AUGUST 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

School Planting Day - Our Lady of the Way

Mitchell Shire Council's Environment Officer Elyse Kelly and Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator Chris Cobern recently ran three environmental education sessions with the Grade 5/6's from Our Lady of the Way Primary School in Wallan.

The students learnt about the plants and animals of the Upper Merri catchment, and how these plants and animals have adapted to survive in their natural environment. It was great to hear all the questions and comments from the students, and see their enthusiasm and genuine interest in nature.

The sessions were followed by a school planting activity on the school grounds.

          Coming Up

Wallan Environment Group - Spring Wildflower Walks

The Wallan Environment Group will be holding wildflower walks in the Hidden Valley Rail Reserve - weather permitting - on Sunday 11th September and Sunday 9th October from 10:00am to 12 noon.

The reserve has a very diverse range of indigenous plants including many lilies, orchids and other wildflowers, and significant remnants of the native vegetation that once covered the surrounding area.

The photo card below shows many of the native orchids that have been recorded in the Hidden Valley area by local botanical expert Paul Piko. More photos can be seen here: Nature Photos.

Meeting place is at the end of Lucca Way in Hidden Valley - https://goo.gl/maps/13s33vDmPS2Dy1Do6

To register for the walks contact Claudia James on 5783 1325.

Revolutionising Community Monitoring in Merri Creek - Friday 26 August

In this webinar RMIT and MCMC will discuss the results of water quality data that was collected in 2020-21, and what they mean for ongoing ecological health of Merri Creek. The cities of Moreland and Whittlesea will present on some of the exciting water quality improvement projects that they are working on.

For more information and to register for this webinar click here. 

Have Your Say

Proposed regulations for Metropolitan & Regional Parks - Closes 22nd August

DELWP proposes to make new regulations that are modern and fit for purpose for both metropolitan and regional parks (Crown land parks). The proposed regulations are outlined here. The document includes a list of affected parks at Appendix A, which includes Merri Creek Park.

Feedback on the draft regulations will help DELWP refine the final regulations to ensure that they reflect the views of Victorians, and include appropriate controls for:

• protecting environmental and cultural values;

• protecting health and safety, including fire risk;

• regulating activities that may or may not be allowed to protect values;

• the conduct of people in parks to minimise the impact on other park users.

Read more about the proposed regulations and have your say here: https://engage.vic.gov.au/MRP_Regulations 

Funding Opportunities

Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party - Community Grants 

The Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party (VSTWP) is providing community groups and organisations with the opportunity to apply for grants to manage serrated tussock.
Grants of up to $5,000 (GST excluded) are available to deliver a project which meets the priorities and criteria outlined in these guidelines.
Please see the guidelines and application form below, which includes how to submit the grant application, contact details and the criteria for assessment.

Grants are currently open for application: 
Apply here: VSTWP Community Grant Application form
Guidelines here: VSTWP Community Grant Guidelines

Landcare & Other Resources

Biosecurity for Beekeepers

With the destructive Varroa mite now in Australia, an online training course has been developed to make it easy for beekeepers to find out how to care for honey bees in accordance with the new Australian Honey Bee Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice.

The Biosecurity for Beekeepers course explains why biosecurity is important, describes the main pest threats to bees and shows how to check hives for signs of pests and diseases.

It’s designed for people with a basic understanding of beekeeping practices, but all beekeepers should find it helpful. If you would like to register for this biosecurity training you can do so here - Training « Bee Aware. This training can be completed at any time. 

New Gorse Plant Identification Guide

The Gorse Plant Identification guide has been redeveloped and is now available, both online and in print form. If you need help identifying gorse from other common native Victorian plants, then this guide is for you. It’s short, sweet, and simple to use. You can find it here - Gorse Plant Identification Guide.

Groups looking for hardcopies can contact the Victorian Gorse Taskforce Executive Officer on 0417 593 250 or info@vicgorsetaskforce.com.au to arrange a mail out.

TreeProject

TreeProject are still taking orders for seedlings until 30th September. The cost of ordering seedlings to be grown by TreeProject volunteers is $220 per order of 500 seedlings. This will provide you with 14 boxes, (a minimum of 500 seedlings). 

To learn more or to place an order, visit - Order Seedlings – Introduction | TreeProject