th survey shows farmers learn with one another · the following year, soilcare was born to provide...

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Landcare In Focus7th November 2013 ~ www.landcareonline.com.au

BORN of farmers’ natural interestin soil health, the special-inter-est Landcare group Soilcare has

moved from strength to strength sinceforming eight years ago.

Soilcare was created out of theTuckombil Landcare Group, on theNSW North Coast, which in 1998recognised that its farmer membersshared a common interest in under-standing how their practices affectedthe soil.

In the subsequent Good Soil Projectand the two Good Worm Projectsthat followed, Tuckombil Landcareattracted more than a million dollarsin funding.

By 2004, preoccupation with soilhealth was pulling TockombilLandcare members away from othernatural resource management tasks,according to Soilcare chairpersonBonnie Walker.

The following year, Soilcare wasborn to provide a specific focus onagriculture’s relationship with the soil.

“Healthy soil is fundamental to thehealth of people and the planet,” Ms

Walker said.“We can’t talk about the health of

anything without referring to thesoil.”

Soilcare is primarily about educa-tion – helping farmers wanting tomake the move from input-depend-ent farming to a more self-support-ing biological farming approach.

On that front, funding from theJaramas Foundation through itspartnership with Landcare Australiaenabled the group to produce aneducational video on practical on-farm measurement of important soilproperties.

The Group has also benefited enor-mously from the work of twoAlstoneville TAFE teachers DaveForrest and Alan Coates, who havebeen teaching sustainable agriculturefor 30 years.

With the help of the two teachers,Soilcare has been able to host work-shops that introduce farmers to the complex dynamics of soil health,and how to support a natural systemthat in turn imparts resilience to farm-ing systems and lowers input costs.

The group also hosts internationalvisitors. This year it was Bob Schaffer,a US agroecology agronomist; last yearit was Gary Zimmer, the Americanauthor of The Biological Farmer.

Most of Soilcare’s 280-odd mem-bers are on the North Coast withindriving distance of the group’s cours-es but membership is open to all andextends as far as Japan.

“Membership of Soilcare is a reallygood deal,” Ms Walker said.

“Especially if you’re young – for $55you get a lifetime membership.”

Courses are also open to all.“We’re doing this for the communi-

ty,” she said.The group is facing some new

challenges with the imminent retire-ment of Mr Forrest and Mr Coatesand changes to the TAFE deliverymodel.

But farmer interest in soil healthisn’t fading, which has encouragedthe group to consider mountingAustralia’s first major biologicalfarming conference.■ Visit www.soilcare.org

THE adage “farmers learn fromfarmers” has another spin, “farmerslearn with farmers”, the 2013National Landcare Survey suggests.

Conducted by telephone with 500commercial farmers on behalf ofNational Landcare facilitator Brett deHayr, the 2013 survey showed nearly

three-quarters of farmers are members of an agriculture-relatedgroup.

About a third of those who partici-pated in groups belonged toLandcare or farming systems groups.

They told the survey this was thebest way of getting information relat-

ed to local conditions, and of learn-ing how new ideas were being appliedby other farmers in their area.

Only three per cent cited access tofunding as a reason for being part ofa Landcare or farming systems group.

In an increasingly complicatedworld, it seems farmer groups are

becoming more specialised Mr deHayr said.

Less than two per cent of surveyrespondents were members of morethan two groups, and there was littlecrossover in group membership.

The most common ground laybetween local Landcare or farming

systems groups and State farming and industry organisations, with acommon membership of around30pc.

Once people found a niche groupthat works for them, they tended tostay with it, Mr de Hayr said.

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Survey shows farmers learn with one another

Keeping soil care in sharp focusDriving productivity with integrityFARMERS might think they drivetheir farming operations, butaccording to Henri Bader, inreality it all depends on thehealth of the ecosystem.

That understanding has got theNSW North Coast macadamiafarmer and Soilcare membermaking changes on his own6000-tree orchard to promotenatural health in the soil andtrees. The aim: more productivity,less outlay on inputs.

A typical macadamia orchardhas a thick canopy that throwsheavy shade across all theground beneath the trees. Theshade means little can grow onthe orchard floor, leaving the soilprone to erosion and dependenton external inputs to feed thetrees and soil organisms.

Mr Bader wants grass beneathhis trees – the more vareties thebetter.

It is, he says, “about

maintaining the natural integrityof the orchard floor”.

“Integrity” means groundcoverto guard against erosion duringincreasingly frequent and largestorms and biodiversity to helpbuild the soil microbialcommunity – essential forsupporting fertility andprotecting against soil-bornedisease.

Improving the soil structureensures better capture of rainfallin times of low rain, and lessrunoff of nutrient and leachingbelow the root zone in times ofheavy rainfall.

It all adds up to lower-costproduction while maintaining thehealth of the physicalenvironment, Mr Bader said.

Against the industry trend, hehas started pruning his trees toensure sunlight reaches theground. Not only that, he isembarking on an experiment that

will remove every second row oftrees planted on the old 7x5metre grid, so he is left with a14x5 m grid.

The system will not only givehim sunlight on the orchard floorto support vegetation andbiological activity there, it alsomeans the entire tree canopyreceives sunlight, spreadingproductive capability across thecanopy, Mr Bader said.

His open grid layout means ifnew, more productivemacadamia cultivars becomeavailable, Mr Bader will be ableto plant them in the old tree rowsand cull existing trees as thenew trees come into production.

As a relatively smallmacadamia producer, Mr Bader’sreturns depend on quality.

Sound environmental strategycoupled with an investment in acomputer-controlled nut drier arevital elements in his operation.

Soilcare chairperson Bonnie Walkerinspecting the health of the soil on heravocado farm at Tuckombil on the NSWNorth Coast.

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THE 2013 planting season atbankmecu’s ConservationLandbank in Victoria proved a

great success for the local communi-ty with almost $10,000 raisedthrough tree planting which will beinjected back into local communitygroups and projects.

Over eight days in August andSeptember, 215 volunteers fromacross West Wimmera and bankme-cu planted more than 20,000 treesacross three of the five ConservationLandbank properties.

As each group receives funds basedon the number of trees they planted,the planting days provide local community groups with a way of raising much needed funds fortheir clubs, schools and sportinggroups.

This funding is used by the groupsfor a range of purposes including thepurchase of new equipment and payment of annual insurance.

Edenhope College chose to use thefunds they raised this year to providebirthing health kits for women inAfrica.

As well as being a valuable source of

income for the groups it is also agreat way for locals to learn moreabout the Conservation Landbankand the role it plays in their commu-nity.

The Conservation Landbank wasestablished in 2008 as a way forbankmecu to offset carbon emissionsfrom car loans financed and to offsetbiodiversity loss from the construc-tion of new homes financed.

Since then, it has grown to encom-pass five properties across 928hectares of land, with each propertyselected because of its significant bio-diversity conservation value.

The properties are purchased bybankmecu, “deposited” into theConservation Landbank and are pro-tected against any future destructionof biodiversity or carbon loss byTrust for Nature ConservationCovenants.

Landcare Australia manages theConservation Landbank with localLandcare group, Kowree Farm TreeGroup, and by the end of the year, 80hectares will have been revegetatedby the community plantings anddirect seeding.

