APRIL 2022

From the Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator

Welcome to the latest 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

Recent Events

Hadfield Park Planting day

On Monday 4th April students from Wallan Secondary College, local Landcarers and government agency staff rolled up their sleeves to plant 1000 native trees and shrubs at Hadfield Park in Wallan as part of the upgrade and naturalisation of this section of the Wallan Creek.

Click HERE to find out more information about the planting day and the Hadfield Park Naturalisation project.

Wallan Environment Group (WEG) April Working Bee

The dedicated group of volunteers from WEG, Mitchell BUG and the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail attended another working bee at the Hidden Valley Rail Reserve on Sunday 10th April.

The volunteers explored the bushland areas of this special area and at the same time removed small patches of blackberry, gorse and briar rose from throughout the reserve by hand weeding and using the 'cut and paint' method.  

Coming up in spring WEG are planning to run a spring wildflower walk through the reserve lead by a local botanical expert.

Coming Up

Paddock Tree Talk and Walk - Saturday 30th April

Join South West Goulburn Landcare and Ron Litjens for an informative discussion about “paddock trees as prime real estate”.

Ron will discuss:

• The importance of these iconic trees in the
  landscape.
• Who / what is making use of paddock trees.
• How we can protect existing trees for the future.

Where: Broadford Living and Learning Centre.

When: 10.00am Saturday 30th April.

To register or for more information contact Sonia Sharkey on 0409 515 630 or swg_landcare@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au 

Have Your Say

Draft Community and Environment Local Law 2022 - Proposed Prohibition of Noxious Weeds on Farming Zoned Land in Mitchell Shire

Mitchell Shire Council is seeking input on a possible change to its Local Law regarding the management of noxious weeds and vermin on Farming Zoned Land and has carried out consultation to direct the development of a new Local Law. The draft Local Law (clause 3.1.3) states that an owner or occupier of land must not allow any vermin or noxious weeds to exist on that land. This does not currently include Farming Zoned Land.

Mitchell Shire Council are seeking feedback on the potential inclusion of Farming Zoned Land, meaning that all private and public landowners and occupiers within the Mitchell Shire would be required to ensure their land is free from vermin and noxious weeds.

Mitchell Shire encourage you, your group and your members, to either complete the online survey, or consider making a submission.

Submissions close at 5pm on Monday 18th April and can be made online: www.engagingmitchellshire.com

My Victorian Waterway Survey

The My Victorian Waterway Survey is social research being conducted by the Victoria’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

The survey is for any Victorian who visits a waterway, and it seeks to find out how you use Victoria’s waterways, what you value about them, and what your vision is for healthy waterways. The term ‘waterway’ used in the survey refers to any river, stream, creek, floodplain, wetland, estuary, lake, water storage or reservoir.

The survey is open from 23th March to 17th April and should take only 10 minutes to complete.

Responses to the survey will help DELWP understand what the community’s vision is for how waterways are managed, and how Victorian’s use their waterways and what they value about them. This survey will build on data collected in the My Victorian Waterway Survey (2009) to identify trends in waterway use, perceptions, and knowledge over time. DELWP has used responses from the 2009 survey to inform government policy, decision-making and investments.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY HERE and it can also be found on water.vic.gov.au

Funding Opportunities

Do you have creek frontage on your property?

Melbourne Water’s (MW) Rural Land Program and the Stream Frontage Management Program are now part of the Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways Program.

The Liveable Communities, Liveable Waterways program is open to applications from private landholders with waterway/streamside frontage, or properties located within the rural land priority areas (see this map). Applications are open throughout the year.

Funding can support:

· Development of property management plans

· Revegetation – all materials, i.e. plants, tree guards/stakes, provided by MW

· Weed control. MW may provide weed control to successful applicants, id the weed control project is deemed suitable then funding may be ongoing

· Pest management

· Land class fencing (slope/aspect)

· Erosion control

· Off stream stock water supply (tanks, drinking troughs) 

· Fencing off waterways.

Contact MW to discuss your ideas before applying phone: 131 722 or email: incentives@melbournewater.com.au

MW funding is also available for groups looking after public land.

BushBank private land restoration and protection

The Victorian Government is seeking expressions of interest from suitable organisations which can deliver an ambitious program to revegetate and restore at least 20,000 hectares of native habitat across private land in Victoria.

For guidelines, EOI application form and to register for the information session go to: BushBank

For more information email: bushbank.program@delwp.vic.gov.au 
Application close: 30th May 2022