what the car being washed down drains. they were doing.” Thomas Trotman and Ashleigh Knott from “This program has been excellent in Wodonga South Primary School hard at work. A stencil in production. stimulating interest in Waterwatch in urban schools,” says Fran, who succeeded in getting all 75 schools in the north-east involved in Waterwatch, in various programs including its community water quality monitoring program. The stencilling program is in line with the water quality strategies being implemented by the North East Catchment Management Authority for community education and stormwater Junior Landcare management. across Victoria

The Victorian Landcare Centre at Creswick is continuing to provide advice and support to Junior Landcare groups across the State. The Landcare Centre is intending to establish an email newsletter to share ideas and keep groups informed of events and activities happening around Victoria. For further enquiries about Junior Landcare contact Tarnya Kruger at the NRE Victorian Landcare Centre at Creswick on (03) 5345 2200. Volunteers – our

A big day out – A Federal Government Initiative the crowd at the community planting weekend.

The planting weekend attracted both young and old. Fostering 444,000 trees

Four hundred volunteers braved the worst Species include Manna and Swamp Gum, day’s weather in five years to participate Blackwood and Black Wattle, Prickly and in a recent tree-planting project near Woolly Teatree, Drooping She-Oak and Warrnambool. Silver Banksia. “There was an inch of rain that morning $300,000 funding from the Federal and the rain was coming in sideways,” Government’s Natural Heritage Trust organiser Lydia Fehring said. has been combined with contributions from the community, Greening “Still, all those people turned up. Australia and Hopkins Moyne Land It was really great to see townspeople Management and Farm Trees Group out getting their hands dirty.” to provide more than $1,000,000 Lydia said local people were aware of Moyne Shire recognised the work done towards the project. the importance of revegetating to arrest by the volunteers, rewarding the day’s The massive fencing and revegetation erosion and reclaim saline areas. efforts with the Australia Day Award campaign is aiming to foster 444,000 for Community Event of the Year. “The Hopkins Basin is one of the most trees. Lydia Fehring has no doubt they degraded basins in Victoria,” she said. Including this project, during the past 12 will reach the target with the help of “We have to improve what we’ve got.” months more than 2000 volunteers have 1400 students at 10 local schools, Apex, planted 60,000 seedlings in the Moyne, Rotary, scouts, cubs, Warrnambool For more information about the project, Merri and Hopkins River catchments. Psychiatric Services and Alcoa. phone Lydia Fehring on (03) 5560 7354.

Photographs courtesy of the Warrnambool Standard.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 22 greatest resource

VOLUNTEERS – Ballarat redefines Landcare our natural resource

City dwellers in the Victorian town of groups have installed stormwater litter An estimated 300,000 Australians have Ballarat are redefining Landcare as they traps, controlled weeds, revegetated volunteered their time and been involved in join their nearby rural neighbours – and degraded areas and helped build a around 9000 projects funded by the Federal others up to 120 kilometres away – in a walkway along the Yarrowee River Government’s Natural Heritage Trust. demonstration of co-operative catchment through Ballarat. Volunteers play a crucial role in many management. The group aims for at least 60% of all of the on-ground environmental projects “We’re pretty proud of the fact that rural landholders to have undertaken currently underway across Victoria. we’ve been able to bring so many people on-ground works by 2003 and is currently If you want to find out more about into Landcare and really broaden its developing water quality targets so it can volunteering on a project funded by definition,” says Jenny Sedgwick, one demonstrate that the projects are making the Natural Heritage Trust, visit the of two project officers with the Leigh a difference. Trust website at www.nht.gov.au Catchment Group. The narrow Leigh catchment drains or call 1800 065 823. “As most of the water in the lower nearly 900 square kilometres from Ballarat Victorian Regional Natural catchment first passes through Ballarat, to Inverleigh. it has been important to involve the Heritage Trust Co-ordinators As well as the City of Ballarat (population urban community.” Mallee: Steve Erlandsen (03) 5022 4370 83,000) it includes areas of vegetation of [email protected] Jenny said the group was now in its national significance and an extraordinary third year of funding from the Natural range of topography from gentle Wimmera: Glenn Dixon (03) 5382 1544 Heritage Trust. undulating valleys, river flats and [email protected] floodplains to seldom-visited steep “In that time the number of landholders Glenelg: Laurie Norman escarpments and rocky gorges. involved has grown from 23 to 83, (03) 5343 2555 (m) 0419 509 592 but, most importantly, we’ve developed The Leigh Catchment Group resulted [email protected] enormous support among the urban from a growing interest and awareness people of Ballarat.” North Central: Mick Davidson that the catchment was both unique – in (03) 5448 7124 (m) 0419 560 348 With help from other agencies including the remnant vegetation and fauna habitat [email protected] the City of Ballarat, the urban Landcare it contains – and under severe threat. Corangamite: Nerissa Court (03) 5232 9100 Participants in one of the Leigh Catchment Field Days [email protected] Goulburn: Murray Chapman (03) 5822 2288 [email protected] Port Phillip: David Jones (03) 9296 4615 (m) 0419 556 816 [email protected] North East: Lisa Menhenett (03) 5833 5417 [email protected] Gippsland – East: Russell Broomhall (03) 5153 0462 [email protected] Gippsland – West: Barry Higgins (03) 5175 7800/7829 [email protected]

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 23 2,659 projects approved, $183 million invested so far.

160,000 volunteers in hundreds of Victorian communities getting the support they need to do the work that matters.

To find out more freecall 1800 065 823.

A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE Winter 2001 Victorian Victorian ISSUE 20 andcareandcare LL & CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT

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Advertising Paul Crock Mckays’ Still Phone 0418 377 264 Fax (03) 9428 4676 take to the hills Saltwatching ... Cover photograph: 12-13 22 Young native trees at Korumburra by Rawdon Sthradher Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management is published for the Victorian Landcare community by the Victorian Farmers Federation in partnership with the Department of While every effort has been made to Natural Resources and Environment, Alcoa World Alumina Australia, the Victorian ensure the accuracy of statements in Catchment Management Council and the Natural Heritage Trust. Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Magazine the Victorian Farmers Federation, its partners, agents, servants, and contractors disclaim all responsibility for the statements quoted herein.

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LEEDS RFCP5041 From the EDITORS In this issue we feature several stories on greenhouse. Without a doubt climate change is one of the most worrying issues facing land managers today. We look at the work of several farmers who are tackling large-scale revegetation projects to sink carbon and repair land degradation. The saying think globally act locally comes to mind. Students from Daylesford Secondary College rock on at Landfest.

Landfest 2001 but were overtaken by strong performers great activities for children, groovy It is always a delight to report on Victoria’s like Blackberry Boy and Cootamundra Kid. music and delicious local produce. major Landcare festival – Landfest. At the end it was down to a photo finish The many, many organisers and between Natural Regeneration and My contributors to Landfest are to be Landfest began in 1997 and each year Sweet Sugar Gum, followed gallantly by congratulated for another very successful it celebrates an important environmental Landcare Lass, with Wholesale Clearing festival. If you haven’t been to Landfest theme – from El Nino, to Living Land finishing last of all! yet we suggest you put it in your diary Living Water and this year – Fashions for next year. For more information in the Field. Workshops ran throughout the day to contact the Victorian Landcare Centre provide even more information for the The Fashions in the Field theme was on (03) 5345 2200. punters. Jack Craw’s talk on potentially carried through in a form guide for fatal fashions – environmental weeds and Please keep your stories and letters the Revegetation Stakes – a phantom garden escapees – proved very popular. coming. We are always interested in race ably called by comedian John hearing from our readers. Walker. Firestick Farming, Gold Rush, Added to this there were 65 different and European Settlement all began well, stalls, a host of demonstrations, Lyall Grey, Jo Safstrom and Carrie Tiffany

High quality grapes, environmentally friendly By Irene Grant

Indigo Wines are dedicated to producing NRE extension officer Martin Revrenna keep a balance between environmental high quality wine grapes but the company is is helping Indigo Wines (the property and horticultural practices. equally determined to ensure that the local is located at Everton Upper, 20 kilometres “The project managers expressed environment does not suffer in the process. from Wangaratta) develop their whole a strong desire to develop farm plan. To help the company achieve this aim, the property as a showcase vineyard manager Guy Rayner contacted The property has extensive areas of native of best environmental NRE for assistance in developing a vegetation and significant wildlife habitat practice for the winegrape whole farm plan which would create on Granite Hill and along the Hodgsons industry and we are keen a balance between the environment Creek. A threatened plant species, silver to support that approach.” and horticultural practices. tea-tree, has been found growing on part of the property. “We have a real desire to create an environment that is friendly to The plan looks at issues such as the surrounding flora and fauna as well as management of remnant native growing the best grapes,” Guy Rayner said. vegetation, wildlife habitat, gully erosion, water quality, recharge and salinity, pest “For us whole farm planning is an plant and animal control. important management tool which contributes to sound decisions in the Martin Revrenna said the plan is day-to-day management and the important to Indigo Wines, as they are long-term sustainability of the enterprise.” keen to demonstrate that it is possible to

Martin Revrenna and Guy Rayner check the progress of the whole farm plan at Indigo Wines. Caring for remnants in the North East

Catchment By Margrit Beemster Management

Two years on and the remnant stand of CORIS project manager Jim Blackney grey box plains forest straddling Black said the fencing off would encourage Dog creek west of Rutherglen is changing. the return of lots of plants not around The grey green tussocks of poa grasses, the any more and protect some of the rarer bleached yellow sward of wallaby grass and species, such as buloke, a casuarina. the foot high river red gum, grey box and “The grey box plains is one of the wattle seedlings indicate that the forest’s rarer types of bush, including box understorey is returning. ironbark and riverine grassy forests “What I like about it is that it is so targeted under the scheme. simple,” said Norong Central farmer Tony “Much of our lower more fertile Reeckman as we survey the seven-hectare country has been cleared for section of forest along his property’s agriculture over the last 150 boundary that he fenced out in 1999. years. If there’s any indigenous “You put the fence up and it does the vegetation left in those areas, regeneration all by itself.” we would like to work with landholders to preserve it. Tony Reeckman is one of a hundred In 10, 20 or 40 years time landholders across the North East region a lot of these pockets will who have taken advantage of the Care of disappear unless we do Remnant Incentive Scheme (CORIS). something now to allow Funded by the Natural Heritage Trust and natural regeneration to administered by the North East Catchment take place.” Management Authority, the scheme provides financial assistance for landholders Jim Blackney estimates wishing to fence off and manage remnant that at the end of five vegetation on their properties. years, 2000 hectares of remnant vegetation So far 1450 hectares have been fenced off will have been protected under the Care of Remnant Incentive by CORIS and around Scheme which is now in its fourth year. 250 landholders involved. “I probably would have fenced the forest For further information off at some stage but would have waited about CORIS contact until I had enough money to do it,” said Jim Blackney on Tony who was reimbursed for most of the (03) 5728 6620. $2000 he spent on fencing materials. “It took me about a week’s solid work to put the fence up but I’m very pleased I did. It’s a really nice place on the farm to walk through.” Since Tony took over the family farm ten years ago, he has planted more than 10,000 trees in wildlife corridors and shelter belts, and fenced off remnant stands of murray pines. His corridors link up with the Tony Reeckman with grey box seedlings that have remnant grey box forest, half of which was regenerated since he fenced fenced off by his father 30 years ago. off his grey box plains forest.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 5 From Istanbul to Wandiligong

A tourist’s view of Turkey.