Planting a success for the community

bankmecu joins studentsin planting 3000 treeson the LandbankMORE than 30 school studentsfrom Victoria’s Edenhope Collegejoined representatives frombankmecu and Landcare to plant3,000 trees in Ozenkadnook inthe first week of September.

Coinciding with LandcareWeek, the tree planting day atone of the five properties inbankmecu’s ConservationLandbank was part of abankmecu’s reward for highperforming staff.

Each year, bankmecu sends upto 10 staff to the Landbank for aday to reward them for theirefforts in sustainability andincrease their understanding ofthe Landbank – a valuable assetto the bank and its customers.

bankmecu CommunityDevelopment Manager SimoneDouglas, who participated in thetree planting day, was excited tobe involved.

“The Conservation Landbankhelps bankmecu offset carbonemissions from cars we financeas well as the loss of biodiversityresulting from the financing ofnew home constructions – allpart of our commitment to create

a sustainable future.”“With the properties so far

away from our head office inKew, it’s a privilege to be able tosee the Landbank in person,”Simone said.

bankmecu recognises theimportant role the localcommunity plays in the successof the Landbank.

“It was wonderful to see somany children participating onthe day – there is a strong levelcommunity ownership of theproject,” Simone said.

“The ongoing support of localvolunteers and school groups iscritical in re-vegetation andrestoration efforts at theLandbank. The initiative wouldn’tbe possible without theirassistance.”

Development of the bankmecuConservation Landbank alsoowes thanks to the ongoingsupport of its customers whocollectively own this magnificentasset.

Pictured are bankmecu staffand children from EdenhopeCollege at the ConservationLandbank in September.

AS 2013 draws to a close, we canlook back on a year where the Stateand Territory Landcare Awardsrecognised and celebrated Landcareachievements right across thecountry.

It has been a real privilege to beable to travel and witness firsthandthe dedication and diversity of themovement through the LandcareAwards events.

I would like to congratulateeveryone involved in making them asuccess.

The Landcare movement isundoubtedly a passionatecommunity of people, and it isundertaking vital work to ensure theproductivity and sustainabilityacross all our landscapes. TheLandcare Awards help us championthis work.

Next year Landcare AustraliaLimited will be celebrating its 25thanniversary.

Anniversaries are naturally times ofreflection, and an opportunity tolook to the future.

As we look forward, we arefortunate in having the guidance ofLandcare Australia Limited’s (LAL)

original objectives, which remain asrelevant today as in 1989.● Develop a landcare ethic amongstall Australians;● Encourage and stimulate publicawareness and participation;● Encourage and facilitateeducation on landcare principles inschools and community, and● Attract corporate funding and todistribute those funds acrossappropriate landcare projects.

Corporate and governmentfunding plays a largely unseen, butvital role in helping the workLandcarers undertake on theground.

It is heartening to report that inthe 2013 financial year, LALdistributed more than $2 million to

463 projects courtesy of ourcorporate partners.

Our aim is to build on this into thefuture.

Landcare Australia also leveragesgovernment funds to undertakemany activities to support andpromote the landcare movement –for instance, the production ofLandcare in Focus.

We will shortly be releasing our

annual report detailing in full ourkey achievements and highlightsfrom the 2013 financial year.

I very much look forward to

working in partnership with theLandcare movement, our corporateand government partners,supporters and the LandcareAustralia team to ensure that our25th year is one of continued successfor Landcarers everywhere.

It is very heartening to report that in the 2013financial year, Landcare Australia Limited distributed

over $2 million of funding to 463 projects ‘ – Landcare Australia chief executiveTessa Jakszewicz

Almost 25 years on and still passionate about Landcare

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TO CELEBRATE Landcare Week2013 we asked you to hit uswith your best shot.

We encouraged people to send us aphotograph that shows “whatLandcare means to you”, and weweren’t disappointed.

More than 80 photographs from allcorners of the country were entered,including a beautiful shot of theCondamine River in Queensland byBarbara-Louise Barbierato, a photoof a couple of mermaids relaxing by apool in New South Wales by MalcolmFisher, David Chesterfield’s shot ofJunior Landcare in action inWiripaang Public School as well as avariety of landscapes and creaturesgreat and small.

The photos submitted painted apicture of a diverse and vibrant com-munity of people who have realisedthe importance of caring for the landand the difference it makes. It showeda young generation learning on theground and an older generation will-ing to teach.

Landcare Australia chief executiveTessa Jakszewicz and national Landcarefacilitator Brett de Hayr judged theentries, and had the unenviable task ofchoosing the three photographs theyfelt best fit the brief of illustrating“what Landcare means to you”

“The entries showed the diversity ofLandcare and the great pride peopletake in looking after the land,” Mr deHayr said.

“The three winning pictures are notonly great shots, but touch on relatedthemes of farmland, wildlife andwaterways and all three also had greatdescriptions which told the Landcarestory behind the pictures andbrought them to life.”

Ms Jakszewicz said the competition

highlighed the differences in Land-care’s significance across the country.

“Whether illustrating beautifullandscapes, wildlife or people atwork, all photographs submittedreally demonstrate how Landcare can

mean so many different things to dif-ferent people, yet the theme of mak-ing a real difference remains a con-stant,” she said.

The three photographs chosen aswinners show a community group at

work in Sydney, NSW, a wetland“teaming with life” in Henty,Victoria, and a reclusive and shySouthern Emu Wren near Coffin Bay,South Australia.

“Congratulations to the three win-

ning photographers, Malcolm Fisher,Chris Cooney and Dion Thompson,”Ms Jakszewicz said.■ To see all the photos submitted,visit www.facebook.com/landcareaustralia

THE links formed between business,arts and the environment have beenrecognised in an award to LivingLandscape, a major environmentalproject managed by LandcareAustralia in partnership with theBundanon Trust.

Landcare Australia’s Farming andMajor Projects director Dr ShaneNorrish accepted the VisyEnvironmental Sustainability Awardat the 2013 NSW and ACT CreativePartnerships Australia Awards inSydney on September 3.

“The award is wonderful recogni-tion of an excellent partnership and agreat project,” Dr Norrish said.

“I hope people take some time to visit Bundanon, and enjoy the

project’s achievements.”Living Landscapes is a major four-

year project intended to increase biodiversity and reconnect nativehabitat in the Shoalhaven Rivercatchment of NSW on 1100 hectaresof land uniquely gifted to theAustralian people by artist ArthurBoyd and his family.

Landcare Australia, BundanonTrust, Greening Australia, SouthernRivers CMA and SKM are the pro-ject’s partners.

It is funded through the CleanEnergy Australia Biodiversity Fund and the Borland bequest,made to Landcare Australia fromNSW businessman Raymond Bor-land to restore non-urban degraded

lands in New South Wales.All winners from the NSW awards

will go on to compete at the nationalawards to be held at ParliamentHouse in Canberra on November 18.

The NSW and ACT CreativePartnerships Australia Awards recog-nise and celebrate outstanding rela-tionships between business, arts anddonors.

Creative Partnerships Australia isan amalgamation of the AustraliaBusiness Arts Foundation andArtsupport Australia.

RIGHT: Deborah Ely, Bundanon Trust;Jon Ward, Visy, and Shane Norrish,Landcare Australia.

Awards recognise Landcare links

Photo competition captures diversity

One of the winning photographs from the “What Landcare means to you” photography competition. This photograph of the shy Southern Emu Wren came from DionThompson, near Coffin Bay, South Australia.

