VICTORIAN Autumn 2014 Issue 60 & CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT LANDCARE SUPPORT FEATURE Landcare on the Mornington Peninsula The many faces of facilitation Landcare for singles goes national Victorian Landcare and Catchment Management A U T UM N 2 0 1 4 I SSUE 6 0 Contents 03 From the Minister 4 04 The Victorian Local Landcare Facilitator Initiative Adam Hughes and John Robinson outline the vital role that facilitators play in mobilising and maintaining community participation in Landcare. 06 Reinvigorating Landcare on the Mornington Peninsula Jacqui Salter has been working to support active Landcare groups and reactivate less active groups in this biodiverse and highly populated landscape. 08 Kiewa Catchment Landcare Groups – 30 years of achievement Belinda Pearce shares the secrets of the success and longevity of a network that represents groups in urban, peri-urban and rural areas. Goulburn Broken Landcare support staff learnt about tool making and identifying cultural 12 Behind the scenes with a Mallee Landcare facilitator heritage sites at a recent workshop. Kim Cross sees her role as a Landcare facilitator as providing connectivity and strong communication links between all of the environmental stakeholders in her region. 6 14 Bringing the south-west Goulburn community together Sonia Sharkey has been using courses and workshops to help people become more sustainable on their land – whether it’s a quarter acre block or hundreds of hectares of farmland. 17 The many faces of Landcare facilitation Anthony Gallacher discusses the day-to-day work of being a successful Landcare facilitator. 22 Facilitating Landcare in the Dandenong Ranges Glenn Brooks-MacMillan shares his experience of bringing the community and agencies together to work on Landcare projects in the historic Puffing Billy The Sheepwash Creek Catchment Landcare corridor east of Melbourne. Group has recently been formed in a drive to improve the health of the creek. 26 Around the State Find out what’s happening in Landcare across Victoria. 14 © The State of Victoria Department of Environment Disclaimer and Primary Industries 2014. This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and This work is licensed under a Creative Commons therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or Attribution 3.0 Australia licence. You are free to re-use other consequence which may arise from you relying the work under that licence, on the condition that you on any information in this publication. credit the State of Victoria as author. The licence does Editorial Advisory Committee not apply to any images, photographs or branding, Karen Brisbane Victorian Landcare Team, including the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian Anita van Rooyen Landcare Australia Limited, Government logo and the Department of Environment and Tracey Koper Victorian Catchment Management Primary Industries logo. To view a copy of this licence, visit Council, Ugo Mantelli DEPI, Susi Johnson FTLA, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en John Robinson DEPI, Larissa Manski DEPI. Printed by Print Dynamics, Waverley. Editorial contributions Sonia Sharkey enjoys the challenge ISBN 1327 5496 Carrie Tiffany, PO Box 1135, Mitcham North 3132 Phone 0405 697 548 and diversity of working as a Landcare Accessibility E-mail: [email protected] facilitator in south-west Goulburn. If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone the DEPI Customer Service Centre Cover photograph on 136186, email [email protected], or via the Shire of Mornington Peninsula Landcare Facilitator National Relay Service on 133 677 www.relayservice.com.au. Jacqui Salter planning Landcare projects on This document is also available on the internet at Richard Hardham’s property at Red Hill. www.landcarevic.net.au/resources/magazine/vic Photograph by David Easton. 2 | victorian landcare and catchment management From the Minister I’d like to start by acknowledging the taken on the challenge of recruiting The National Landcare Awards gala will landholders who have suffered significant youth and weekend visitors to Landcare wrap up the conference and bring together losses of both property and stock this activities on the peninsula. the nationwide finalists. I look forward to fire season. I am proud of and extend welcoming all finalists to our great state in We also hear from Kim Cross in the my thanks to the Landcare groups and September and I wish our Victorian finalists eastern Mallee who has helped to networks in fire affected areas who have the best of luck. banded together and are working closely reinvigorate several Landcare groups and is with DEPI and other agency staff to assist boosting the number of women taking part with the fire recovery. in the Landcare movement. Well done Kim. In this issue, we gain a fascinating insight These are just a snapshot of the talented into the support provided by hardworking facilitators employed under the Victorian facilitators and coordinators to Landcare Local Landcare Facilitator Initiative. Since groups and networks across the State. 2011, facilitators have supported the The Hon. Ryan Smith M.P. The stories remind us of the role of establishment or reinvigoration of almost Minister for Environment and Landcare facilitators and coordinators who, 200 Landcare groups. They continue to Climate Change with the assistance of State Government work with the State Government and funding, achieve exceptional management play a crucial role in the development and outcomes. resourcing of Landcare projects. Our savvy and creative Landcare facilitators I am excited to announce that Melbourne are leading the way as communicators and will host the 2014 National Landcare are always looking at ways to make new links Conference. and strong partnerships in their communities. Themed Celebrating our history – growing Amongst our selection of facilitator profiles, our future, the conference runs from we hear from Jacqui Salter, a Mornington 17 – 19 September and will showcase Peninsula facilitator supporting 12 active the work achieved Australia-wide since Landcare groups in the area. Jacqui has the inception of Landcare. These are just a snapshot of the talented facilitators 2014 National Landcare Conference employed under the Victorian Local Landcare The 2014 National Landcare Conference will take place in Melbourne Facilitator Initiative. from 17 – 19 September at the Crown Conference Centre. The three-day conference will include a day of field trips to Landcare projects in Victoria. The theme is Celebrating our history – growing our future. The conference promises to be an exciting celebration of Landcare’s achievements since its inception with a focus on the future. For registration and program details go to www.landcareonline.com.au Autumn 2014 issue 60 | 3 Facilitators support local community action to repair land degradation. The work plans of many facilitators include tasks such as helping with the planning, resourcing, delivery and monitoring of on-ground rehabilitation and restoration projects. Rowena Ellis demonstrates caper farming on a sustainability bus tour at Mansfield that was organised by Up2Us Landcare Alliance Facilitator Kerstie Lee (centre). By Adam Hughes The Victorian Local Landcare Facilitator Initiative and John Robinson Facilitators play a vital role in the Landcare Effective communication is a key part of regional natural resource management movement by mobilising and maintaining each facilitator’s role. They communicate priorities with local needs and capacity. community participation so that local with the Landcare community through Training workshops for Landcare environmental and natural resource newsletters, email alerts, Facebook pages facilitators are currently being held across management issues can be addressed. and websites, and by attending group and Victoria. The workshops aim to build network meetings. Facilitators also act as a In 2011 the Victorian Government the capabilities, skills and knowledge of conduit for communication and information recognised the important contribution facilitators so that they are better equipped sharing between government agencies and of Landcare facilitators by launching to support and develop the capacity of the Landcare community. the Victorian Local Landcare Facilitator the Landcare groups and networks they Initiative (VLLFI). Under the initiative Facilitators support local community action work with. 68 VLLFI facilitators provide support to to repair land degradation. The work The crucial support that the VLLFI 582 Landcare groups and 54 Landcare plans of many facilitators include tasks such facilitators provide allows their groups networks across Victoria. as helping with the planning, resourcing, and networks to focus on the day-to-day delivery and monitoring of on-ground The facilitators work to develop and build activities of Landcare – sustainable land rehabilitation and restoration projects. the capacity of the state’s Landcare groups management, revegetation, pest plant and networks. They provide a wide range Another key role for Landcare facilitators and animal control, fencing and of support to the Landcare community, is undertaking community engagement to rehabilitation works, and remnant which varies from technical expertise on increase the participation of landholders vegetation enhancement and protection. natural