By Greg Smith

Wandiligong nestles high up in the Clear skies seem to be something of Ovens River catchment in NE Victoria, the past throughout Europe. Even in just beyond the very popular tourist town, rural (and fairly remote) areas of Bright. Last spring I enjoyed another countries such as England, Ireland, weekend at this jewel in the foothills Belgium. France, Spain and Turkey of the Victorian alpine country. the views are invariably hidden by the very hazy, polluted skies – heat On a clear spring morning it is hard hazes, according to the local inhabitants to imagine anywhere more tranquil and travel guides! and beautiful than Wandiligong. View from a farmhouse in North East Victoria With the sunlight streaming over the Some other obvious observations on towering hills and lighting a cloudless, environmental issues that confirm that blue sky, the landscape is verdant Australia is, environmentally, still a Farm$mart can certainly help – green with lush pastures blending into lucky country include: particularly via the Farm$mart Series B tree-covered mountain slopes. workshops that focus on natural resource • Water quality. It is now very much management. There are splashes of vivid colour from standard practice overseas to rely on the vast array of spring blossoms. The air bought, bottled water, rather than Clearly Landcare has achieved an is still, clear and pure with a touch of the trusting local water supplies. enormous amount of on-ground work overnight chill. The silence is broken only and it continues to mobilise a wide • Wildlife. Destruction of habitat and by the rush of cool, clean water tumbling cross-section of the Victorian rural hunting seem to have irretrievably down rocky watercourses – and the community. A recent survey by Charles decimated the wildlife populations raucous sounds of the abundant birdlife. Sturt University reports that where a in Europe. Animals are almost non- Landcare group operates, 46% of properties By contrast, the previous year I had been existent in the wild, apart from the have a Landcare member. It is estimated touring Europe. Europe and Wandiligong odd rabbit and squirrel. And there is that about 27,500 members belong to are poles apart in many ways – probably very little evidence of birds – none the 890 Victorian Landcare groups. none more so than the fascinating city of the warbling and chirping that is of Istanbul, which teems with people still very much part of the Australian There is now a keen interest in how (population over 10 million) and all landscape. Sure, there are pigeons, Landcare might move beyond the very forms of pollution. sparrows and seagulls in some places; obvious and significant on-ground but no diversity of species, and in works. The network of almost 900 Sadly, the magnificent vistas that many areas, no sign of birds at all. groups and 30,000 members can have should showcase the grand palaces and an incredible influence on community mosques that line the majestic Bosphorus The take-home message from Europe and economic development, and (the narrow strait of water that divides to Wandiligong is that we are still very consequently a substantial impact on the city and links the Black Sea to the much endowed with magnificent natural regional development and catchment Mediterranean) were blanketed by a resources in Australia that need to be management in Victoria. depressing shroud of heavily polluted protected and enhanced. How can we best air. Visibility was constantly limited capitalise on what we still have, and that Greg Smith is the Victorian Farmers to about two kilometres. many overseas countries have already lost? Federation Farm$mart Co-ordinator.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 6 Research Senegal tea? Results

NO THANKS! By Lalith Gunasekera

Senegal tea (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides) with several ridges running down the Flowering commences in late spring or is a perennial, semi-aquatic herb native length of the stem, but they become early summer and continues until falling to Mexico and South America. It grows more or less rounded as they mature. temperatures prevent further growth. The in wetland communities in still or flowing Stems normally scramble, branch and flower heads are clustered together at the water as well as in wet marshy soils and root at the nodes, forming an intertwining tips of the branches. Flowers are white. at water margins. mat. Larger stems are hollow between The seed is yellow-brown and ribbed. the nodes and mats are buoyant in water. Senegal tea is a potentially serious Dispersal waterweed that has recently been Fibrous roots can produce on any part found for the first time in Victoria. of the stems when they immersed in Senegal tea can spread by vegetative It was introduced to Australia in the water. Erect stems are produced prior fragmentation, by the production of new mid 1970s from India as an aquarium to flowering, growing to a height of plants from the stem nodes or by seed. plant. Later Senegal tea infestations 1.5 metres or more. The soft leaves are Stem fragments may be spread by water were found in NSW, Queensland and 5-20 centimetres in length, shiny dark movement, deliberate plantings or by Tasmania. It is not a declared noxious green with serrated margins and the machinery. Fragments quickly develop weed in Victoria but it is important leaves are borne in opposite pairs. roots and new stems when they come to to prevent it from establishing, as it is rest, forming new colonies. Dispersal of seed is by water movement, or mud invasive and very difficult to control. Senegal tea is sold as an aquarium or ornamental water sticking to animals or machinery. Impact plant and can be spread through the dumping of fish tank contents into waterways. The most important method of spread Senegal tea is considered an in Australia is through cultivation aggressive and invasive species. and sale as an aquarium or Adult plants have a growth ornamental water plant and rate of 15 centimetres a through dumping of fish tank week in fertile conditions. contents into waterways. It is tolerant to shade, The first naturalised frost and poor drainage infestation of Senegal and intolerant to drought. tea was found in It forms dense floating Lake Nagambie in mats which can quickly December last year. cover waterbodies, Goulburn-Murray excluding other life Water implemented an forms, as well as eradication campaign. impeding water Another infestation was flow, navigation and recreational activities. reported by a landholder at Cranbourne South. Description This was a deliberate planting at the edge of a Senegal tea has a variety of dam of plants purchased 4-5 forms. It can produce runners in years ago from a landscape water or mud, and floating stems nursery at Mornington. up to 2.5 metres in height, or it can grow as round bushes. Plant stems are If you find an infestation of Senegal usually 5-10 millimetres in diameter when tea, or would like further information, young, increasing up to 20 millimetres contact the Keith Turnbull Research with age. Young stems are often angled, Institute on (03) 9785 0111.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 7 Growing a

Direct seeding has proven to be the Filling the seed gap most economical method for successfully In 1995, the Pallisters group met Libby establishing native vegetation in many Fisher, the Greening Australia Alcoa parts of Victoria. As the demand for seed Portland Regional Seedbank Manager, increases, Greening Australia’s Alcoa and discussed the seed orchard concept. Portland Regional Seedbank is working hard to make sure seed is available for “At the time, Greening Western Australia landholders. had seed orchard sites up and running, and it was thought that such a facility in the One of the Seedbank’s challenges is to south west would fill the gap in the supply match farmer demand for understorey of understorey plants’ seed,” Peter said. species’ seed. The Friends of Pallister’s Reserve have established one of the first The group set out a plan for a small area seed orchards for understorey seed in in the reserve and sought assistance from Victoria. the Alcoa Landcare Project to fence the site to keep rabbits and hares away. Peter Carrucan, a Pallisters group member of the Understorey Seed Orchard Project “After fencing, a bobcat scalped the top which is supported by the Alcoa Landcare few inches of soil away to remove any Program and Greening Australia, has weed seed (the area had once been under provided a focal point for their efforts, pasture species) and to remove some of and has helped supply seed to larger the soil nutrients.” regional projects such as the Greater Many species of native grasses cannot Glenelg Biolink Project. cope with high nutrient loads, and “The idea of starting a seed orchard arose removing some of the topsoil would because of the success people were having resolve this problem. with direct seeding,” said Peter. “We set up various veggie garden sized “Most of the understorey species in the plots and sowed different understorey district had been cleared, and seed sources species in each plot,” Peter said. for many species was limited.” The seed was sown very heavily to avoid weed establishment and to ensure a good germination of native seeds.

Left: Peter Carrucan in the prickly tea tree plot. “The seed is harvested in the summer months and sent to the Portland Seedbank where it is treated, viability tested and stored correctly to ensure there can be no insect attack, and to minimise temperature fluctuations that could destroy or denature the seed,” Peter said. All of the seed is stored at the seedbank, and lists of available species are circulated to local Landcare groups. Most of the seed is on-sold to the wider community for direct seeding programs.

An educational resource Peter sees the seed orchard project as an important educational resource for local Signage plays an important educational role. schools and Landcare groups.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 8 seed orchard By Paul Crock

“The aim of the exercise certainly is to provide seed for different direct seeding Pallister’s Reserve projects and take the seed-collecting pressure off native stands of the species Pallister’s Reserve is located at Orford, The many swamps and wetlands throughout in question. However it is also to about 30 kilometres north of Port Fairy in the property make the reserve an ideal draw attention to the concern about southwest Victoria. place for waterbirds to nest and breed, degradation of understorey plants including brolgas. The reserve was created in 1990, when the in remnant vegetation areas.” Trust for Nature, the Ross Trust, NRE and The old woolshed on the property has been Interpretive signs and display boards donations from local conservation and converted into the group’s headquarters and will be erected to help visitors to the naturalist groups raised enough funds to includes a number of beds to bunk down site learn about the species and provide purchase the 130-hectare property from Mr volunteers who require overnight or weekly a sample to assist with teaching plant W Pallister. A further 124 hectares was accommodation. A shipping container identification. purchased on the western boundary in 1992 donated by Portland Aluminium has been to add to the reserve. converted into a tool shed for the group. “The seed orchard has been a great success, and members of the Friends The reserve includes 130 hectares of native The group holds regular meetings and of Pallister’s Reserve look forward to woodland containing swamp and manna working bees. On meeting days members do developing the resource and increasing gum, shining peppermint, blackwoods and a odd jobs and carry out bird and plant surveys. the number of species grown,” said Peter. rich understorey of prickly tea tree, wattles, For more information about the reserve banksia, allocasuarina and sweet bursaria. contact Peter Carrucan on (03) 5562 6179. For more information about the seed orchard project, contact Peter Carrucan on (03) 5562 6179, or Dave Warne at the Greening Australia Alcoa Portland Regional Seedbank on (03) 5521 7856. Direct seeding fact sheets

Alcoa World Alumina Australia and experiences in direct seeding and Greening Australia are producing a are available from the Greening Australia series of fact sheets designed to share Alcoa Portland Regional Seedbank and the successes of direct seeding and Greening Australia’s head office in other Landcare activities throughout Heidelberg. the south-west of Victoria. For further information contact The fact sheets describe case studies Dave Warne on (03) 5521 7856. of some of the best projects and

Greening Australia’s Alcoa Regional Seedbank provides native tree seed for revegetation programs across Victoria.

Green, weed-free grass of home – the Trewin’s property at Granya. Carbon sinks for

Under the Greenhouse Project 11 some catchments including many the landowners to involve community landowners in the Bass catchment and streamside plantings. groups in planting days and by promoting the the Rowsley Valley are revegetating overall benefit to the community and the Wherever possible revegetation sites over 100 hectares of non-productive environment of the Greenhouse Project. are linked to remnant vegetation in farmland with indigenous and farm an effort to increase the overall size of Some landholders have been involved forestry plantings. native vegetation blocks. It is also an in more than one revegetation project The majority of areas that have been aim of the Greenhouse Project to extend and others have been inspired to replant revegetated under this project are habitat corridors in the landscape. further areas on their own initiative or unproductive farmland. This land was to participate in other programs. Building community interest often in need of remedial action for Sites from very different areas within the problems such as erosion and topsoil loss. The Greenhouse Project has also region have been included in the project, The revegetated areas have also helped endeavoured to build community interest with vastly different benefits in mind. to combat water quality problems in and ownership of the projects by encouraging Properties within the Bass catchment have

A greenho

John and Dorothy Anthony were frustrated when wombats ate a number of their newly planted trees last year, but they still say wildlife is one of the main reasons they are revegetating their Korumburra grazing property. Twelve years ago there wasn’t a native tree on the Anthony’s farm, there are around 38,000. Over 20,000 have been planted with assistance from Growing Victoria’s Greenhouse Sinks to repair land degradation and absorb carbon. The Anthonys combine farming with a directional drilling business. The Korumburra property is a haven away from a hectic working life. They started revegetating to combat the severe soil erosion which has caused several landslips on the steep hills. The gullies were planted first to slow erosion of the soil that was washing into nearby Korumburra Reservoir.

John and Dorothy Anthony walk through an avenue of green.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 10 Melbourne By Gavin Brock

benefited from erosion control and improved management on marginal agricultural land. water quality; whilst landholders in the The environment benefits in many ways Rowsley Valley are using the Greenhouse from the revegetation; erosion is curtailed, Project to help combat Serrated Tussock water quality is improved and habitat for which is a major weed problem in the area. native fauna increased. Revegetation can also help the landholder by out-competing Many positive outcomes weed species and by acting as windbreaks The outcomes that have been achieved and protection for stock. through this initiative are more wide ranging than just the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The re-establishment of native vegetation The trees are helping to repair is a viable alternative to other forms of land landslips on the steep slopes. use plantation at Korumburra

Dorothy Anthony says they have taken Spreading blood and bone around helps “We are close to Korumburra and care to plant indigenous native species to keep them away for a while and give bordered by a major local road so so the habitat is suitable for wildlife. the plants a good start.” people can really see what we’ve been doing. Hopefully it may encourage “It used to be rare to see anything but The Anthonys are hoping that koalas may others to put in trees to stop the rabbits here. Only recently I saw a be attracted back to the property – they land degradation and spread the couple of wallabies close to the house were common in the area before clearing. greenhouse benefits further.” and we’ve certainly noticed some Dorothy says it is very satisfying to see wombat damage to the young plants. For further information contact how the trees are changing the look of Gavin Brock at NRE on (03) 9785 0131. the landscape.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 11 Athol and Doreen McKay The story of the McKays recharge planting project at Crowlands, Western Victoria.