Jemena brings energy to customers and communities across eastern Australia

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transports gas from Roma to major industrial customers in Rockhampton and Gladstone.

Over the past seven years, Jemena has partnered with Landcare Australia to help local

communities care for the environment.

Together, we support Landcare groups safely undertaking on-ground environmental projects,

without impacting underground infrastructure, by calling Dial Before You Dig on 0011

or visiting 0011.com.au before work starts.

<< Jemena volunteers at Woodlands Historic Park, Greenvale, Friday 20 September 2013.

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TWO fragments of what wasonce the biggest sub-tropicallowland forest in Australia, the

900 square kilometre Big Scrub, arebeing conserved through a bequestmanaged by Landcare Australia.

The Big Scrub Rainforest LandcareGroup used $20,000 from theRaymond Borland Bequest toimprove the ecological integrity oftwo high-value remnants of whatremains of the Big Scrub – BooyongFlora Reserve and Mortons Scrub.

These habitats, on the NSW North Coast, are ranked as being crit-ically endangered ecological commu-nity.

The project funded restorationworks involving professional bushregenerators, landholders and thecommunity who worked on thethreat posed by damaging weedspecies that spread rapidly through-out the remnants.

These vigorously growing weedssmother native plants, seriouslydegrading the forest structure andarresting natural regeneration.

The most serious of the manyweeds challenging the integrity of theBig Scrub remnants are MadeiraVine, large- and small-leaved Privet,Morning Glory and Wanderer.

The project employed professionalbush regenerators to implementrestoration works in line with exist-ing Vegetation Restoration Plans foreach site.

Restoration methods are regardedas best practice, and have beendetailed in Big Scrub Landcare'sRainforest Weeds Manual andRainforest Restoration Manual.

The project included one public siteand one private site.

Active conservation is required onboth public and private lands inorder to contribute to landscape scaleconnectivity and sustainable biodi-versity outcomes.

The project also included a promotional display at theAlstonville Show to raise communityawareness and capacity in rainforestrestoration.

Big Scrub Rainforest Day was heldin September 2012.

This event included a number of workshops, walks and comm-unity engagement activities aimed atincreasing skills and knowledge ofBig Scrub rainforest restoration.

The group found that this projectincreased the awareness and under-standing of the local community inconservation and landcare activities,

and strongly increased communityaction in conservation.

The project directly benefited more than 20 children and more

than 30 adults, in addition to the 80 community members who att-ended the Alstonville Show.

A sign installed at Booyong Flora

Reserve, near the start of the walkingtrack, informs visitors of the supportof the Raymond Borland Bequestand Landcare Australia.

The bequestbringing backthe Big Scrub

NEW strategies are helping farmersin the low-rainfall wheatbelt ofWestern Australia take advantage ofgood seasons while protecting theirsoil resource base during dry years.

The strategies were developed aspart of a project coordinated by NorthEast Farming Futures (NEFF), afarmer group based in the north-east-ern wheatbelt of Western Australia.

The project, called “Farming on theEdge”, was supported by a $165,000Woolworths Fresh Food Future grantadministered through LandcareAustralia.

The project used electromagneticinduction (EM38) and radiometrictechnology to map soil variation andtype across farms in the region, alongwith capacity to hold moisture. Thisinformation was then used to predictpotential wheat yield as seasonsunfolded and to match this potentialto profitable fertiliser inputs.

During any decade, 80 per cent of cropping profits in the regioncome from just 20pc of seasons.

That means four out of five yearsgenerate only break-even or negativeincome, according to NEFF chief

executive Chris Wheatcroft.“The secret is to conserve as much

soil moisture as possible to optimiseyield production, while also allocat-ing inputs according to the seasonaloutlook,” Mr Wheatcroft said.

“In addition to rainfall, there are fourdrivers of crop yields in our area – soilmoisture, nitrogen, potash and soil pH.

“Nitrogen and potash input andsoil pH can be controlled but soilmoisture can only be conserved.”

Soil maps are created through thetechnology-generated, paddock-level“input” zones, based on the four pro-ductivity drivers.

“The maps guide the amount of fer-tiliser, lime and seeding rate appliedacross a farm so that areas with high-er soil moisture capacity and yieldpotential receive more fertiliser, andthose with restrictive soil pH receivemore lime.”

By marrying variable rate technolo-gy with a crop simulation programcalled Yield Prophet, farmers are ableto manage each season according tolikely and actual rainfall.

The mapping pays for itself swiftly:the project established that the one-

off cost of about $27 per hectare todevelop the mapped input zones wasrecovered in the first year.

The project is not just about crops –wheat is the key profit driver in theNEFF region, but sheep are a majorlivestock enterprise.

Wool prices have been low for thepast twenty years, and grain produces95pc of farm revenue for the majori-ty of NEFF farm businesses.

Many farmers have destocked in thepast decade, most permanently.

Many of those who retain sheep areconverting from a wool-based enter-prise to one based more on meat.

“For our region we found meatsheep were more profitable and lesslabour intensive than a wool enter-prise,” Mr Wheatcroft said.

Buying in a flock for wool and meatproduction was estimated to generatea gross margin of $34/ha or $13 peranimal.

Converting a current flock fromwool to meat generated profits of$72/ha, or $29 per animal.

“Meat production was about 17pcmore profitable per hectare thanwool production according to themodel used,” Mr Wheatcroft said.

But to conserve much-needed soilmoisture for the subsequent crop-ping phase, pasture rotations must besprayed to stop weeds setting seedduring winter and early spring.

“This causes a conflict between the crop and grazing enterprises,because it creates a fodder gap for thelivestock between spring and har-vest.”

Grazing is only one of several non-cereal options for cropping land, andmust be weighed against the benefitsof fallow or alternative crops such ascanola, chickpeas or lupins, whichoften prove more profitable and lesslabour-intensive.

Controlling climbing asparagus as part of the Big Scrub restoration project on the NSW North Coast.

Electromagnetic farming boosts wheat profits

Significant discussions occurred around the benefits of yield prophet predictionsand nitrogen input for maximum water use efficiency linked to profitable yield.

LANDCARE in Focus isproudly supported by theAustralian GovernmentDepartment of Agricultureand published by LandcareAustralia Limited.

For more information or tosubmit an article, [email protected].

Please note that due tospace restrictions we cannotguarantee that allsubmissions will beincluded.

All submissions mustadhere to the followingguidelines and the deadlinesbelow and must include:● One article of no morethan 300-600 words savedas a Microsoft Worddocument or a PDF.● No more than 2 or 3 highresolution (must be at least1MB in size) images thatclearly illustrate theaccompanying article. ● Full captions for eachattached image that explainwho is in the photos and/orwhat they illustrate.

Also, please ensure that wehave permission from anypeople featured in thephotos to use these photosin Landcare in Focus● Contact information formore information if required

Dates for 2014 will bepublished onwww.landcareonline.com.auin the near future.

LEFT: Efficientwater use bycrops on alarge scalecan effectivelyreduce water throughflowand salinerecharge.

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LANDCARE AUSTRALIA CELEBRATES2,000 TELSTRA CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS! From Sydney Harbour’s iconic Goat Island to the beautiful coastline of Waterman’s Bay in Perth, Telstra employees have contributed more than 2,000 volunteer days to Landcare groups across Australia, assisting the Landcare community to fulfil its pledge to help protect and repair Australia’s precious environment.

