March 2022

From the Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator

Welcome to this first newsletter from the Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator and the Merri Creek Management Committee. Please find below information on local initiatives, opportunities and funding. 

To subscribe see link below.

If you would like to share photos, events, updates and projects through the Upper Merri Landcare News. Please email through your submissions to: chriscobern@mcmc.org.au

Interested in Local Landcare? 

The Upper Merri and Upper Plenty areas have abundant natural vegetation and wildlife, beautiful hills and waterways and productive farmland. While it’s a wonderful place to live and farm, there are land management issues, e.g. weeds, that affect many rural properties. The area has a new Landcare Facilitator who can help. A meeting will be held soon to establish a new Landcare group in the area to provide local landholders with a way to work together to address land management issues, access project funding and ensure the land is cared for and managed sustainably into the future.

If you are interested in learning more about Landcare, would like to help set up the new Landcare group or just want to be involved contact the Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator, Chris Cobern on 0413 855 490 or email chriscobern@mcmc.org.au

Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority Integrated into Melbourne Water

As you may already be aware, from the 1st of January 2022, the Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA) has officially integrated into Melbourne Water.
This means that the catchment and waterways management responsibilities across the Port Philip and Western Port region are now under a single, integrated entity with a shared vision to improve and enhance our land, water and biodiversity.

Melbourne Water are now responsible for supporting the region’s many Landcare groups and networks and environmental volunteer groups. Barry Kennedy will continue to be the Regional Landcare Coordinator and other Melbourne Water staff are excited to get out in the new year and meet their new partners. Barry's phone number (0447 821 559) remains the same and he can be contacted via email at barrykennedy@melbournewater.com.au
Click here to read a reflection from David Buntine, PPWCMA CEO
More information on can be found here - Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority and Melbourne Water Integration | Melbourne Water

Coming up: Forest wildlife surveys in Tallarook Forest

You're invited to join the BEAM Mitchell Environment Group's upcoming forest night walks, where they'll be spotlighting for wildlife in unlogged areas of Tallarook State Forest.

Here are the upcoming dates:

• Saturday 26 March, 8pm
• Saturday 2 April, 8pm

Come along to experience the beauty of our local forests and survey local wildlife - all welcome!

They will be looking for endangered Greater Gliders in the Tallarook State Forest, meeting at 8pm on the corner of Main Rd and Landscape Rd.
After dusk they will spotlight for the Gliders in unlogged areas. Finding Gliders there will help prevent the logging.

Please bring a torch, snacks for yourself and a water bottle, and a comfortable set of walking shoes.

Please RSVP so that they are able to keep you up to date with any last minute changes.
Any questions? Contact Paul at tallarookforest@gmail.com 

Coming up: The Merri Paddle – community support for the platypus

The Friends of Merri Creek have formed a group called the Merri Paddle to advocate for the steps needed for the long-term restoration of the creek to create more viable platypus habitat. To support the group, Melbourne Water is helping fund a research report by renowned platypus specialist, Josh Griffiths, of EnviroDNA. His ‘status report’ will collate all information about historic presence of the platypus in the Merri Creek and surrounding areas, and assess habitats along the Merri Creek to identify how we might return the platypus to its rightful place.

The Merri Paddle team will be helping Josh find and assess ideal platypus habitat on the Merri Creek. This will then give the Merri Paddle priority sites for community action - where we can focus our efforts to increase platypus habitat.

The Paddle will also be testing the water quality of Merri Creek at the Merri Creek Reserve on South Mountain Road Heathcote Junction on Friday 1st April.

If you'd like to get involved in our community action, join the working group, or for any further information please contact Peter Ewer:peter.ewer@yahoo.com.au or click on this link

SWIFFT Seminars

SWIFFT have been running quarterly seminars for over 16 years with increasing popularity. These interactive sessions help connect researchers, land managers, government agencies and community groups and allow a platform for them to share their stories. The seminars are free and anyone with an interest is welcome to join in. Due to Covid-19 the 2022 seminars will be conducted online.

The seminars for 2022 are as follows:

• Nature at Home and in my Landscape - 24 March
  Nature is all around us. Learn how we can connect with nature, personal, within families or through groups and conservation projects and the benefits to our health and wellbeing.
• Small Mammal Conservation - 26 May
• Arthur Rylah Institute - Science that Matters - 28 July
• Behaviour Change - 27 October

More information can be found here: Video Conferences (swifft.net.au) 

Wallan-Hidden Valley Rail Reserve - a re-discovered gem

A hidden natural gem has been re-discovered by members of the Wallan Environment Group (WEG) along an old disused rail reserve in the in the far upper reaches of the Merri Creek catchment.

To read more click on this link

WEG will be visiting the reserve again on Sunday 10th April to explore the site and remove gorse, broom and other woody weeds.
If you would like to attend the activity or find out more please contact Claudia James on 5783 1325.

Funding opportunities

Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee

Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee is a Federal Government program which will run over 3 years across 2021–22 to 2023–24. The program will provide up to $15.1 million of grant funding to eligible groups and organisations for community-based tree planting events.

Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee will mark the significant occasion of Her Majesty’s Jubilee through community tree planting events across Australia. The intended outcomes of the program are to:

• increase community awareness and celebration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee
• create a legacy of tree plantings across the nation for Australians to enjoy that also serve to honour the memory of The Queen and her 70 years of service to Australia and the Commonwealth
• increase and/or enhance the area of tree canopy

Grants between $2,500 and $20,000 are available, and can cover 100% of project expenditure.

Organisations eligible to apply include: incorporated not-for-profits, State Government schools, and local governing bodies (e.g. local Councils).

Expressions of Interest are now available through the Office of your local MP. Email your MP to be invited to apply.

More information on the program can be found here

Melbourne Water - Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways Grants

Melbourne Water has launched a new streamlined and flexible grants program: Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways.
Landowners, councils and public land managers, school and community groups, universities and research institutions, multi-partner projects and collaborative groups have the opportunity to partner with Melbourne Water for projects that align with the following themes:

• Connected habitat and catchments; Integrated water management (IWM) enablers;
• Science, innovation and technology; and Liveable cities.

The program offers a flexible application process that allows access at any time during the year.

More information on the program can be found here