The history of land management in In 1997 the RabbitBuster program was The hills form the divide between the Australia is woven into the history introduced and the McKays were keen Wimmera and Hopkins catchments of individual pioneering families. to be involved. With the help of Brian and are known as areas of high recharge At Crowlands, in Victoria’s Wimmera, Howlett from NRE a major rabbit harbour (release of salt) to the groundwater the process of tackling salinity using removal program was started. Before this system. Over a number of years Athol native vegetation and rabbit control program began, monitoring transects had and Doreen had become aware that is demonstrated in the farming yielded over 45 rabbits per 500 metres. the management of their hills had a big cycles of the McKay family. This is an extremely high population. influence on what occurred downstream. Before the McKays Doreen, who grew up locally, settled at Crowlands, the recalls black wattle growing Buckingham family arrived along the drainage lines in the in the Telegraph Hill area. 1950s and salt not being evident. This was the 1860s and Yet they were aware, from the the Buckinghams cleared time of the initial purchase their land for English-style of the property in the 1970s, agricultural use. When later of a saline discharge area on generations of that family the lower slopes. They started decided to sell, Athol and repairing the area using wheat Doreen McKay bought the straw as a mulch and fencing title. This was nearly a it off. The area has now been century later, in 1970. revegetated. Doreen McKay’s grandfather, At the time the McKays were Mr Thomas, owned the working on the revegetation they property next door. He had were unaware of the connection emigrated from England and with the cleared hills and salinity travelled from Adelaide across downstream. Although during to Ararat. Edith and Harold the 1980s they did notice the Thomas now own this land. deteriorating water quality of the Wimmera River and some Grazing sheep and rabbits of their local streams. The McKay’s bought the A number of factors helped to property with the intention clinch the McKays’ decision to of grazing sheep and it was revegetate their hills. In 1995, running around one sheep Doreen and Athol went on an an acre. It also had a high Athol and Doreen McKay are dwarfed by their trees. overnight farm forestry tour stocking rate of rabbits and to the Benalla area. Here they two rabbit drives were done in Following warren ripping, harbour saw the break of slope plantings being 1971. The first drive yielded 325 pairs. destruction and expenditure of $19,500 done in hill country to help with salinity The next drive a fortnight later gave only two rabbits were sighted in the and the potential of agroforestry. At the 215 pairs. The sale of these rabbits transects and these came from an area same time, extra work was being done in paid for a holiday to Tasmania. of ferns and gully that could not be the upper Wimmera catchment by myself and Mark Hocking from NRE The rabbits soon came back so an aerial ripped. Athol was over the moon about to identify high recharge areas in the drop of 1080 followed. The property the effectiveness of the control. landscape. reeked of rotting rabbits for the next Greening the steep divide six months. Although there has been Following this Athol and Doreen worked an annual 1080-baiting program by With the rabbits in check the McKays towards their objective of putting trees ground application, rabbits have decided to embark on a challenging back on their hills at a landscape level been an ongoing problem. revegetation project for their steeper hills. to help reduce salinity downsteam.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 12 Group take to the hills News By Julie Andrew

The success rate has been high – due to vigilant rabbit control.

Large areas of the hills were net-fenced This ambitious project would not have and deep-ripped. Weed control been possible without grant assistance followed in 1998 with tree planting through RabbitBuster and the Land of 800 stems per hectare. A small Protection Incentive Scheme. Advice one-hectare agroforestry trial was and assistance from NRE has also The break of slope planting from a distance. also set up. In 1999 the next stage been important, as has labour from the was planted. The final section of 34 Landmate crew from HM Prison Ararat like Running Postman returning to the hectares is to be planted this year. and assistance from Project Platypus. site and the fast growth of the black wattle. Added to this is a feeling of There were times when Athol and satisfaction and surprise that an increasing Farm forestry in the future Doreen McKay felt anxious about the number of people are interested in the trees, especially on the exposed tops of The possibility of generating work they have done, including the the hills. At one stage the whole family, future income from the trees has mayor of the local Shire. Athol says including Doreen’s Mum, Nan, were up also inspired the McKays to apply he feels great satisfaction to see the there hand-pulling weeds to help the farm forestry principles to their country back the way it should be, trees through. Cockatoos and wallabies plantation. Form pruning has already and to be helping those downstream. begun. Annual monitoring of the gave some species a hammering. Neighbours are now planning similar one-hectare agroforestry trial has Weed control is an ongoing concern, as is ensuring that the rabbits are kept out. work on adjoining hills – so it won’t be shown high survival rates for the too long before all of the salty old hills seven species. The lightwood and These days there is much excitement will again be forested. drooping sheoak have shown the when the McKays drive around the hill best growth rates and are over two and see the trees from a distance. Doreen For further information contact Julie metres in height. is particularly happy to see native species Andrew at NRE Stawell on (03) 5358 1588.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 13 Getting

By John Quinlan

WEEDMAN is a new workshop-based • They help to develop an integrated How the system works education program designed to empower management focus for local situations, the community by giving it the tools from the paddock to the farm, or to The workshops normally run for one and resources needed to manage and/or the Landcare group area. full day. Other alternatives are two control weeds. The method can be used half-day sessions or four two-hour • From the industry and NRE to tackle any problem weed, whether it sessions. Worksheets are distributed perspective’s they gather information is an agricultural weed of crop or pasture, to participants two weeks prior to about what land managers are doing or an environmental weed of unimproved each workshop to stimulate their regarding use of chemicals and other pasture, wasteland, crown land or thinking about some of the biological management options. roadsides. It can also be used for forest, and ecological problems the weed creates, horticultural or viticultural weed Farmers are great innovators when it and about management options tried. comes to finding solutions to problems. problems. The first half of the workshop includes: The workshops facilitate the flow of The key criteria for WEEDMAN is to information, helping farmers to share their • Defining the problem, including the have a body of committed or interested experiences with one another. Case cost of the weed problem, for example, people who are keen to do something studies open the eyes of participants to from yield loss or downgrading. about a local weed problem. There are different options and can prompt them to a number of benefits in the workshop • Considering the biology and ecology try other methods. Some of the anecdotal approach: of the weed from a farmer or information brought out can be refined for landholder perspective. • They establish the current level of best management practice. It may also knowledge and management practice provide leads for further research and • Group discussion of effective of the participants. extension into a particular weed problem. management options.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 1014 Group tough with weeds Ideas

• Discussion of failed management information on how to organise workshops options. and outputs from previous workshops. It also serves as the program’s database. • Brainstorming of other ideas, including potential economic uses of the weed, A worthwhile investment for example garlic-flavoured bread or meat from wild garlic. After several developmental workshops in the past 18 months, including one on A bank of information is built up wild garlic on the Bendigo Creek, two on from farmer’s observations, including muskweed in the Wimmera and one on their mistakes; from data in the literature fumitory at Wagga Wagga; the self-funding and from NRE and industry experiences. program is up and running with 50 A powerful factor at work is that trained instructors in southern Australia. landholders can learn from both the The developer of WEEDMAN, A number of successful commercial successes and failures of their peers, Michael Moerkerk. workshops have already been held and a rather than just having an agronomist dozen or more are scheduled for the next or company representative preaching Each participant can go away with a 12 months. The cost is $150 a head and doctrine at them from a fact sheet. The list of management options for their there is a 75% rebate from Farmbis. remainder of the time is spent developing own situation. These include strategies In feedback on the workshops held to integrated weed management plans, for early or late breaks, monitoring date, 98% of participants indicated that based on farmer’s situations. Again, a processes, reviewing goals and overall they will develop IWM plans for their number of factors need to be considered: progress. The aim is to help landholders problem weeds while 90% say they would • The current weed situation. build flexibility into their management. like additional workshops on other weed They may need to be prepared to sacrifice species. Comments have included “a • The history of how the weed got there short-term economics for long-term goals. worthwhile learning experience” and “I’ve and how the problem developed. spent $50 on this workshop and it will The facilitator writes up information save me $5000 on my chemical bill”. • Where the landholder wants to be in from each workshop and a copy is five years time regarding management distributed to participants. An edited For further information on WEEDMAN of the weed. version is also put on the WEEDMAN contact Michael Moerkerk on • The keys to achieving the five-year goal website. This website contains the (03) 5362 2111 or visit the website or what has to be done to get there. biological and ecological profile of weeds, at http://weedman.horsham.net.au For example managing the seedbank, stopping seed set, keeping seed out of WEEDMAN gives the community the tools and resources to manage and control weeds. the paddock and monitoring. • The specifics of how the farmer/ landholder is going to achieve the goal; for example, management options in the paddock. There are two general approaches to developing options. The first is to look at an established rotation put forward by the landholder and the management options already being used, to see if they are achieving their goals. This method provides a specific strategy. The second and preferred option looks at all cropping and landuse options for the paddock and comes up with an options tree. This gives a wider range of options.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 15 GreenGreen powerpower inin thethe LatrobeLatrobe ValleyValley By Col Sutherland A revegetated area along the Macalister River.

As owner and operator of Loy Yang B The company joined with other Latrobe • Phillip Island Wildlife Corridor – power station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley power generators and was one of the plantings by members of the Valley, Edison Mission Energy decided first groups to sign up for the Greenhouse Phillip Island Landcare Group more than five years ago that it should Challenge. Edison’s Challenge program which link stands of remnant native play a constructive role in Australia’s had two streams – maximum power bush on private land and native greenhouse emission abatement measures. generation efficiency, and involvement reserves across the major tourist in Landcare as a contribution to long area of Phillip Island. Jim Lake using a mechanical planter to term carbon sequestration. plant 3000 trees on his property at Stratford. Edison’s $1 million direct contribution In the past five years, the Landcare over five years from 1999 is supplemented commitment has grown like the 200,000 by in-kind support from the company and trees that have been planted in the its ongoing effort to develop and maintain company’s name. partnerships with key government agencies such as NRE and the Australian The program’s area of operation has Greenhouse Office (AGO). extended from the Powlett River catchment and Phillip Island in south Wellington Greenprint co-operates and west Gippsland to the Wellington closely with NRE and the district’s River catchment centered on Maffra, Catchment Management Authority in to the east of the power station. implementing the State’s revegetation program and provides pilot sites for the Edison Mission Energy sponsors: AGOs Bush for Greenhouse program. • Wellington Greenprint, based on Edison Mission Energy recognises Maffra – a large-scale revegetation that the trees being planted under project which aims to rehabilitate land degraded by erosion and salinity. its Landcare program do not represent In 2000, the program was responsible large carbon sinks, but they are valuable for 18 Landcare projects, the planting for the study of sequestration. of 16,000 trees, six kilometres of Wellington Greenprint has provided direct seeding and more than nine an opportunity for the AGO to kilometres of fencing. This year a gather baseline data for sequestration further 15 kilometres of fencing and measurements, because revegetation 11,000 trees are being established, in the Wellington catchment is a with more to be added later in the new activity and the data will be year. A seedbank was established unaffected by recent plantings or in Maffra to provide seed for the land changes. program. Landcare is first and foremost concerned • Powlett Project – with repairing land degradation – and rehabilitation of land, water Edison Mission Energy is committed to and coastal environments in that – but it is also part of the matrix of the Powlett River catchment greenhouse measures that is among the of South Gippsland, between most advanced in the world. Korumburra in the upper catchment and the Bass Col Sutherland is the General Manager Strait coast at Kilcunda. of Edison Mission Energy Australia.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 16 PlanningPlanning forfor commercialcommercial treestrees

The Farm Tree$ Planning Service Preference is given to landowners with “The clearer you are about where and helps farmers make informed decisions at least ten hectares of cleared agricultural why you want commercial trees on your about becoming involved in forestry. land available. This area does not have property the more you will benefit from The service offers landowners subsidised to be in the one part of the property. the service,” says Lyn. farm forestry planning assistance, It could occupy a number of smaller Successful landowners select a qualified delivered by professional consultants. areas, as long as they all have reasonable consultant (from a list) who visits the access for harvesting machinery. A total of 150 Victorian landowners property to develop a Farm Tree$ Plan. have participated in the Farm Tree$ Landowners who have completed the The plan may include maps, Planning Service over the last two years. Farm $mart program are particularly recommendations on species and encouraged to apply. Landowners receive up to $2500 sites, management options, anticipated worth of professional planning costs, market analyses and advice on integrating The Farm Tree$ Planning Service offers landowners and indicative commercial trees for subsidised farm forestry planning assistance. financial returns. just $400. The tree species Project coordinator, and management Lyn van de Hoef from options considered NRE, says the feedback in a Farm Tree$ Plan has been very positive. vary depending on the preferences of the “Previous participants landowner and the have commented that capability of the site. the service improved their understanding of The Farm Tree$ farm forestry and helped Plan will provide a them to make informed solid foundation for land management entering the private decisions. Some forestry industry at landowners also said any time in the future. that the service had “Previous participants raised alternatives they have so far established hadn’t considered before.” at least 300 hectares Interested landowners of commercial forestry must apply for the service, plantations on their with applications being properties, with more considered on a range planned for the future. of criteria. Landowners have either established Suitable landowners the trees themselves, are required to own entered into a joint properties that have soils, venture agreement, topography and climate or leased their land suited to commercial to a forestry investor.” tree production. They must also demonstrate For more information an enthusiasm and on the Farm Tree$ interest in tree growing, Planning Service and a commitment to contact Lyn van de sustainable property Hoef at NRE on management. (03) 9296 4630.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 17 Glenelg-Hopkins region continues salinity and declining water quality