Telstra employees understand that together with partners such as Landcare Australia, we can make a difference. In addition to participating in initiatives such as Landcare Australia’s Corporate Environmental Volunteering Program, many are actively engaged in a Workplace Giving Program under which their donations to Landcare Australia are matched dollar for dollar by Telstra.

Volunteering - Sustainability in action at Telstra. X170

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■ from p1On the other hand, the stubborn

survival of farmer groups against the ultimate information deliverymechanism, the internet, says muchabout people’s desire for personalcontact.

Interestingly, Mr de Hayr observed,getting individual farmers to link upand share information was not aproblem.

“Getting institutions to do it is dif-ficult,” Mr de Hayr said.

“Institutions look out and see a

competitive field for their services.“Farmers don’t see it that way –

they just want to get information inthe most efficient and digestible formpossible.”

Organisations needed to recognisethe diversity of interests out there,and that diversity presented somenew challenges, Mr de Hayr said.

“How do you get your informationacross a lot of groups that haveslightly different purposes, and avoidbeing trapped in some informationsilo? We lose efficiency if we start tar-

geting isolated groups.”The most efficient delivery model

channels all information through acentral hub that has the ability todirect specialised knowledge tosmaller groups.

Not coincidentally, this happenedto be the Landcare model, Mr deHayr said.

Rural media remains the mostimportant source of informationdelivery for farmers, with 29pc saying the print, online and broad-cast media was central to their

awareness and adoption of newknowledge.

Landcare and farming systemsgroups were important to 22pc offarmers surveyed, while State agricul-ture departments were still cited

as important by 15pc of farmers,despite the budgetary onslaught on these organisations.

Private consultants were a primarysource of information for only 13pcof respondents.

Linking up to learn together

IT’S not surprising weeds and pests dominate theLandcare agenda: theyrepresent billions of dollars oflost income to farmers,according to the 2013 NationalLandcare Survey.

The telephone survey of 500commercial farmers foundthose contacted spend onaverage more than $20,000 ayear on controlling weeds andpests.

The survey sample reportedan average annual outlay of$15,756 on weeds and $4884on pests.

National Landcare facilitatorBrett de Hayr extrapolated thisspend over all of Australia’sprimary producers and arrivedat $2.38 billion.

“While $20,000 averagedacross landholders mightn’tlook so large, it all adds up toa huge amount of foregone

income and lost productivity,”said Mr de Hayr (pictured).

“It explains why weeds andpests are the main Landcareissue, and also tells ussomething about the rolefarmers have in protecting thenatural environment.

“Without this effort byAustralian farmers and thesupport of Landcare groups aswell as Commonwealth, Stateand Territory governmentinvestments, we’d see a verydifferent agriculturallandscape.”

The survey found 89 per centof farmers actively manageweeds, and 74pc work tocontrol pests.

They don’t do the work underthreat of regulation, farmerstold the survey – control isnecessary because of theeconomic consequences ofnot undertaking it.

Management key toeconomic viability

THE collaborative nature ofLandcare is being shown at its best inthe Branch Creek River Reach projectin north eastern NSW where 12 land-holders are working together torestore the ecological integrity of sixkilometres of waterway.

The project’s landscape guaranteesthat restoration is hard work.

Branch Creek flows between high,steep banks which, until theLandcarers got to work, carried asubtropical profusion of smotheringweeds – lantana by the hectare, cam-phor laurel, ballon and madeira vine,to name a few.

In place of the weeds that have beensprayed and pulled out about 6000native plants representing 60 specieshave been planted.

Despite some exceptionally wetyears (and now a very dry one), sur-vival rate has been about 85 per cent.

Whian Whian has pulled the proj-ect together and been a conduit forfunding and according to Whian

Whian Landcare co-ordinator EmmaStone the collaboration betweenlandholders along Branch Creek hasbeen inspiring.

“Because they have an interest inthe landscape beyond their own bor-ders, the landholders are willing towork across different land uses andsocial boundaries,” Ms Stone said.

The exercise began in 2009 as aRiver Reach project that united theriparian restoration efforts beingundertaken by the owners of nineproperties along Branch Creek.

As the landcarers tackled chunks ofthe weed-ridden creek and restored itbit by bit, they brought others onboard to expand the project to 12properties.

The site sits on top of its catchment.Its restoration has implications for

water quality downstream, and forthe spread and relocation of nativespecies.

For the landholders, the restorationis a valuable aesthetic and – if they

sell – financial improvement to theirproperties.

For the region as a whole, it extendsareas of high conservation value andthe connectivity between remnantbushland.

Ms Stone said the financial outlayhas been relatively modest: $73,365from Northern Rivers CatchmentManagement Authority, and about$50,000 in in-kind contributions oflabour, trees and materials from thelandholders and Whian WhianLandcare.

The project has had a stagedapproach, allowing landholders tocome on board when they feel readyto do so, and ensuring that currentwork is properly consolidated beforethe next stage is begun.

Landholders received training thatboosts the ability for landholders toself-diagnose and manage the ripari-an issues they confront, and liftscommunity awareness of the issuesinvolved.

Collaboration connecting conservation at Branch Creek

Branch Creek landholder Martin Novak with Whian Whian Landcare co-ordinatorEmma Stone and daughter Inda on the Old Cream Road, part of the Branch Creekrestoration project.

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SEQUENTIAL years of droughthas prompted research on theuse of mulch in South Australia’s

Riverland vineyards as a way of low-ering water demand.

Partly funded by the WoolworthsFresh Food Future Program throughLandcare Australia, the two-yearproject is exploring the economicsand potential side-effects of mulch’swell-documented ability to conservesoil moisture, suppress weed growthand increase soil fertility.

The Riverland, the largest winegrowing region in Australia, hasexperienced several years of droughtthat has led to cuts in water alloca-tions to grape growers.

One strategy growers have used todeal with drought is to buy in “tem-porary water” to top up annual waterallocations.

When water prices are less than$100 per megalitre, buying tempo-rary water is economically viable,depending on grape prices and yield.

When water prices jump to $600-$1000/Ml, as they did in the drought,the practice becomes unsustainable.

The use of mulch on vines in theRiverland has been limited. Thatmight be partly due to the cost of

mulching, but Ashley Ratcliff ofRicca Terra Farms, Barmera, com-piled a report on the Landcare-sup-ported mulch trial and said a lack ofunderstanding about the benefits ofmulching could also play a part.

A drip-irrigated Chardonnay vine-yard in the Riverland was chosen as atrial site.

About 180 cubic meters of mulchwas applied at a cost of about $5,000.

Freight from Adelaide made upabout a third of this cost.

At a rate of 90 cubic meters ofmulch per hectare, or $2,500/ha, thecost equates to 113 Ml/Ha of tempo-rary water (calculated at a rate of$22/Ml).

Six soil probes are being used tocapture data from mulched and con-trol areas every 15 minutes. The datais streamed live to a website, sogrowers and other interested parties

can view the mulch’s effects.Mr Ratcliff reported mulch clearly

conserved soil moisture, allowing theintervals between irrigations to beextended.

However, the impact mulch has onyield, wine quality, vine and soilhealth is still very much unknown, hesaid.

“More time is required to assesshow the vineyard and the soil change

via the introduction of mulch,” MrRatcliff said.