The Glenelg-Hopkins region is a great 18 endangered, 19 vulnerable, 39 rare The criteria include demonstration place to live. It is recognised as one of and 12 restricted species. Additionally, of clear links to current strategic plans, Victoria’s most vital agricultural and this change to introduced grasses creates cost sharing arrangements, integrated tourism districts and dominates historic significant fuel loads in summer, leading catchment management connectivity writings about the early settlement of this to a tremendous fire hazard as well as and strategic natural resource state. The region stretches east to Ballarat, being a core contributor to a major management value. west to the South Australian border, north salinity and water quality problems. “In April we called for preliminary to the Grampians and south to the coast. According to the Glenelg-Hopkins projects and received 95 proposals to Clearing for agriculture has stripped Regional Strategic Plan, salinity in the undertake research, on-ground works, the basin of its cover of forest and open region currently affects around 27,500 capacity building and communication woodland. Only a few woodland remnants hectares of land. This threatens productive in the salinity and water quality field,” remain in the far north of the region. agricultural land, native animals, remnant said Colin Dunkley, CEO of the According to the Glenelg-Hopkins vegetation and restabilised vegetation, Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Native Vegetation Plan, shallow-rooted roads, railway lines and houses. It also Management Authority. introduced grasses are now the increases the risk of toxic algal bloom in predominant vegetation community Projects to be funded must prevent, waterways. Many major waterways are covering 95% of the catchment. stabilise and start to reverse trends in degraded with deteriorating water quality dryland salinity affecting the sustainability Such a significant ecological shift in the from salinity including all of the Wannon of production, the conservation of region’s vegetation communities has had River and the upper reaches of the Merri, biological diversity and the viability a serious impact on native fauna with Hopkins and Glenelg Rivers. of infrastructure. They must improve If predictions are correct as detailed in the water quality and secure reliable water Peter Forster from the Glenelg Hopkins CMA Australian Dryland Salinity Assessment allocations for human uses, industry Salinity and Water Quality Steering Committee and the environment. inspects rehabilitation works on the Hopkins River. 2000, the current area affected by dryland salinity will increase fivefold along with Within the Glenelg-Hopkins region the rest of Victoria over the next 50 years. Landcare groups, regional organisations, This suggests that approximately 137,500 State agencies, 11 Local Governments, hectares in the Glenelg-Hopkins will be eight Water Authorities, educational salt-affected by 2050. institutions and others are encouraged to develop preliminary project proposals. There is no single solution to this complicated issue. It must be addressed “Projects must address priority actions through a variety of approaches at the in the Glenelg-Hopkins Regional regional, State and Federal levels. Catchment Strategy or any of the nine issue specific strategies, three The State Government has matched River Restoration Plans and 13 funding with the Federal Government Landcare Action Plans developed who announced in November last year a by the community,” said Colin. commitment of $157 million over seven years for Victoria. Activities that will be funded include on-ground works, capacity The funds are to implement the National building, research, communication Action Plan for Salinity and Water and governance. Quality in four priority regions across Victoria including the Glenelg-Hopkins Projects will be assessed according to how well they address specific actions and Corangamite Regions. from a Glenelg-Hopkins Strategy. The aim is for regional partners to They must be located in a priority develop effective projects that will be area, and contribute to National assessed against a strict criteria framework. and State outcomes.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 18 Catchment to battle Management

By Kym Witney-Soanes

“Following June we will await advice from the Commonwealth Government regarding the funding levels prior to inviting the successful proponents to develop full project applications,” said Colin. The Glenelg-Hopkins CMA and the Area Consultative Committee hosted an information afternoon on the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality in March at Hamilton. It covered how this new program will benefit farmers and other land managers in this Region, new salinity identification techniques and options for improving best practice adoption rates “Eighty-four people came to the information session indicating the level of local concern regarding this issue,” said Helen Anderson, Glenelg-Hopkins CMA Salinity and Water Quality Co-ordinator. Dr Allan Curtis, Associate Director of the Johnstone Centre for Social and Biophysical Environmental Research at Charles Sturt University in Albury, presented the social perspective on managing salinity. Dr David Dent, Researcher with the Land and Water Sciences Division of the Bureau of Rural Sciences in Canberra, gave an account of technical advancements in salinity mapping capabilities using geophysical techniques. Through a co-ordinated effort involving all levels of government, regional authorities and the rural and urban community we can ensure that the Glenelg-Hopkins region may dominate future historic writings on the successful battle against salinity. For further information contact Helen Anderson or Kym Witney-Soanes at the Glenelg-Hopkins CMA on (03) 5571 2526.

School children monitor water quality on a creek in the Hopkins basin.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 19 IN BRIEF

Fashions in the Field Fashions in the Field was designed to water quality, ecology, riparian vegetation, provide information for Landcare groups, geomorphology and rehabilitation Fashions in the Field is a new booklet new landholders, secondary schools and techniques. that looks at the history of revegetation anyone with an interest in understanding across Victoria. It is a fascinating, ironic, Participants will undertake hands on our changed landscape. yet informative account of some of our assignments which constitute a minor classic blunders, as well as the success If you would like to obtain a copy, or stream management course and will stories that have taken place across the know a group or school that would be receive a qualification from the Diploma landscape since European settlement. interested in the booklet, contact of Natural Resources Management. the Victorian Landcare Centre on The project came about when Peter Wise Water Ways runs from 21-25 (03) 5345 2200. The first copy is free; Wheeler and Brian Calder from the October 2001 and is limited to 60 additional/multiple copies for schools/ Bald Hills-Creswick Landcare Group participants to maximise the hands on groups are $1.10 each plus postage. obtained funding from the Victorian aspect of the workshop. It will be held Federation Grants Scheme. Wise Water Ways 2001 at the Beechworth campus of La Trobe University, a first class venue of Fashions in the Field is interesting and Following on from the success of the landscaped gardens and historic buildings. very readable. It contains some great previous three Water Ways Workshops, historic photos, accounts and quotes. The North East Catchment Management For further details contact Lachlan How about this one from one of Authority, ID&A, La Trobe University, Campbell at The Centre on Australia’s best writers, David Malouf: NRE and The Centre will again be (03) 5721 0200. running this important workshop in “We have been wrong to see this Victorian Greenhouse Strategy continent as hostile and infelicitous, October this year. The Victorian Greenhouse Strategy so that only by the fiercest stoicism, This program has already proved Discussion Paper was released by the a supreme resolution and force of will, invaluable to 150 field staff involved Minister for Energy and Resources and by felling, clearing, sowing with in natural resource management in August last year. The discussion seeds we have brought with us, and by from landholders to managers in paper was an opportunity for the importing sheep, cattle, rabbits, even the the Murray Darling Basin Authority. public to have input into the birds of the air, can it be shaped and made An exciting program has been development of a comprehensive habitable. It is habitable already.” David compiled covering topics in stream greenhouse strategy for Victoria. Malouf, Remembering Babylon, 1993. management such as hydrology, More than 100 public submissions were received and four stakeholder reference groups have been established to advise on submissions and on the development of the strategy. The strategy is now well advanced and is due to be released later this year. In the meantime a number of other initiatives are progressing. The Government has introduced a bill into the parliament to legally recognise carbon property rights, and to allow their ownership separately from trees and land. In April the Minister announced the establishment of a three-year $750,000 research partnership between the Victorian Government and the CSIRO to investigate climate change scenarios for Victoria. Investigations will initially focus on the impacts of climate change on water resources, Changing landscapes: One of the great historic photographs from Fashions in the Field. biodiversity, agriculture and coasts.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 20 Junior Landcare

Still SaltwatchingBy Tarnya Kruger Saltwatching By Tarnya Kruger the Murray

Irymple South Primary School, located 10 kilometres from Mildura, has been involved in Saltwatch since day one. The program is now an integral part of the school’s environmental education program. Through the monitoring of water samples awareness of salinity issues has been raised amongst students and the school community. Students at Irymple South have taken action to both highlight and combat salinity through: • annual participation in Saltwatch; • installing test wells at school to Students from Goroke P-12 College study macroinvertebrates at Lake Ratzcastle, West Wimmera. monitor the watertable; • tree planting to reclaim a salt affected Saltwatch began in 1987 and is bores, channels, drains, dams, wetlands area adjacent to the school grounds; Australia’s longest running community and salinity hot spots) and with the water monitoring program. It has been assistance of Waterwatch or NRE staff, • designing and constructing a series estimated that over 100,000 students, the samples are tested with a salinity of salinity information signs which teachers, community and Landcare meter to determine salt content. have been erected along a school groups have taken part over the years – walking track; For schools this is an opportunity to that’s a lot of salt watched. have a guest speaker present information • taking water samples along the Murray Saltwatch is part of Waterwatch to the students and it is also a great River from Albury to Goolwa showing Snapshot 2001, comprising four snapshot- stepping stone to understanding not the increasing water salinity as you monitoring events. Salinity is monitored just about salinity, but other catchment move downstream. (These findings through Saltwatch in May, turbidity is management issues. The Saltwatch catch were presented to representatives of the monitored in October during Water Week phrase involve me and I’ll understand Federal Minister for the Environment and aquatic invertebrate sampling takes is an important aspect of the program. in Canberra); and place in autumn and spring. Groups can use Saltwatch to learn • performing in an Environmental concert Saltwatch endeavours to raise community practical environmental monitoring, for the whole school community. awareness about salinity and other mapping, entering data, graphing, catchment issues. It triggers groups into analysing and contrasting the local further environmental action such as environment with other parts of the on-ground works with Landcare groups State. A group collects about 20 samples and provides an excellent introduction from their local area and when all into more extensive monitoring associated these samples are compiled – presto! – with the Waterwatch program. thousands of individual readings provide an instant picture or snapshot of salinity During Saltwatch Week each May, levels throughout Victoria. schools and community groups from all over Victoria learn about the effects of For further information visit the salinity on water quality in their local Saltwatch website at www.saltwatch.org.au catchment. Water samples are collected or contact the Victorian Landcare Centre Irymple South Primary School students read from local water sources (rivers, creeks, on (03) 5345 2200. salinity information signs along a walking track. VICTORIAN’S WO

A Federal Government Initiative

Saving our endangered A fishy project for species Gippsland volunteers Hundreds of Australian bird and animal species face extinction unless their Native birds, animals and fish are The common reed, (Phragmites australis) habitat can be preserved or restored. getting a helping hand around East is also being reintroduced to the side of The Federal Government’s Natural Gippsland’s Lower Clifton Creek the creek. thanks to Lucknow Primary School Heritatge Trust is funding a wide range Funded under the Trust’s Fisheries Action children, Gippsland Lakes Fishing of projects that aim to return threatened Program, the project also incorporates species and ecological communities to Club, Fishcare volunteers and a $6935 a public awareness component to inform a secure status in the wild. grant from the Federal Government’s the wider community about the effects Natural Heritage Trust. The projects include extensive of streamside degradation. revegetation works to encourage fauna By planting tree and shrub varieties Project officer, Melanie Snart, said the to return, monitoring threatened flora such as forest redgums, swamp gums, reintroduction of indigenous trees and and fauna and reducing the threat she-oaks, paperbarks, bottlebrush and shrubs helped biodiversity and would of predators. wattles, the club aims to enhance aquatic encourage the movement of insects and With money from the Natural Heritage habitat and increase stream biodiversity. aquatic life required for fish survival. Trust communities, governments and local councils are working together to Melanie Snart and Richard Owen get their hands dirty. conserve Australia’s unique wildlife for future generations. To find out more about how you can become involved in helping Australia’s threatened species or to obtain threatened species fact sheets, visit the Natural Heritage Trust web site at www.nht.gov.au or phone 1800 065 823.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 22 RKING FOR THE FUTURE

Nagambie Landcare plants for animals

Nagambie Landcare Group is improving verges that contain some of the last the prospects of a number of endangered remnant bushland in the district. species through its Saving Riverine Plain “The emphasis is on understorey plants Planting along the Remnants Project funded by the Federal that have been lost over the years. They Lower Clifton Creek. Government’s Natural Heritage Trust. are critical for bird and animal habitat, ” The grey-crowned babbler, bush-stone Susan said. curlew, brush tailed phascogale and squirrel “Ecologists tell us of the value of glider once roamed freely through the preserving remnant bush because it’s the Goulburn riverine plain, but with their last remaining genetic material of our area. habitat shrinking they are now considered “A lot of boxes were cut down because of endangered. With $37,500 from the Trust their value for wood but farmers now the group will protect and enhance remnant value the vegetation and are putting back vegetation and create wildlife corridors by local native species. fencing areas and planting local shrubs. “One landholder collected and planted Project Officer, Susan Sleigh, said the seeds from mountain tea tree. The remnant Gippsland Lakes Fishing Club volunteer, project had faced many challenges trees have since died but we still have trees John Harry, with local primary students including the difficulty of landholders revegetating the banks of Lower Clifton Creek. left because of the revegetation.” with small acreages, who found it hard to spare land for native vegetation. Susan said protecting remnant vegetation “The creek is a nursery ground for and revegetating was beneficial for black bream. This project will improve “But farmers are making a great effort to everyone because it helped reduce the quality of the instream habitat save the last remaining remnants, and others greenhouse gases, assisted with rising and streamside plantings also help are creating 40 metre wildlife corridors watertables and salinity and preserved conserve fish habitat,” she said. across property boundaries,” she said. flora and fauna. “Preserving fish species for the future will Twenty metre corridors combining “Native vegetation gives endangered have aquatic environmental benefits as well regeneration and revegetation are being species a better chance of survival in as economic benefits for the fishing industry. created on land running along roadside the long-term,” she said. “Lower Clifton Creek offers important recreational fishing opportunities for local and visiting anglers. The project offers enormous benefits to the entire community,” she said. Including a variety of community representatives of all ages in the plantings has helped project organisers develop greater community awareness of the issues involved. About 70 volunteers are carrying out the plantings and helping with fencing, weed eradication and maintenance of the site. Simon Edwards among the 18-month-old direct-seeded shrubs on his Euroa property. Fencing the last remaining vegetation has allowed the yellow gums to regenerate.

Spring 2001 Victorian Victorian ISSUE 21 andcareandcare LL & CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT

Rejuvenating the Mallee

GIS in the Woady Yaloak

21st anniversary issue Win great prizes in our reader survey!