“There are some interesting differ-ences in the soil analysis which willrequire further investigation.”

He suggested a holistic approach tothe use of mulch and considered sev-eral hypothetical strategies.

The one that delivered the biggestcost savings involved cutting irriga-tion rates by 55 per cent on mulchedvines.

This reduces canopy growth, “butvineyard inspections of the lowestirrigation treatment have not causedany concerns regarding significantyield decline”.

“If yield and vine health is not sig-nificantly impacted by the use ofcompost and mulch and the applica-tion of 2.3Ml/Ha/Yr then this strate-gy provides a real cost saving oppor-tunity,” Mr Ratcliff said.

The cost of the strategy in a 6.5Havineyard for four years would be$37,390 (or $47,859 after interest).

“The cost benefits associated withusing mulch in a vineyard will bereduced irrigation demands, lesspumping costs, less infrastructurewear and tear, and less reliance ofwater from the Murray DarlingBasin,” Mr Ratcliff said.

“If the use of mulch can be linked tobetter soil health, increase yields andthe production of superior wines,then the use of mulch in vineyardshould be further encouraged.”

However, cost – particularly ifmulch has to be transported fromAdelaide – is a factor.

Mr Ratcliff said ideally mulchwould be sourced closer to theRiverland.

Mulching for grape success

In BriefIn safe hands: The federalDepartment of Agriculture issupporting Conservation VolunteersAustralia (CVA) in a new In Safe Handsprogram in 2013 and 2014.

As part of this program, CVA isrunning a series of workshops basedon the In Safe Hands Toolkit to helpcommunity groups, includingLandcare, Coastcare and Bushcaregroups properly manage safety as partof their conservation activities.

The kit and associated workshopsare an opportunity for groups to learnmore about and discuss the properimplementation of safety managementand “duty of care”.■ To find out more, visitwww.insafehands.org.au

Taylors’ 10,000 trees: TaylorsWines recently celebrated the plantingof its 10,000th tree with the latestrelease from its 100 per cent carbonneutral range, Eighty Acres.

Long-time supporters of LandcareAustralia, Taylors Wines most recentlydonated prizes for the 2013 State andTerritory Landcare Awards.

For the past five years, Taylors Wineshas aligned with Australian not-for-profit organisation Carbon Neutral, toreduce and offset greenhouse gasemissions and support revegetationprojects.

The planting of 10,000 trees throughCarbon Neutral is one component ofthe organisation’s Voluntary EmissionsReduction program.

The 2012 Eighty Acres ShirazViognier is the newest vintage in theEighty Acres range.

Since the range’s launch in 2009,4,200 tonnes of carbon have beenoffset as a result of Taylors EightyAcres carbon neutral commitment.

Sustainable school award:Bentleigh Secondary College,recipients of a $5000 grant throughthe Australian Home HeatingAssociation (AHHA) and LandcareAustralia partnership, has won the Education category in thePremier’s Sustainability Awards 2013.

Recognised for its outstanding workin sustainability education, the schoolis involved in many sustainableprojects including the Urban Forest,sponsored by the AHHA, a habitatrestoration project to help educateyouth about the necessity ofsustainable forestry.

Now in their eleventh year, thePremier’s Sustainability Awardscelebrate efficient use of water,resources and energy, better wastemanagement and recycling practices,the enhancement of the environmentand effective, practical communityaction.

Overall winner, recipient of thePremier’s Recognition Award, was aproject by Moonee Valley City Counciland Wingate Avenue CommunityCentre for introducing recycling to acommunity housing estate.

The cost benefits associated with using mulch in avineyard will be reduced irrigation demands, less

pumping costs, less infrastructure wear and tear, andless reliance of water from the Murray Darling Basin‘ – Ashley Ratcliff, Ricca Terra Farms,

Barmera, South Australia

Mulched Chardonnay vines in South Australia’s Riverland.

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THE first year of the six-yearRehabilitating High ConservationHabitats and Corridors project hasbeen completed by the Jiggi Catch-ment Landcare Group Incorporated.

Funded by the NSW EnvironmentalTrust, the project is using wildlife cor-ridors to connect Landcare groupswho have a shared vision of restoringnatural vegetation and enhancingwildlife habitat on their properties.

The corridors link Mulvena RoadLandcare, Nimbin Rocks CooperativeLandcare, Goolmangar School andJiggi School Landcare groups and JiggiCatchment Landcare.

Landowner Adrian George said itwas good to be shoulder to shoulderwith other regeneration enthusiasts.

“I really got a sense of the hugeachievements being experienced byall stakeholders as a result of thework being conducted,” Mr Georgesaid.

“Definitely inspiring – after themeeting we came home and immedi-ately went out to do an hour of weedpulling before dark.”

So far, professional bush regenera-tors working alongside Landcaregroup members have enhanced morethan 7.5 hectares of high conserva-

tion value vegetation through weedcontrol and planting.

These sites link key habitat forthreatened species and form regionalcorridors for threatened speciesincluding koalas, squirrel gliders andthe rose-crowned fruit dove.

The capacity of Landcare groupmembers to manage environmentalweeds on their sites is being strength-ened through training in restorationtechniques and by working alongsideprofessional bush regenerators. Theyare tackling weeds like lantana, whichdegrading native plant communitiesand retard regeneration.

Some of the techniques utilisedinclude cutting tracks in preparationfor splatter gun/gas gun treatment ofdense thickets of lantana, the “cutscrape and paint” technique for iso-lated lantana, vine weeds and otherwoody weeds, and selective spot sprayto control ground cover weeds as wellas stem injection of larger weed treessuch as camphor laurel and privet.

The second year of the project willadvance the development of habitatfor threatened species.

There will be a field day onNovember 26, covering topics includ-ing the importance of native ground

cover, challenges associated withinvasive pasture weed grasses, otherweeds and weed control methods.

The day will involve speakers fromthe Northern Landcare SupportServices and bush regenerators work-

ing on site from EnviTE Environment.Other activities planned for Year 2

include a “water watch” and plantingday with students from Jig SchoolLandcare and a plant propagationworkshop hosted by Friends of the

Koala for the Goolmangar SchoolLandcare group.■ For more information about theproject contact Georgina Jones,(02) 6627 2844 [email protected]

Jiggi Catchment Landcare Group has launched a six-year rehabilitation habitats and corridors project, which will includesplatter gun treatment of thickets of lantana.

Jiggi conservation project’s corridors linking groups

WHEN the creek behind yourschool is unaffectionatelyknown as “Poo Creek”, a job

for Landcare beckons.That was the case for Barrenjoey

High School, which backs ontoCareel Creek on Sydney’s northernBeaches – what was once a perennialstream draining natural run-off fromBilgola Plateau and Avalon into aPittwater estuary.

Before the school’s Go Green proj-ect started, Careel Creek looked morelike a drain than a natural waterway.

With $5000 in funding provided byLandcare Australia’s corporate part-ner Staples the Careel Creek PlasticsCleanup Project was incorporatedinto students’ fieldwork in themandatory junior Geography andthe Higher School Certificate (HSC)Geography courses.

Students have energetically takenon the “creekcare” role, adoptingresponsibility for the area and creat-ing a “creekcare challenge” as anexample to other regions dealingwith similar problems of degrada-tion.

To date, Barrenjoey students have

contributed more than 1200 hours tothe project under the guidance ofseveral hands-on teachers.

The students have collected, count-ed and removed a range of litter fromthis fragile estuarine ecosystem.

Benefits have accrued not just to thecreeklands – teachers noted an evi-dent change in students’ perceptionof the value of the creek environ-ment.

Students have been able to explorewater quality and ecosystem impacts,taking on new activities that give anobjective measure of their efforts.

The grant from Landcare Australiaand Staples provided funding to pur-chase resources and support the stu-dents’ actions.

For instance, a water station wasinstalled at the school, and sales ofbottled water stopped. Students havebeen encouraged to bring refillablebottles and use the water refilling sta-tion.

Local Bushcare volunteers and resi-dents have been impressed with thestudent’s efforts, including theremoval of over 1000 litres of rubbishincluding plastic bags, food wrap-

pings, dog droppings in plastic bags,along with several hundred plasticand glass bottles collected in the firstsix months of the project alone.

In co-ordination with the sched-uled Local Council General CleanUp, students also removed from the creek bed five bikes, three scooters,two shopping trolleys as well as

numerous garden implements.Local council workers helped stu-

dents with plant identification andresidents offered students drinks andverbal support for their efforts.

The teachers and students are nowcommitted to ongoing weekly cleanup of plastics – a twice-yearlyremoval of big items from the creek

to coincide with local council pickup, continued water testing, and datacollection to measure water qualityand native vegetation health.

Barrenjoey High is a co-education-al, comprehensive secondary schoolof approximately 650 students, locat-ed on the Northern Beaches ofSydney.

Students cleanup ‘Poo Creek’

Team leader Emily Whittaker removed this pile of dumped items from Careel Creek at low tide, which included bikes, scooterseven an old turntable.

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A CHEEKY nine-month-old wombatnamed Daisy stole the show at arecent Holden employee volunteer-ing day held at Wildhaven WildlifeShelter, located in St Andrews,Victoria.

Daisy scuttled, dodged and spunaround employees and beckonedthem into her new enclosure as theydonned their gardening gloves and worked to weed the grounds,plant trees and spread gravel at theShelter.

Following the devastating 2009Black Saturday bushfires in Kinglakeand St Andrews, Holden has provid-ed a vehicle to help Alan and StellaReid, owners of Wildhaven, as theyrebuilt the shelter and continue torescue and care for native animals ofthe region.

Forced to live in a shipping contain-er for two years after the devastatingfires, Alan and Stella believe that thesupport they have received throughHolden’s community partnershipwith Landcare Australia and theemployee volunteering days hasmade a significant impact on thelocal wildlife and environment.

“The Captiva 7 donated by Holdenis always in the bush with us. Whenwe go out into the dark parts ofVictoria to help animals, we know wealways have a reliable car that is goingto get us out no matter what the roadlooks like,” Stella said.

“There is always plenty of room inthe back for the kangaroos, wombatsand koalas we collect and transportbetween locations.”

Jenny Knox, Landcare Australia

Partnership Manager, said that Alanand Stella are inspiring people whocare deeply for wildlife.

“The partnership between Holdenand Landcare Australia is dedicatedto raising public awareness of ourunique environment and supportingthose who dedicate their lives to car-ing for our wildlife, just like Alan andStella,” Jenny said.

This day was part of Holden’semployee volunteering policy whichentitles employees to one day of vol-unteering leave per annum.

Wildlife delights Holden volunteers

RIGHT: Daisy the wombat delightedHolden volunteers at Wildhaven WildlifeShelter at St Andrews, Victoria.

ABORIGINAL elders and childrencame together to plant river red gumsas part of Wurega AboriginalCorporation’s commemoration ofNational Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Children’s Day in August.The theme for the day was “Right

Here, Right Now: Our Rights Matter”– referring to ongoing concernsabout human rights and specialrights for Australia’s indigenous chil-dren.

The donation of some red gum saplings to the corporationenabled the organisation to make anoccasion in which children spenttime with Elders on country andlearned about caring for plants – partof their ongoing connection to coun-try.

The day also provided an opportu-nity for a formal meeting to look atways to improve the Wurega Art andhealing Centre building.

The Wurega Aboriginal Corp-oration provides activities and heal-ing programs for members who wantto work for the benefit of the futuregenerations.

As it becomes better established, itwill also reach out to particpationfrom the wider community.

Co-chairperson of the corporationGail Harradine said it was a steptoward ensuring the next generation

would pass on the indigenous cultureand affiliation with the land.

“This activity reflects a huge step inour healing and to hold an event likethis helps in reassuring our childrenthey are our pride and joy – our nextgeneration that will pass on cultureand connection to country,” MsHarradine said.

“It is vital to us to provide opportu-nities for our Wotjobaluk Elders topass on culture and to encourage ourchildren to be culturally safe so theycan proudly express their culture,hence putting our energies into theWurega Art and Healing Centre inDimboola.

“We are very grateful to the community for supporting our fami-lies to be part of the Dimboola community and to the HindmarshShire Council in having access to the building to be able to put back into the country that we allshare.”

A future workshop will invite thebroader Dimboola community towork together with Wurega membersto learn about possum skin cloakmaking.

Further workshops are beingplanned around feather flower mak-ing, printing and weaving.

Wurega making connections to country for the future

LEFT: One of the many seedlingsplanted on the day.

Local community members Sandy Hodge, Harper Harradine, Djarem Harradine,Yasmin Harradine, Tallula Harradine and Stuart Harradine.

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CITIPOWER and Powercor arecelebrating their 10 year part-nership with Landcare

Australia with a funding boost toLandcare groups they have supportedacross Victoria.

The partnership has funded a rangeof diverse projects over the lastdecade, including wildlife breedingprograms, indigenous nurseries andnumerous land rehabilitation andrevegetation projects.

The partnership has also supportedthe Victorian State Landcare Awards,many regional Landcare awards andfestivals and school environmentalprojects through the CitiPowerPowercor Junior Landcare PowerfulPartnerships Grants Program.

CitiPower and Powercor Sustain-ability co-ordinator Yvette Cliffordsaid the funding boost aims to markthe achievements of the last 10 yearsand show the utilities’ commitmentto the ongoing partnership.

“Partnering with Landcare hasenabled CitiPower and Powercor tosupport an amazing array of com-munity-based environmental pro-grams over the past 10 years,” MsClifford said.

“Landcare’s extensive network ofcommunity groups and volunteershas been a tremendous asset, helpingto ensure the projects we support are

the projects that really matter to localcommunities.”

One group to benefit from the extrafunding is the Bellarine CatchmentNetwork.

The network has received ongoingsupport since 2009 for theCatchment 4 Coasts – CommunityEngagement and On-ground worksproject.

Bellarine Catchment Network andBellarine Landcare group programmanager Matt Crawley said the fund-ing has been crucial to the success ofthe project.

“The Bellarine Catchment Networkhas been delighted to partner withCitiPower and Powercor to deliverimportant projects on the BellarinePeninsula,” Mr Crawley said.

“In particular it has enabled us tosupport two Community LandcareCoastcare Nurseries to grow over100,000 indigenous plants, rabbitproof fence a 2 km section of PortPhillip Bay Cliff face and conduct theBiodiversity in Your Backyard series,attracting more than 150 people tolearn more about the biodiversityvalues of the area.”

CitiPower and Powercor becameinvolved in the Landcare AustraliaPartnerships Program as a way of off-setting the environmental impacts oftheir assets and operations and to

support school and community envi-ronmental projects.