Editorial contributions Carrie Tiffany, Tiffany and Associates CONTENTS 1 Lane Street, Blackburn North 3130 CONTENTS Phone (03) 9894 2169 Fax (03) 9894 2515 E-mail: [email protected]

Mailing list enquiries Willows – Rejuvenating Brenan Wotherspoon, Victorian Farmers friend or foe? the Mallee Federation, Phone (03) 9207 5527 Fax (03) 9207 5500 9 12-13 E-mail: [email protected]

Advertising Paul Crock GIS in the Milewa students Phone 0418 377 264 Fax (03) 9428 4676 Woady Yaloak perform for a bird Cover photograph: 14-15 21 Mallee wheat by Andrew Chapman Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management is published for the Victorian Landcare community by the Victorian Farmers Federation in partnership with the Department of While every effort has been made to Natural Resources and Environment, Alcoa World Alumina Australia, the Victorian ensure the accuracy of statements in Catchment Management Council and the Natural Heritage Trust. Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Magazine the Victorian Farmers Federation, its partners, agents, servants, and contractors disclaim all responsibility for the statements quoted herein. Rural Finance - Serving Farmers Better!

We are committed to building a long-term relationship with each of our farmer clients and really understanding their business. Our commitment is shown by: • An expanded network of offices across regional Victoria, so we can provide personalised service • No ongoing fees • Offering face-to-face meetings on your farm, by agricultural professionals • A large range of competitive, flexible lending packages specifically designed for farmers We are proud of our long-term history serving Victorian farmers since 1945. Speak to one of our agribusiness specialists today. A proud supporter of the Victorian rural industry.

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After five years, 20 issues and around Victorian Landcare and Farm 300,000 words of copy, the Victorian Management Awards Landcare and Catchment Management magazine has finally come of age. Applications for the 2001/2002 Victorian We hope you enjoy our 21st anniversary Landcare and Farm Management Awards issue. Thanks are due to our partners, have now closed and NRE reports there sponsors, advertisers and readers for has been a good response across all making the magazine what it is today. categories. The applications will be passed on to Reader survey experienced judging panels who have In this issue of the Victorian Landcare the difficult task of assessing them. and Catchment Management magazine we See the next issue for a further update are setting out to discover what you think. on the awards. We urge you to complete the reader Please keep your stories and letters survey form on page 19 and return it in coming. We are always interested in the envelope provided. Reader surveys hearing from our readers. help us to make sure the magazine is meeting the needs of readers and by Lyall Grey, returning your form you will be in the Jo Safstrom and running to win some great prizes. Carrie Tiffany

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To order or for more information about our range of products please call 1800 550 000 Win a Hamilton ✄ ✄ ✄ ✄ Tree Planter For your chance to win a Hamilton Treeplanter valued at over $80.00, tell us which products Tree Planteryou would like to know more about (please tick), fill in the coupon and return to the address below: ❑ Treeguards ❑ MilkGuards ❑ Bamboo & Hardwood Stakes ❑ Jutemat Weed Mats ❑ Soil Erosion Products ❑ Planting Tools ❑ Fertiliser Pellets ❑ Other...... Are you a member of a Landcare group? ❑ Yes ❑ No Do you use tree guards? ❑ Yes ❑ No How many plants would you plant in an average year? ❑ 100 - 500 ❑ 500-1000 ❑ >1000 Have you ever used a Hamilton Tree Planter? ❑ Yes ❑ No Name: Organisation/Group: Address: Post Code: Phone: Fax: Email: Return to: Treemax Hamilton Planter Competition Reply Paid 1069 PO Box 1069 Richmond Victoria 3121 SUPPORTING LANDCARE – how it’s done in the south-west

The South-West Landcare Project aims to Notes and newsletters provide the support structures required by To assist in streamlining administration Landcare groups to maintain motivation processes, each Landcare group in the and commitment over the long term. It is region received a large information folder an integrated, three-year project which containing inserts for the group to enter supports Landcare groups in the Glenelg- their personal administrative details, Hopkins and Corangamite regions. priorities and projects as well as current The project team consists of seven funding, employment and technical highly skilled members located in Ararat, information. Ballarat, Colac, Geelong, Hamilton A series of 23 Landcare notes have been and Warnambool. developed. These notes form the basis of skills training at facilitated Landcare The travelling roadshow group and network meetings, as well A 1999 survey of Landcare groups across as professional development for the south-west identified four key areas Landcare co-ordinators. The notes cover of concern. These were communication; administration; group development, leadership; priority setting and catchment co-ordination and operations; and project Bronte Payne, Meredith Hartley and Peter planning; and understanding grant planning and funding. As far as we can Forster present the travelling roadshow. applications and project reporting. tell, these notes are the first in Australia to address these issues. These issues have become the basis of This process has proved to be very the team-developed project plan. Funding information kits were also popular, with many regions across circulated to groups. These kits contain the State interested in taking it up. The survey results were presented in grant information for individuals Once groups have established priorities, a travelling roadshow around the region and community groups in south-west they are able to undertake works that are where team members performed the Victoria, a calendar showing grant periods important to all members and that meet Landcare News Hour – a mock television throughout the year, a site planner and regional priorities. show including an anchorman, interviews a Landcare note on grant applications. with team members, on-the-spot reporters, Team members are running a series of newsbreaks and even an advertisement! In Glenelg-Hopkins, a small regional workshops at the Victorian Landcare newsletter, The Landcare Update, was Centre, Creswick. The two workshops developed. The award-winning Geelong held in April and June were a great Landcare Network newsletter, Landcare success, with a mixture of Landcare group News, has been expanded to include members, co-ordinators, NRE and CMA 2000 Landcare members in the staff attending. Corangamite region and The Landcare Update followed On 28 October 2001 a workshop suit in October 2000. on communication titled, ‘Agreeing, disagreeing and still having fun,’ Action plans will be held. and workshops South-West Landcare Project team Team members members are keen to see their work have established a utilised by as many different groups as pro-forma to assist possible. For more information contact Landcare groups and Jude Niemiec on (03) 5333 6558. co-ordinators to identify Landcare notes can be accessed on-line via local group priorities. the NRE web at: www.nre.vic.gov.au/notes

The South-West Landcare Project team. Standing (left to right): Ross Jones, Bronte Payne and Nicole Blackett. Sitting (left to right): Jude Niemiec, David Lean, Peter Forster and Meredith Hartley. HEALTHYHEALTHY LANDSCAPESLANDSCAPES –– Sustainable Communities

The Landcare movement has been • consider the natural resource issues Reinvigorating support. operating in Victoria for 15 years and has currently facing Landcare and Victoria and The need for new support for existing become a focus for community participation assess how Landcare can best be supported Landcare groups and the need to broaden in natural resource management. During and resourced to address these; and the Landcare support base to include more this time it has developed, evolved and land managers and urban communities. • suggest priority areas for maximising the turned to new issues and challenges. impact of Landcare into the future. Fostering communication, education It was recognised at the International and awareness. The taskforce has developed a draft action Landcare 2000 Conference, that Increasing awareness for natural resource plan for Second Generation Landcare significant steps should be taken to management and rural decline issues is titled Healthy Landscapes – Sustainable support Landcare into the future. required to address the complexity and Communities. The plan is the result of an To initiate this the Minister for difficulty of the issues and approaches. extensive round of community consultation Environment and Conservation, Sherryl with numerous meetings and a State Enhancing Landcare’s ability to contribute Garbutt, announced the formation of the Landcare Workshop held in March. to natural resource management. Second Generation Landcare Taskforce. Increased resource degradation demands The draft action plan provides the basis Taskforce members have extensive better alignment and targeting of action. for government to engage the wider on-ground experience and practical roles community in dialogue concerning the The taskforce is keen to gather as in community Landcare, together with next decade of Landcare. This requires the much information as possible so that the expertise in other fields such as catchment government and the community to fully partnership between government, the management, business and agriculture. consider their roles in natural resource Landcare community and the private They are Geoff Howard, MLA, Drew management and their responsibilities sector is strengthened. This is an English, Jason Alexandra, Merna Curnow, with respect to Landcare. opportunity for you to have your say. John Claringbould, Janine Haddow, Coral Love, Alison Teese, Richard Weatherly The draft action plan has two parts: Copies of the draft Action Plan, together and Mike Gooey from NRE as the Landcare and its Context; and Future with consultation forms, can be obtained Executive Officer. Directions. Each part is then broken from the NRE Customer Service Centre into sections and action areas that on 136 186. The closing date for The taskforce was asked to: have specific actions and timeframes. submissions is 28 September 2001. • ensure that the Landcare movement The action areas are: continues to grow and remains a Above: Members of the Second Generation Strengthening investment. cornerstone of natural resource Landcare Taskforce (from left), Coral Love, Long-term investment and a whole-of- Mike Gooey (Executive Officer), Janine management in Victoria; government effort is required to build Haddow, Richard Weatherly, Alison Teese, John Claringbould, • evaluate the environmental, economic and community capacity to address major natural Geoff Howard (Chair) and Merna Curnow. social impacts of Landcare in Victoria; resource management issues and rural decline. Absent: Jason Alexandra and Drew English.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 6 John Fyfe’s 40 years of Landcare By Kym Witney-Soanes

John Fyfe has an outstanding Landcare “A seven kilometre stretch of the Surry The Fyfes are doubling the amount of ethic, which he says, was inspired River forms the central corridor of native roadside vegetation adjoining the property by the early settlers of the Portland remnant and replanted bush through our by refencing five to 10 metres back into coastal district of south-west Victoria. farm where we have fenced out the river the paddocks to allow self-regeneration. He demonstrates this by his enormous (averaging 25 metres on each side) to In 1990 the Fyfes and the Panozzo family voluntary commitment to the local exclude stock,” said John. established the Surry River Landcare farming community. Nutrients are managed by 25 metre buffer Group. The group has undertaken The Fyfe family purchased their 30-cow, zones along waterways. Around 15% of protection and re-establishment works 160-acre dairy farm in 1960. The property the property is under native vegetation focusing on the riparian zone and now totals 900 acres, carrying 400 dairy which is critical in maintaining farm wetlands and assisted in developing the cows and 200 replacements. Their productivity by improving water quality Surry River Restoration Plan. They are enterprise is an exceptional example of and providing effective shelterbelts. The currently implementing an NHT project sustainable agricultural management – shelterbelts provide significant protection in partnership with the Glenelg-Hopkins especially in an intensive animal industry. from the elements for dairy herds by CMA to protect and revegetate a reducing calf deaths and contributing 48 kilometre stretch of the river. One of the keys to sustainability on the to increased milk production. property is the large areas of protected Over the last five years the Fyfes have remnant vegetation and sites replanted “In a cold spell we expect to halve our employed two assistants. Brad Spring is with local vegetation species, 85 acres of loss of milk production. Shelterbelts part of the Portland Outreach Program which are under a conservation covenant. also provide summer shade for stock and is partly sponsored by the Glenelg- and habitat for native birds that control Hopkins CMA. He collects native seed John Fyfe on the Surry River. This site pasture pests, resulting in improvements in the Surry catchment and stores it at has been revegetated and has had a fish in overall pasture quality,” said John. the Portland seedbank before growing ladder installed by the local CMA. seedlings at the Kyeama Centre and Seawind Nursery in Portland. He plants the tubestock along the Surry River and the district beyond. Brad is 22 and has a disability caused by a falling accident when he was 16. Trevor Brown, an enthusiastic farm assistant, supports Brad in the revegetation works. The Fyfes lead by example. They are innovative producers who successfully balance productivity with nature conservation.

Trevor Brown (left) and Brad Spring working on one of the Surry River Landcare Group revegetation projects east of Portland.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 7 A powerful new project for A network for Landcare professionals By Jude Niemiec Millewa-Carwarp Are you a Landcare co-ordinator? Organisation is well underway for the By Matt Crawley, Scott Gibson facilitator? project officer? educator? Do various workshops, tours and panel and Rob Youl you have skills, technical experience and discussions. triumphs to share with others in the same Millewa-Carwarp Landcare Group is one field? Do you want to explore issues that Growing momentum of Victoria’s oldest and biggest, covering affect your groups? Are you uncertain about To be effective, the network depends on its the wheatbelt between the SA border, how to achieve the goals you have been set? awareness of Landcare issues and concerns the Murray and the Sunset Country and The Victorian Landcare Co-ordinators and across Victoria. Regional issues are brought the extensive Murray-Sunset National Facilitators Network provides an opportunity to the State meetings for discussion, ideas Park. Members have always worked hard for people working in Landcare to see and solutions. Major concerns, such as to involve local companies in regional what others are doing and acquire some standard employment conditions and Landcare activities, with a special focus professional development at the same time. professional development opportunities, on soil management. are dealt with at a State level, together The network helps to sustain Landcare Now the group has moved into a wider with general Landcare issues. professionals, many of whom work in arena and has set an interesting example isolation. Network members communicate As the momentum of the network to other groups and networks looking to through regular, central meetings and an grows, so does its voice. Members have commercialise their skills and earn income. annual roving regional forum. The contributed to the Second Generation The group has been employed by the network strengthens the capacity of Landcare Taskforce and to State and Murraylink Transmission Company individuals to assist the groups they regional Landcare support strategies. to revegetate areas of power line after support or are employed by. The Victorian Landcare Co-ordinators cable laying to achieve a net gain for and Facilitators Network is also a valuable State forum at Corangamite biodiversity. The transmission company information resource. For example, is involved in the construction of an The first Landcare Co-ordinators and the complex impacts of GST on underground high voltage direct current Facilitators Forum was held in November Landcare were made less confusing by (HVDC) electricity interconnector 1997 at Rowsley. Over two days, Landcare the circulation across the State of advice between Red Cliffs in Victoria and support staff from groups and networks, and information packages developed by Berri in South Australia NRE, CMAs, local government, education co-ordinators for their own regions. and other agencies considered strategies The net gain in vegetation is a win-win Any person involved in a professional and activities to enhance the embryonic for the environment and community. capacity in Landcare as a co-ordinator, role of the Landcare professional. Much of the net gain in vegetation will facilitator, project manager or educator, be concentrated on the threatened From this initial get-together, a network regardless of who employs them, is Belah woodland communities, providing to support Victoria’s Landcare professionals welcome to join the network at no cost. excellent opportunities to rehabilitate was formed. The network operates via a For more information on the network these fragmented sites. committee of representatives from across contact Brenan Wotherspoon at the VFF the State. The committee meets every The Murraylink contract allocates on (03) 9207 5555. For more information two months, with regional members $12,000 for a direct seeder, which the about the Corangamite forum contact co-ordinating a State gathering each year. group will retain after the project has Jude Niemiec on (03) 5333 6558. been completed. The rest of the money The successful Rowsley forum was the will be put towards on-ground works. first of what is now an annual event. Since 1997, network forums have Matt Crawley, the group’s co-ordinator, been held at Taggerty, Grantville and says the direct seeder will accelerate Beechworth, celebrating the commitment revegetation throughout the very to – and positive impact on – Landcare extensive Millewa district. communities and the environment. “Direct seeding is very cost-effective up This year’s forum will be held at Corangamite here for restoring indigenous vegetation. from 11-14 November. In a region important And this new partnership with the for its remaining native grasslands, the forum electricity industry means we’re not will have a grassland focus. depending on government sources, but helping move our group towards Ray Thomas discusses the Regent Honeyeater self-determination.” project during the Landcare Co-ordinators and Facilitators Network forum at Beechworth last year. Catchment WILLOWS – friend or foe? Management By Margrit Beemster

Hugh Giltrap, a third generation farmer, reached or are reaching the end of their The authority has contracted Indigo Way remembers, as a child, helping his dad life – have become a giant headache. to plant a wide selection of native trees, plant willows along the banks of the Mitta shrubs and grasses including river red When the willows die they often fall into River, which runs through his 200 hectare gums, river bottlebrushes, tree violets, the river causing the river to flow around dairy farm at the top end of the Mitta slender and burgan tea trees, blackwood the debris, scouring the bank out in the Valley. and silver wattles, common tussock grasses process. They shade out any native trees, and rushes and sedges. “The old timers had cleared all the trees shrubs or grasses that attempt to grow down to the river so they planted the along the banks. In winter, when the It will also bring in an excavator to snig willows to stop erosion. I suppose they willows have lost their leaves, the view out many of the larger willows, some of looked pretty, grew quickly and, in the from the river looking up to the banks which are 15 metres high. early days, did the job.” is of bare trunks and bare ground, “At least if we do it this way, we do it easily prone to erosion. But as the years have gone by, the willows once and then we can forget about it,” – mostly basket but a few black and Even though Hugh has been concerned says Hugh. weeping ones, many of which have about the problem of the willows for years, “I’m happy to keep a check on the to tackle the job on his own would have blackberries and any rabbits. Native been an enormous task. vegetation looks after itself. You don’t However, with the assistance of the North have to prune it or anything like that East Catchment Management Authority and it regenerates. and Goulburn Murray Water, the problem, “The response from the authority on his property at least, is being has been tremendous,” says Hugh, who overcome. approached them for assistance earlier The authority has joined with this year. “There has been no pressure. Hugh in an ambitious two- It’s something I wanted to happen and year project to rid the banks I hope it will show others, by example, of willows on his property what can be done.” – a couple of kilometres The project on Hugh Giltrap’s property is – and revegetate with one of many the NECMA is undertaking native vegetation. this year as part of its River Health The willows have Program for managing problem willows. all, except for one corner, been “A lot of people believe willows do a good poisoned. job to stabilise the banks and in the short term they do,” says Veronica Lanigan from “It took five blokes the NECMA. a fortnight to do it all,” says Hugh, “But in the long term they cause who is fencing management problems when they choke off the riverbank streams and self-propagate in areas where with materials they are not wanted, particularly the paid for by middle of streams. Our program will the authority. continue to work with farmers such as His cattle will Hugh to improve overall river health.” have access to For further information contact Veronica the river but only Lanigan on (02) 6055 6133. at selected spots.

Hugh Giltrap wants to see the banks of the Mitta River lined with native vegetation, not willows.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 9 HAPPY ANN Victorian Landcare and

In the first week of September 1996, farmers and greenhouse; the blue gum Victorian Landcare number one rolled debate; new and emerging industries; off the presses. The feature story, by Barry junior Landcare; fox control; direct Clugston, tracked the first 10 years of seeding techniques; water management; Landcare and showed some dramatic and salinty – just to name a few. It is before and after photographs of Terry certainly a good argument against the Simpson’s property at Winjallok. naive proposition that Landcare is just about tree planting. The Victorian Landcare magazine replaced two former newsletters, Trunkline, produced The editors would like to thank all of the by the Victorian Farmers Federation and Salt people who have helped in creating the Force News, produced by the Department of magazine – especially the partners, sponsors Natural Resources and Environment. With and advertisers. We would also like to major support from Alcoa World Alumina thank our readers, whose enthusiastic Australia, the magazine has become a major support makes it all worthwhile. communication vehicle for the Victorian “This 21st edition of the Victorian Landcare Landcare community. and Catchment Management magazine In 1999 the magazine was renamed represents another milestone in this important Victorian Landcare and Catchment channel for communication within the Management, reflecting a broader approach Landcare and catchment management family. to natural resource management. Looking I would like to congratulate all those contributors back over the last 20 issues shows the to the magazine for making it such a respected vibrant and dynamic nature of Landcare. and useful publication. With the recent release The magazine has covered an enormous of the Second Generation Landcare Taskforce range of stories and issues: the Victorian and its report, it is important that we all reflect Landcare and Farm Management Awards; on the major contribution the Landcare the creation of the regional Catchment movement has made to the well-being of Management communities and the health of our land and Authorities; the water resources and the challenges ahead. scourge of serrated I am sure the magazine will continue to be tussock; the release of an important source of inspiration to, and RCD and the aim for knowledge sharing between, Landcarers. rabbit-free farms; I would also like to thank Peter Walsh, as President of the VFF, for the continued partnership between VFF and NRE in producing the magazine. Happy 21st!” Peter Sutherland, Director, Catchment and Water Division, NRE.

“As the Victorian Farmers Federation is a founding partner in this excellent publication, I am excited that it has stood the test of time in the marketplace. It has spread the Landcare message and motivated people to look towards good natural resource IVERSARY! Catchment Management is

management by highlighting the achievements “Congratulations on getting to such a of farmers and community groups. Today’s milestone with the magazine. We look farmers take a holistic approach to forward to reading it and it is always passed management and practice sustainability to around at our meetings. I think that without survive into the future. such publications updated information would not reach all corners of the Landcare Congratulations to the editorial team, the 21 community. To all those involved in the writers from across Victoria who seek out production, well done and may we continue the articles and, particularly, the Landcare to see and read the fruits of your labour.” groups, farmers and individuals who are Peter Wheeler, Bald Hills Creswick carrying out the inspiring work highlighted Landcare Group. in the magazine over the last 20 issues.” Peter Walsh, VFF President. “The Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management magazine provides an excellent “The Victorian Landcare and Catchment balance of interesting and newsy items in Management magazine’s 21st edition a very readable, well-illustrated format. represents a milestone in communicating Congratulations on the coming of age. It has community Landcare achievements in Victoria. an obvious people focus and is a valuable Alcoa’s Landcare Project focuses on communicator towards achieving sustainable on-ground outcomes and building stronger agriculture, land and water management.” local communities by assisting groups to Greg Smith, Rutherglen. implement innovations in local area and “Despite being seriously ‘time-poor’ I always catchment management practices. The endeavour to read the Landcare magazine. sharing of information between individuals The interesting, informative and easily and groups is central to our commitment to digestible stories give me an overview of the Landcare community and is the reason Landcare and catchment activities across for our strong support for the magazine. the State and help me keep in touch. Alcoa congratulates the Victorian Landcare Congratulations on your 21st issue!” community for adopting the Victorian Jan Boynton, Landcare and Catchment Management Regional Manager, magazine as a lead communications tool.” North West Region, Joan McGovern, Public Relations & NRE. Landcare Manager, Victorian Operations, Alcoa World Alumina Australia. “This publication is informative and keeps groups throughout Victoria in touch with each other. It is important to realise that fellow Landcarers face similar issues as other groups in distant catchments. I also believe this magazine assists with maintaining enthusiasm within Landcare. Congratulations for five years of great support to Landcare.” Craig Tuhan, Chairman, Goulburn Murray Landcare Network. Rejuvenating

By John Quinlan

Early struggle Dust is a major problem. So is recharge to • High clay contents are needed in groundwater, because farming systems are the subsoil to store moisture. This is The first years of Mallee settlement were not utilising the rainfall effectively. extremely variable across the Mallee. a real battle for the early settlers. They were characterised by keen struggle, want While agricultural produce from the • Sufficient rain in the spring is required of capital, scratch methods of farming and Mallee is valued at approximately to fully charge the soil profile yet sometimes deep despondency. The district $400 million annually, there have rainfall is highly variable. had no reputation for either farming or been concerns in recent years that • There are subsoil constraints. grazing. After the devastating drought productivity improvements haven’t Much of the moisture is stored below of 1902 it was seriously suggested, at kept pace with those in higher rainfall one metre, often out of the range government level, that the few early areas. Under a project funded by the of plant roots. pioneers be removed to localities south Science and Technology Innovation of the 36th parallel (roughly a line initiative of the Victorian Government, Jeff Unkovich is the first to agree that through Birchip). Jeff Unkovich and his team have there are a number of definite, proven begun a long-term project to look benefits from fallow. “Fallow provides But the Mallee was destined to become at suitable alternative farming systems some water in some cases; gives the granary of the State. The practice of for the Mallee. mechanical control of weeds; assists fallowing, the use of superphosphate and mineralisation of nitrogen; and helps better varieties such as the new wheat Long fallow a lost opportunity control disease. It also permits timeliness Federation – coupled with some good years of sowing. Even with minimum tillage and in the next two or three decades – saw According to Jeff Unkovich, long fallows direct drilling some preparation may be it start to really fulfill its potential. By the are economically a lost opportunity 1920s almost 50% of Victoria’s wheat was and are not an environmentally friendly needed, resulting in lost time.” grown in the Mallee and almost 80% of the land use system. Jeff Unkovich’s research is looking at Mallee area cropped was sown to wheat. Jeff Unkovich says fallow from the alternatives to the current wasteful system. Dr Jeff Unkovich, the Manager of the previous July or August is wasteful The search for alternatives Science Group at the Victorian Institute of when farmers could be using the spring Dryland Agriculture, says that while current rainfall for some form of production. One of the problems with alternatives farming systems are reasonably profitable, Also, the notion that a fallow stores is that establishment costs of canola there is an unhealthy dependence on cereal water for the following crop is also now and grain legumes are usually much crops. Some 60% of arable farmland is being questioned. Scientific data doesn’t higher than cereals. This becomes either in fallow or annual pasture each support the supposed soil moisture benefits critical in a low-rainfall environment, year, bringing in little or no income. of fallowing, for a number of reasons. where margins are slim anyway.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 12 Research the Mallee Results

Cereals usually give some sort of return Stock are also important in weed The Mallee abounds with problems, because they are more reliable in tough management. In higher rainfall areas but it also abounds with opportunities. conditions. The quest is to find systems higher grain protein has been recorded The long-term vision of Jeff Unkovich with lower input costs so that, if yields are after more intense grazing of pasture in and his team is a more biologically diverse low, potential dollar losses are reduced. the previous year. This is also likely to dryland farming system which will reduce One way forward is to use a combination occur in lower rainfall regions. So, for salinity and soil erosion and increase of grain crops together (say mustard and a number of reasons, sheep must be farm profitability. peas) in a self-regenerating system as we considered an integral part of any For today’s Mallee farmers the challenge already have for pastures. farming enterprise in the region. is not one of basic survival faced by Vetch is very popular in the Mallee. It is Another problem being addressed by their forebears, but of adapting to a multi-purpose plant which can be used the research is spatial variation. Farmers better farming methods to reduce land either for grain, grazing or hay, depending may have a problem with boron, pH, degradation and improve productivity. on how the season goes. It is also a useful salt and sodicity – all within 100 metres. replacement for pasture, but it needs What will grow well on one area won’t grazing animals. grow on another. Farmers need to know how to manage this variation. Other multi-purpose crops are needed, for example, some new peas, which can Mallee Sustainable Farming Project also be used for grazing and hay to provide stock with feed in a poor season when The Mallee Sustainable Farming Project crops are likely to fail. (MSFP) is a farmer-driven group trying to address some of the same issues as “We need improved perennial pasture, Jeff Unkovich and his researchers. forage and tree crops. We need to cover The MSFP encourages farmers to work the landscape more and have a wider with local agronomists and advisers and range of tools for our farmers to use,” says Jeff Unkovich. to be a part of a TOPCROP group. The MSFP monitors focus paddocks The case for livestock throughout the Mallee for their The northern Mallee is a 250mm rainfall sustainability and productivity. Data on zone and is on the fringe of the rangeland, soil erosion and groundwater recharge is where grazing is about the only thing reported back to farmer group meetings, that is viable. In low rainfall years along with yields and gross margins. crops will fail but farmers usually The group has only been operating for get something from livestock. So a three years but is already seeing farmers livestock enterprise is a valuable buffer. trialling more sustainable practices.