An allocation of $2000 will be givento each region and distributed togroups through the Regional Asset

Managers from each of CitiPowerand Powercor’s seven regions.■ For more information onCitiPower and Powercorenvironmental initiatives, visit

www.powercor.com.au/■ Read more about LandcareAustralia’s partnership program atwww.landcareonline.com.au/corporate-partners

Powercor regional asset manager John Hardie with members of Yelta Landcare group.

Powerful partnership boosting projects

A NEGLECTED weedy area hasbeen transformed into a placeattractive to native wildlife and asource of knowledge at St Francisof Assisi Primary School inCanberra.

Thanks to one of 259 Coles JuniorLandcare grants handed out in2013, the school brought studentstogether with teachers, the widerschool community, other schoolsand experts in indigenous naturalresource management to build thesustainable traditional indigenousbush tucker and medicinal garden.

With guidance from ACTIndigenous Landcare facilitatorDarren Chong, the NgunnawalKnow How Project allowedstudents to chose an assortment ofnative bushtucker and medicinalplants.

Year Six Environment Leaders andindigenous students led theplanning, building, planting andcontinued care of the garden,during which they developed anunderstanding of the land from anindigenous perspective.

Previously prone to erosion andweed infestation, the area is nowflourishing and includes a watertank to improve sustainability.

The project was overseen by astaff co-ordinating committee whoencouraged the students to takeownership of the project andmanage the garden tasks.

St Francis of Assisi is part of theAustralian Sustainable SchoolProgram.

The garden now forms a practicalpart of the curriculum, teachingkids not only about indigenousbush tucker but also how tosustainably care for their localenvironment.

Coles Junior Landcare GardenGrants have enabled theestablishment of many differentgarden projects, including bushtucker, indigenous, sensory andwaterwise gardens and wormfarms, recycling and compostingprojects.

The last Junior Landcare grantround for 2013 closed on August 2and funded projects ranging froman Indoor Edible Garden in theSydney CBD, a “Bees, Botany andBush Tucker” garden in Cairns, aMilk Carton Greenhouse inTasmania and a Native ButterflyGarden in Victoria.■ For a full list of recipients, visitwww.juniorlandcare.com.au

Gardening at St Francis

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“YOUTH at risk” nearNewcastle, NSW, are beingsupported in a program at

the Habitat in Harmony CommunityGarden, funded through LandcareAustralia and the Be Natural GrantsProgram.

During the last 12 months the“Greening n Growing” youth projecthas seen a strong partnership developbetween Belmont NeighbourhoodCentre, Belmont High School, JobQuest, Warners Bay CommunityGarden, Batabah Aboriginal LandCouncil, Lake Macquarie City Council,Landcare group, Trees in Newcastle.

The youth-focused project cameabout in response to the neighbour-hood centre and school staff witness-

ing a number of local children experiencing learning difficulties anddisengagement from the school andlocal community.

In 2012, the consortium of commu-nity based organisations supported agroup of young people from BelmontHigh School who were identified asbeing “at risk” and who would bene-fit from outdoor activities.

A core group of six young peoplewho have been working in the com-munity garden each Friday sinceFebruary 2012 have continued toattend the regular workshops andworking bees.

The high school is within walkingdistance of the garden.

Local volunteers have helped support

the kids, and local residents maintainthe area during school holidays.

Habitat in Harmony CommunityGarden has a rich history of environ-mental, recreational and culturallysignificant projects.

The first committee for the gardenformed 19 years ago.

The project was completed in 1995and continues to be a highly utilisedcommunity asset to the Belmont com-munity. The garden site is huge,designed using permaculture princi-ples, including passive water collectionand nutrient run-off management.

This group of young landcarersfocused on rejuvenating a previouslyunderutilised section of the commu-nity garden.

To turn a section of the gardengrounds into a new native habitatarea, the group designed the layout,and weeded, mulched and plantedmore than 400 native tube stock.

“We are so honored to be a recipi-ent of a Be Natural Landcare grant,”said Belmont Neighbourhood CentreManager Sheena Harvey.

“The vibrancy of youth has longbeen missing from our communitygarden and this project allowed usthe opportunity to build a local rela-tionship once again.”

A parent of one of the participantssaid their son had a noticeable lift inconfidence after getting involved inthe project – and that they hadlearned so much about plants that

the community garden was a secondhome.

The project partners and the localcommunity celebrated the launch ofthe new space on October 18, send-ing out an open invitation to thecommunity to visit the new nativehabitat and see what had alreadybeen achieved.

With the support of the LandcareAustralia and Be Natural Grants pro-gram, this consortium of groups hashelped young people create nativehabitat in a urbanised area whilesending the message that they canpositively contribute to this uniquegarden area, learn new things aboutthe environment, and that theirefforts are very much appreciated.

A COLLABORATIVE project between thePapunya Rangers, Central Land Council,Territory Natural Resource Management andthe Department of Land Resource Manage-ment (DLRM) has led to confirmation of thepresence of the critically endangered centralrock-rat at two sites at Mount Edwards,Queensland, and Haasts Bluff, NorthernTerritory.

Previously, the elusive species had onlybeen known to exist in a few high altitudepoints in the West MacDonnell Ranges inthe Northern Territory.

An intensive survey, which included using ahelicopter to access the rugged face of MtEdward and camera trappings was fundedthrough Territory Natural ResourceManagement (TNRM) and carried out bythe Central Land Council and DLRM.

The main aim of the survey was to find outif central rock rats were established in theseareas and also to discover elements that wereassisting the decline in numbers.

Research from the project indicated feralcat populations were a real threat to theendangered central rock rat, with remainssuch as bones and hair found in scat analysis.

Peter McDonald from DLRM was

excited about the findings.“Finding a new population of the central

rock-rat outside of the West MacDonnellNational Park is exciting and gives us hope for the future outlook for the species,”he said.

“However, it is clear that feral cats pose animmediate and severe risk to rock-rats andwe may need to act soon to secure this pop-ulation from predation.”

TNRM Regional Coordinator HeidiGroffen was also thrilled with the surveyresults and hoped to assist with further work.

“The site was thought to be a potentiallysuitable Rock Rat habitat,” Ms Groffen said.

“It’s always exciting to have an outcomelike this from a project. TNRM are lookingforward to further supporting the CLC andtraditional owners in managing the areainto the future”.

Central Land Council boss David Rossthanked TNRM which provided the fundingfor the survey.

“It’s a great boost for the ranger group outthere,” he said.

“Rangers spend a lot of time on flora andfauna surveys for various agencies and tofind a rare animal like this is unusual.” Images of the rock-rat species found at Mount Edwards, Queensland, and Haasts Bluff, Northern Territory.

Youth grow in community garden

Rare rat species found in Queensland and Red Centre

Happy volunteers at Habitat in Harmony community garden enjoying a barbecue after a planting day.

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A CORPORATE volunteer programwith a strong Landcare componentwas recognised at the Keep AustraliaBeautiful NSW Sustainable CitiesAwards Program.

Landcare Australia’s (LAL)Corporate Environmental Volunteer(CEV) Sydney Harbour Program,run in partnership with theFoundation for National Parks andWildlife and the NSW Parks andWildlife Service, picked up theBiodiversity Conservation Award.