This classic picture, taken in February 1983, shows Melbourne about to be blanketed by dust from the Mallee.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 13 Woady farmers look to IT for nei

The Woady Yaloak Catchment Group The project was the first step and, having By John Quinlan has consistently turned to innovation in seen its usefulness, the group was keen to its quest to achieve sustainable land and see Rick develop a simpler CD-based GIS water resource management within the which local farmers could use on their group’s catchment area. own personal computers. Alice Knight, group chairperson, believes “The CD-GIS was well accepted by the that communities operating across large farmers in the local area, but it proved areas have much to gain from looking difficult for the landholders involved to into new information technology-based update with new information,” Rick said. planning tools. Streets ahead “We need to utilise new technology to help our farmers in planning to manage One of the constraints to the community’s their natural resources, and from a group goal was the high cost of GIS software. Susie Ellis working on the GIS program management perspective we need it to “The Woady group was fortunate enough in the Golden Plains Shire office. help monitor our progress,” she said. to have one copy of a GIS program called Five years in the making, the Woady MapInfo, and even more fortunate to have The 1:10,000 scale allows farmers to see Yaloak Catchment Group – with the the expertise of Susie Ellis to maintain trees and rocks within a paddock, helping assistance of Rick Pope from NRE – and develop a GIS for the whole them visualise their planned farm works. has developed such a tool. catchment,” Rick said. Landholders – with the help of “If the project was to succeed, a simplified co-ordinators – can now use the Where it all began GIS mapping program would have to Streets Ahead interface to enter their In 1995, landholders in the Pittong- be found that was cheaper and simpler – information which in turn is uploaded Hoyles Creek – a sub-catchment of the one simple enough for the most into the MapInfo GIS by Susie. Woady Yaloak – were involved in a GIS ‘techno-phobic’ person to use.” The GIS is now very detailed. project carried out by Rick Pope during Susie described the Streets Ahead Rick explained that it was easy to keep his postgraduate studies. GIS program as the simple mapping adding layers upon layers to a GIS, but Undergraduate students, including software they were looking for. stressed that they had to make sure it was local Bradsdale farmer Susie Ellis, simple enough for everybody to use. “Quite simply, it meant we could draw-in worked on the project helping Rick features such as erosion works, plantations “Technical data such as hydrogeological collect information about issues such and weed infestations, and attach project information that needs technical as hydrogeology, pests, salinity and soils. interpretation can be confusing, but information such as site notes and fact sometimes misleading unless interpreted “The GIS was basically a graphical sheets,” she said. correctly,” he said. database made up of different layers The program allows farmers to view of information laid over an aerial aerial photos and contour information Not just pretty colours – local photograph of the Pittong-Hoyles at a ‘paddock scale’. farmers and neighbourhood groups Creek catchment,” Rick said. The Streets Ahead program has opened Woady Farmers can now monitor the door to local farmers keen to move their achievements on the GIS. their farm plans from the aerial photo to the computer. According to the Woady Yaloak Neighbourhood Groups Facilitator, Jen Clarke, the simplified software has led to a steady increase in the use of the GIS. “It is easy to produce maps at a farm level, develop farm plans and it greatly simplifies the measurement of paddock areas and boundaries.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 14 Group ghbourhood farm planning News

By Paul Crock

Neighbourhood groups can now plan their projects to link up across sub-catchments.

As our neighbourhood groups expand, our catchment over time, both to our Since the catchment project was initiated the GIS concept is being adopted by funding partners and ourselves. in 1993, Alcoa has been a major supporter of many of the group’s initiatives. Alice more and more adjoining landholders “One of the most important contributions believes the efforts and dedication of Rick as a tool in planning their cross-boundary the GIS has made for partnership Pope and Susie Ellis, combined with some local projects,” she said. relations, is the ability of the Woady timely assistance from Alcoa in helping “For cross-boundary project planning it is Yaloak Catchment Group to contribute fund the development of the GIS, has proving very useful. Farmers are using it to information (collected at a grass roots been the making of the project. That study achievements in other areas of the level) in a professional form that is assistance has also helped ensure the catchment and with a click of a button compatible with local, regional and community and the catchment committee learn from each others’ experiences.” state planners’ software.” members have ownership of the outcomes. Alice explained that in the past, the Looking over the hill – a information has often been from the top The future neighbourhood tool for regional plans down – ‘here are the regional salinity hot Susie Ellis maintains the MapInfo GIS Alice Knight says the GIS project has spots’, ‘here is a statewide weed map’, ‘here one day per week in the Golden Plains matured at the right time for the is a local roadside weed plan’ and so on. Shire office in Linton, collating and community. “The community members now have the updating the local neighbourhood “Since the catchment project started same tools and can contribute back up the projects and plans. in 1993, we have made enormous steps channel with local information – here is Susie hopes that many more local farmers forward in catchment management at our local area – here are the weeds that we and neighbourhood groups will start using productive, environmental and especially have controlled – here are the salinity the program to build the GIS into a strong social levels,” she said. areas that we have treated. and lasting database of information. “The GIS project has helped us focus “The ability to demonstrate our She hopes the GIS project builds to be achievements to our catchment partners our achievements and represent them another tool farmers will adopt to help is very important. To show our needs graphically to our catchment partners. them in their farming enterprises. clearly, and how they fit with local, “The aggregation of ‘site’ or project regional and State priorities is crucial For more information regarding the information allows us to document and to our success in maximising future Woady Yaloak GIS Project, contact Susie represent the changes brought about in funding opportunities,” she said. Ellis (Wednesdays) on (03) 5344 7201.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 15 Research Salvinia threatens Results Victorian waters

By Lalith Gunasekera

Salvinia (Salvinia molesta), also known as Mats clog water intakes giant salvinia or Kariba Weed, is a prolific Salvinia was first recorded in Australia aquatic fern that has spread from its native at Luddenham near Sydney in 1952 and habitat in southern Brazil to many other near Brisbane in 1953. It was originally Salvinia at the initial stage (small), and showing tropical countries around the world, as introduced as an aquarium plant. mature, large plants. well as to Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa and the USA. Giant salvinia grows rapidly to cover the and semi-aquatic animals and may restrict surface of lakes and streams, spreading It ranks second behind water hyacinth their movement and breeding activities. aggressively by vegetative fragments. (Eichhorina crassipes) on the noxious The native beauty of an open waterbody It forms floating mats that shade and aquatic weed list. It is a State-prohibited can be spoilt and further degraded as crowd out important native plants. weed in Victoria and listed as a weed of native aquatic plants, birds and animals Thick mats reduce oxygen content and national significance. are displaced. degrade water quality for fish and other Terry Bernard from NRE at Wodonga aquatic organisms. Plants can double in size every two days recently discovered fairly large salvinia Salvinia mats impede boating, fishing infestations in three local recreational Salvinia is entirely asexual, which means and swimming and clog water intakes lakes. The total area of the infestation that it never reproduces from seeds or for irrigation and electrical generation. is approximately one hectare, the largest spores, but only by budding off new plants High rates of transpiration through the salvinia infestation ever found in Victoria. that are identical to the parent plant. leaves during summer can cause up to four A single pair of leaves is all that is The development of the salvinia plan of times the loss of water from normal water required to begin a new colony. Under attack by the National Weeds Strategy is surface evaporation. Heavy infestations ideal conditions – still, warm water with timely for Victoria. The management plan of the plant reduce the infiltration of plenty of nutrients – salvinia can double for the infestation in Wodonga has been sunlight necessary for photosynthesis in size every two days until it totally implemented and herbicide treatments are in the plant life of creek and river beds. covers the water surface. in progress. It is going to be an expensive As plant material decomposes it causes exercise because there is no boat access to water pollution and stagnation through There is one registered herbicide for use the middle of the lake as the infestation is a reduction in water quality. on salvinia. The most straightforward very thick. A 50-tonne hydraulic crane As well as destroying the food source of control is by preventing additional will be used to treat this area. waterfowl and semi-aquatic mammals infestations. Biological control will through pollution and prevention of probably be central to any plan for oxygen exchange, a large infestation of eradication of the plant. Salvinia infests a lake at Wodonga. salvinia is a physical barrier for aquatic For further information, contact the Keith Turnbull Research Institute on (03) 9785 0111. IN BRIEF

The new FarmBis The conference will be of interest to Both local and interstate experts will talk landholders with existing stands of native about native grassland species and their The new FarmBis program, FarmBis – grass, or those who wish to develop native drought tolerance, adaptations to local Skilling Farmers for the Future, provides pastures, as well as extension officers and conditions, productivity and conservation grants to subsidise training for farmers, consultants and those interested in the values. For more information contact land managers and wild-catch fishers to use of native grasses for salinity control. Aldo Penbrook at Dookie College on improve their self-reliance and ability to (03) 5833 9200. manage change. Key changes of the new There will be presentations on the role FarmBis include: and management of native grasses in Centenary of Federation – • the wild-catch fishing industry now has agriculture, combining native pasture Living Links Program access to FarmBis support; management for productivity with conservation, biodiversity, ecology and The Federation Living Links project • training related to improved natural conservation, sustainable agricultural features an existing program of planting resource management is a priority; practices and many others. For more and growing indigenous trees, shrubs and • property management planning training information contact Cheryl O’Dwyer grasses, to provide community benefit courses (as previously available via at Dookie College on (03) 5833 9200. for years to come; an act of confidence Farm$mart) are eligible activities; and in the future and a new century of real Short courses at Dookie College community environmental action. • FarmBis is now managed by NRE with the administration of the grants being The University of Melbourne, Dookie Greening Australia is co-ordinating 20 handled by the Rural Finance College Campus, is running several short major sites throughout Victoria from May Corporation. courses of interest to land managers and through to October 2001. The community Landcare professionals. planting days have attracted over 1000 For further information on FarmBis call volunteers who have established over 136 186. A Habitat Management Short Course will 20,000 indigenous (local native) plants be run from 19 September - 21 November throughout rural and urban Victoria. Wimmera Landcare website 2001. The course will be run over five sessions which supplement the Land for The project is being co-ordinated by One of the first regionally-developed Landcare websites in Victoria is up and Wildlife program and develop current Greening Australia Victoria in association running in the Wimmera. The Wimmera knowledge and skills in flora and wildlife with Parks Victoria, Conservation Landcare website has hit cyberspace less management. Volunteers Australia, NRE, Natural Resources Conservation League, CMAs, than six months after the project start A free information session and local government and local communities. date. The website aims to improve tour on native grasses will be held on For further information contact Greening community awareness of Landcare issues 26 September 2001. The tour will assist Australia Victoria on (03) 9450 5318. in the region. It also aims to improve people in identifying major grass species. communication between the Wimmera’s Participants can also bring along plants to 60 Landcare groups and between have them identified. Volunteers at work in Rushworth as part organisations that co-ordinate funding. of the Federation Living Links Program. The website, www.wca.vic.gov.au/landcare, includes a list of all Wimmera Landcare groups, upcoming events, funding opportunities and links to other websites. It also has pages for tools/downloads, archives, an index and search tools. For further information contact Tony Cuzner on (03) 5382 1544.

Native Grasses Association Conference The theme of the Native Grasses Association Conference, to be held at Dookie from 27-28 September 2001, is Our Valuable Native Grasslands, Better Pastures Naturally.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 17 BushTender Trial –

Catchment a new approach to managing Management native vegetation on private land

There is over a million hectares of native opportunity to understand the BushTender The BushTender process vegetation on private land in Victoria. process and how they could participate. • Site Assessment. After landholders in the Much of it is important for salinity James Todd, BushTender Project Officer at trial areas register an expression of interest control, water quality, land protection NRE, said the trial is a unique approach a BushTender field officer arranges a site and its native flora and fauna value. to native vegetation management. visit. During the site visit the field officer The management of these areas depends assesses the significance and quality of “BushTender enables landholders to on the already substantial efforts of the native vegetation and discusses private landholders supported by various establish their own price for the management options with the landholder. incentive and extension schemes. management services they are prepared to offer to improve their native vegetation. • Development of Management Plan. The Victorian Government’s trial of the This price forms the basis for their bid, Landholders identify the actions they new BushTender approach offers payment which is compared with the bids from all propose to undertake and, with the field to landholders in return for the provision officer, prepare an agreed management other landholders participating in the of management services that improve the plan as the basis for a bid. quality or extent of native vegetation on trial. The successful bids will be those their land. that offer the best value for money.” • Submission of Bid. The landholder submits a sealed bid that nominates Successful landholders will receive Landholders in the north-central region the amount of payment being sought periodic payments for their services under between Bendigo and Ballarat and in by them to undertake the actions in the north-east between Wangaratta a management agreement signed with the agreed management plan. and Wodonga have the opportunity NRE. The agreements in the trial will run to participate in the three-year for three years. • Bid Assessment. All bids are assessed objectively on the basis of the current BushTender Trial. “All bids will be assessed objectively on conservation value of the site, the A series of public information sessions the basis of the current conservation value amount of service offered and cost. were held in the trial areas during July to of the site, the amount of service offered Available funds will be allocated on ensure landholders had the best possible and the proposed cost,” said James Todd. the basis of ‘best value for money’.

Minister for Conservation and Environment, Sherryl Garbutt, and Minister for Agriculture, • Management Agreements. Successful Keith Hamilton, with VFF President Peter Walsh reviewing the BushTender north-east trial bidders are able to sign agreements area vegetation map. based on the previously agreed management plan. • Reporting and Payments. Periodic payments and reporting will occur as specified in the agreement. James Todd said the benefits of the BushTender Trial to landholders include the flexibility to tailor bids to suit individual circumstances and the opportunity to generate a regular and reliable income stream from their native vegetation. The community benefits include improvement in the quality and extent of native vegetation in the trial areas delivered in a cost-effective manner. For more information contact the NRE Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or visit the website at www.nre.vic.gov.au under What’s New.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 18 By returning your reader survey ReaderReader SurveySurvey form you’ll have a chance to win one of these great prizes:

A Nokia 8250 mobile phone. This small and lightweight phone has enhanced visual clarity, phonebook, send/receive SMS and Dear Readers, SMS chat1, internal vibration and an After five years and 21 issues of the Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management ergonomically designed keypad for easier magazine it’s time to reflect on what we have achieved and to find out how we dialling and management. The Nokia 8250 can make the magazine even better for the future. allows you to personalise your phone settings with the downloadable profiles, screensavers Printing and distributing the magazine is an expensive exercise. We are especially and ringing tones. It has a built-in SMS chat keen to investigate any other cost-effective methods of getting the magazine out feature with chat history and fast reply. to our readers. A Treemax Plant Protection System for Please complete this survey and return it to us in the postage paid envelope the toughest sites consisting of 100 Treemax enclosed by 19 October 2001. heavy-duty plastic tree guards, 300 hardwood We will publish the results of the survey in the March 2002 issue. stakes and 100 Jutemat weed mats. Treemax heavy-duty guards with sturdy hardwood stakes will protect young trees from grazing vermin and the elements for 36 months, while the Jutemat will stop weed competition for 6-18 1. Which of the following best describes you? (tick as many boxes as required) months (depending on the site conditions) ❑ Dryland farmer giving your plants a genuine head start. ❑ Irrigation farmer 500 Treemax ❑ MilkGuards Lifestyle farmer with 1000 ❑ Member of a Landcare or similar group bamboo stakes. Completely ❑ Landcare co-ordinator/facilitator degradable, ❑ VFF member the Treemax ❑ Resident in a country town MilkGuards ❑ are the budget City dweller guard for large- ❑ Local government employee or councillor scale plantings, giving seedlings ❑ Government officer a head start in ❑ Catchment Management Authority (CMA) representative their first year. ❑ Agribusiness person ❑ Landcare sponsor

2. On a personal interest basis, rate the different types of stories in Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management. very quite not very not at all interested interested interested interested News from Landcare groups and networks ❑❑❑❑ Individual farmer case studies ❑❑❑❑ New research findings ❑❑❑❑ News from NRE, the VFF and the CMAs ❑❑❑❑ Practical stories on how to do something ❑❑❑❑ Information about grants and incentives ❑❑❑❑ Reviews of new publications ❑❑❑❑ - 3. Which of the following publications do you receive or buy?

❑ Local Landcare group newsletter ❑ Weekly Times ❑ Regional Landcare group or network newsletter ❑ Stock and Land ❑ Australian Landcare Magazine ❑ Local paper ❑ Network (Rural Womens Network magazine)

4. If we could dramatically increase the circulation of the magazine by distributing it with a major rural newspaper would you be prepared to purchase it for a small cost (around $2.00 per issue)?

❑ Yes ❑ No

5. Would you read the magazine on the Internet?

❑ Yes ❑ No

6. Do other people read your copy of the magazine?

❑ No ❑ Yes ❑ family members ❑ Yes ❑ non-family members

7. How do you receive Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management?

❑ Mailed from Melbourne in a plastic cover ❑ Mailed from local NRE or CMA office

❑ Through your Landcare group or network ❑ Other (please specify)

Do you want to stay on the mailing list?

❑ Yes (please update address details if required) ❑ No

8. Are there any ways the magazine could be improved for you, or any issues you would like to see covered in upcoming issues? If yes, please explain.

- JJuniorunior LLandcareandcare Millewa students perform for a tiny bird and its home

Students from Werrimuil P-12 School captivate the audience with their play about the White-browed Treecreeper.

The title of the night was gobsmacking – The students put on a feast of singing, The Basic Instinct Information Night dancing and acting to get the important Featuring the Inseparable Relationship message across. Between the White-browed Treecreeper Here are some of the childrens’ reflections and the Belah Woodlands – but over 130 on the night: people came along and all left with a new understanding of the tenuous existence of “In the play I was Mick Dundee one of the Millewa’s small birds. Treecreeper. I had to show Bruce and Cheryl Treecreeper around ‘High Brow The night was organised by the Heights’ – an ideal place for them to live.” Northern Mallee Landcare Network Luke Teasdale, year four. to draw attention to the charming, “I thought our play went great. The most Sing a song of Landcare: Students from Lake endangered, but little-studied bird, Primary School harmonise on behalf of the the White-browed Treecreeper. interesting part, I thought, was when Dame threatened Belah Woodlands. The survival of the Treecreeper is Edna Treecreeper talked in a very shrill voice. dependent on the regeneration and I’m sure everyone liked the basic instinct restoration of the threatened Belah night, including the performers.” “On Saturday I went to the Yarrara Forest Woodlands. Tegan Rankin, year four. to look for some White-browed Treecreepers. I looked all through the forest then I saw one. The information night targeted local “I didn’t know about the Treecreepers It was amazing to see the babies in the nest. landowners and Landcare group members before (the play) but now I know all about The birdman (Jim Radford) found a nest. with the aim of heightening their interest them. I also learned how to take care of It had twigs and berries in it.” in the bird and giving them guidelines for the environment. It’s a good idea to plant Emily Wright, year four. restoring the fragile Belah woodland trees because lizards like warm sunny communities. places. I enjoyed my part in the play. Matt Crawley, facilitator of the Northern Especially making people laugh.” Mallee Landcare Network, said the Members of the Millewa Carwarp and Jarrod Dodd, year four. evening has already produced an increased Yelta Landcare groups listened attentively interest in the Bushcare Project at Yarrara to a great range of speakers. Lindsay “On the Treecreeper night I learnt a lot. Ridge. A follow-up field day was well Cupper created a moving impression First of all I learnt what sort of trees they attended and more get-togethers are reciting a poem of the Millewa. Jim live in and how much acreage they like and planned. Radford and Kate Callister provided a how there are different sorts of species.” Toby Magee, year five. scientific perspective by sharing their PhD “Thanks to the all speakers, and especially research on the Treecreeper and the “On our farm our family are going to plant the school students, the basic instinct woodlands. But it was the Werrimuil some belah trees for the White-browed night had proved a great way of kick- P-12 School and the Lake Primary Treecreepers so people can’t cut their homes starting community interest in this School that really wowed the audience. down.” Chelsea Fox, year four. important project, said Matt.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 21 SECURING THE FUTU From toxic soup to healthy

Letting fertilizer run down the drain is irrigated agriculture and intensive like pouring petrol into the gutter instead agriculture. The largest percentage came of your car. It costs money – and it has from irrigated agriculture. a dramatic effect on the environment. A Federal Government Initiative “Sometimes our farmers fertilized their This is the message the Nutrients in paddocks without taking the weather into Drains project has been bringing to account. If it rained soon after applying farmers, with $60,000 as part of $370,000 the fertilizer, it would flow from their Victorian repair works in Natural Heritage Trust funding for paddocks into our waterways – increasing the Goulburn-Broken Regional the nutrient load in our rivers and in the Murray-Darling Waterwatch Program since 1997. enhancing the possibility of algal blooms. – a snapshot “After years of hard work the message Goulburn-Broken Waterwatch implements is getting through,” said David Hodgkins, the Nutrients in Irrigation Drains Waterwatch Regional Facilitator. Initiative in conjunction with the Victoria’s section of the Murray-Darling “While farmers save money on Goulburn-Murray Landcare Network and Basin includes regions as diverse as the phosphorous fertilizers, the community Goulburn-Murray Water. It was established river towns of Swan Hill and Echuca, benefits from cleaner water. in 1995 after the catchment was outlined the Mallee district of Wimmera and the as Victoria’s highest priority for nutrient Victorian high country of Omeo. “Nutrients in waterways can lead to reduction in the Murray-Darling Basin blue-green algae bloom, which makes Through Murray-Darling 2001, the Commission Algae Management Strategy. water unfit for drinking, agriculture and Natural Heritage Trust has contributed recreation,” said David. “We knew that the community would $66.7 million to Victoria for 240 projects, find it hard to relate to a whole bunch including the development of regional “Studies found that these nutrients of numbers on the quality of their water, so dryland salinity, revegetation and nutrient came from dryland sources, wastewater we came up with the idea of measuring the management. treatment plants, urban stormwater, damage in bags of fertilizer,” said David.

Floodplain management strategies have Doug Brown monitors phosphorous in the irrigation drainwater leaving his farm. been completed for the Wimmera, Mallee and north-central regions. The Goulburn-Broken and north-east regions have undertaken major river restoration works, with more than 120 kilometres of waterways fenced-off and 176,000 seedlings planted along river and creek banks. The Trust provided $685,000 in funding for wastewater treatment upgrades and reuse schemes in Shepparton, Wangaratta, Myrtleford, Lake Boga and Mooroopna. To tackle salinity problems, Trust funding has helped Victorian communities drain 52,000 hectares to control rising groundwater tables, plant 85,000 hectares of vegetation in recharge areas and sow 102,000 hectares of perennial crops to reduce watertables.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 22 RE OF THE MURRAY-DARLING

waterway Traditional owners rehabilitate the Murray

Thousands of new plants are helping provides us with the strength to continue stabilise eroded banks of the Murray River in our battle for equality,” he said. near Robinvale in Victoria, thanks to “Financial assistance from the Natural $30,000 in assistance from the Federal Heritage Trust and labour supplied by the Government’s Natural Heritage Trust. CDEP has enabled this important project The Robinvale Murray River CDEP, an to continue.” Aboriginal organisation which employs Richie and five of his fellow employees are 92 Aboriginal people, has an ongoing involved in the care and rehabilitation of contract with the Natural Heritage the site and will continue in their efforts Trust to do extensive works at the rifle to upgrade it back to its original state. range near the town. Work done on the area includes planting The area’s problems include soil erosion, thousands of trees, fencing and clearing rubbish dumping and vandalism. up rubbish that has littered the region It contains many midden sites (shell left for several years. These dummy bags of superphosphate from the cooking fires of past generations) “The Aboriginal people of Robinvale illustrate the loss of nutrients from farms. that have a historical importance to the have experienced great satisfaction and A waste of money for the farmer and a serious threat to the environment. indigenous people of the area. pride in what they are achieving and, if given the opportunity to show their Project Officer Richie Kennedy said it capabilities, can make a significant was of utmost importance that these sites difference in the restoration of our “We were able to report to the community be protected. that there were a certain number of bags native country,” Richie said. “The land along the river holds a deep of fertilizer being wasted on any one day “We’ve put fencing up to keep trail bikes and spiritual meaning to the Aboriginal and that there are things we can do to out because they really cause a problem, stop that happening. people of the area as it contains the past churning up the earth and causing erosion memories of our previous generations and “The initiative, as part of the overall along the gullies,” he said. catchment water quality strategy, has been very successful, with farmers using more proactive approaches to water quality such as pumping nutrients back into paddocks.” He stresses that farmers are not the only ones who can help. Increased phosphorous levels can also result from urban areas if detergent, lawn fertilizer and litter are allowed to go down the drain. “Australia’s reputation for being clean and green is very important to our export market, if this is taken away, our exports will suffer,” he says. “But it is looking bright for the future. Farmers and communities together with governments and agencies are all working to help keep Australia’s ‘clean and green’ reputation alive.”

For further information contact David Rifle Range Forest Rehabilitation Project Officer, Richard Kennedy, with Aboriginal Hodgkins on (03) 5832 0460. middens beside the Murray River near Robinvale.

Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management Page 23