The award acknowledges innova-tive and effective community projects that sustain and enhancebiodiversity in urban environments;and projects which create, rehabili-tate and restore biodiversity in urbanenvironments.

LAL chief executive TessaJakszewicz said the CEV program hasbeen highly successful and is gainingpopularity.

“More than 1000 corporate volun-teers from more than 50 companieshave participated in the last financial

year alone, contributing over 7000hours of conservation activities tohelp increase biodiversity in highlyurbanised areas across SydneyHarbour,” Ms Jakszewicz said.

“Landcare Australia’s CEV programhas been running for more than 20 years, bringing community,government and corporate sectorstogether to achieve positive conserva-tion and improved biodiversity outcomes.

“In the last two years the consor-tium partnership with Foundationfor National Parks and Wildlife and the NSW National Parks andWildlife Service has seen the pro-gram grow at a rapid rate, while alsoraising funds for local volunteer projects and groups to undertakeimportant environmental work inand around our beautiful SydneyHarbour.”

The program aims to enhance habitat through weed eradication,plantings and by educating corporatevolunteers on the importance of

protecting and restoring bio-diversity and native habitat.

CEV days are held regularly at sev-eral different sites under the guidanceof National Parks rangers and fieldstaff, offering a unique conservationexperience for corporates.

Indigenous rangers, regular parkvolunteers and field staff provideeducational information on theAboriginal history of the sites andinformation on native animals andindigenous plants local to the area.

The Keep Australia BeautifulAustralian Sustainable Cities Awardsencourage, motivate and celebratethe local sustainability achievementsof urban communities acrossAustralia. State and Territory finalistshave been announced and theNational winner will be announcedthis month.■ For more information on how toget involved with LAL’s CorporateEnvironmental VolunteeringProgram, visitwww.landcareonline.com.au/

corporate-volunteering

Celebrating corporate volunteers

LAL chief executive Tessa Jakszewicz with awards host Costa Georgiadis and KeepAustralia Beautiful NSW director Paul Akon.

MORE THAN 130 groupstook part in this year’sBushcare’s Major Day Out

(BMDO) which was sponsored byLandcare Australia as part ofLandcare Week 2013.

Groups from every state andTerritory in Australia except theNorthern Territory took part in the BMDO, which is a a celebrationof the good work done by thesegroups and is designed to increasepublic awareness of the value of theAustralian bush.

It provides an opportunity for peo-ple interested in finding out moreabout getting involved in bushcareand Landcare activities.

The main bushcare and bush regen-eration activity is weeding as much ofthe Australian bush has been takenover by garden escapees and noxiousweeds.

Across Australia in towns cities andthe countryside there are bushcaregroups who regularly weed parks andreserves to give the native plants achance.

Native seeds can lay dormant in theground for decades suppressed byweeds but once the weeds areremoved these little Aussie battlers doall the work themselves.

Being native to the area means that they are adapted to conditionsand survive well on sunshine andrain.

While predominantly a nationalweeding day, BMDO welcomes

groups who carry out other activitiesas well.

This year a bush photographyworkshop was held Mount Gravatt,Queensland.

The competition, as well as a bushfashion parade were well-attended.

The Sydney Bass Fishermans Clubhad a day of canoeing and restoringriver banks and Willow Warriorspaddled out to an island in Sydney Harbour to attack invasiveweeds.

At McAuley Reserve in Sandy Bay,Tasmania, while the kids were enjoy-ing activities and the adults sippingtheir mulled wine, Blue Belle thebandicoot made an appearance.

The Trees For Life group in SouthAustralia organised a “Weed Front”with over 100 people forming asnaking line to push back an army ofweed invaders.

At Cringan Bushland Reserve inMorwell, Victoria, volunteers climb-ed trees to paint nesting boxes.

There was also bird watching at LakeClaremont, Western Australia, wheremore than 80 species of birds delightedwatchers and a group at UmbergongDistrict Park, Latham, ACT, mappednative grasses and herbs.

Willoughby and North SydneyCouncils restored habitat for nativespecies and all of these groups spent part of the time socialising and enjoying a mixture of barbecues or sumptuous morning or afternoonteas. Bushcare’s Major Day Out event at Tunks Park, Cammeray in north Sydney. Photo: Matthew Keighery.

Big day out reclaims native bush

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IT IS the nature of Landcare thatit revolves around groups, notindividual celebrities – but it is

the dedication of many individualsthat makes Landcare so effective.

Fittingly, the 2013 State andTerritory Landcare Awards upheldthe work of individuals and groups, the two interdependentbuilding blocks of the Landcaremovement.

The awards have produced a longlist of outstanding finalists for the2014 National Landcare Awards,that other biennial celebration of community-based environmentalrestoration.

The awards cover a range of excel-lence from individual Landcarersand facilitators to sustainable farm-ing, innovative community groupsand Junior Landcare teams.

They also cover the full gamut ofAustralia’s diverse environmentsfrom the tropics to the heaths ofTasmania.

While all eyes are on celebratingthe award finalists, these events perform another role: highlightingto business and community leadersthe extent of the largely

unsung environmental work beingcarried out by Landcarers.

In Victoria’s Government House,

the State Ministers for Environmentand Climate Change, andAgriculture and Food Security RyanSmith and Peter Walsh were on handto present awards.

Governor of Western AustraliaMalcolm McCursker hosted the State’s ceremony in Perth’sGovernment House, while Governorof Queensland Penelope Wensleypresented at the State’s event held inWarwick as part of the QueenslandLandcare Conference.

In Canberra, a breakfast by the lakewas the setting for the ACT Awards,with Minister for the Environmentand Sustainable DevelopmentSimon Corbell on hand to present

the ACT government awards.The Tasmanian town of St Helens

played host to the State’s awards,which was part of a three day conference, while Newcastle was thevenue for the NSW Landcare Awardsheld in conjunction with the State Landcare and CatchmentManagement Forum.

Awards categories were sponsoredby Westpac Agribusiness andQantas, long-time supporters ofLandcare and partners of LandcareAustralia.

Landcare Australia chief executiveTessa Jakszewicz travelled to a num-ber of the events and was impressedby what she saw.

“It is fantastic to see the diversityand strength of the Landcare movement across the country asexhibited by all nominees and winners at this year’s LandcareAwards,” Ms Jakszewicz said.

“I very much look forward to wel-coming the winners to next year’sNational Landcare Awards as we cel-ebrate 25 years of the movement ona national level.”

In the Landcare award ceremonies,all finalists are winners – but next year’s National Awards will highlight a handful ofLandcarers from the tens of thou-sands whose work is truly inspira-tional.

Celebrating Landcare awards

Governor of Western Australia and Patron of Landcare WA Malcolm McCusker with winners of the Western Australia Landcare Awards and Landcare Australiarepresentatives.

There were a host of achievements to celebrate at the early morning ACTLandcare Awards ceremony that took place during Landcare Week in Canberra’sBoathouse on the Lake in September.

Since 2008, Coles have funded more than 1,700 garden grants of up to $1,000, with the money used to help schools establish garden projects. The program encourages students to learn about the environment through outdoor learningand developing their own gardens.

Register for the Junior Landcarer e-newsletter to stay up-to-date with future grant announcements.

Coles Junior Landcare Gardens

Visit www.juniorlandcare.com.auX17081686

th survey shows farmers learn with one another · the following year, soilcare was born to provide...

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