February 2023

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

Coming up

Feral Deer Management Workshop - Clonbinane

Topics covered include: 
• Deer Identification
• Deer sign
• A basic understanding of deer and their behaviour
• Control methods
• Deer management plans & how best to implement them
• Processing or utilising deer after harvesting them
• Plus answering questions on the day

Workshop – Saturday 18th February 
9.30am – 12.30pm

Please RSVP by 15th February
Contact Sonia; swg_landcare@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au or Ph: 0409 515 630

Healthy Land, Healthy Horses Equiculture Workshop 

Internationally acclaimed UK author and expert on horse property management, Stuart Myers is coming to Victoria for a series of land management workshops for horse owners.

A one day workshop will be held in Beveridge on 4 March 2023.                                                            Email elyse.kelly@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au for more details and booking information.

For more details on Victorian workshops visit the Equiculture website.

Dung Beetle Workshop - Romsey

At this Dung Beetle workshop with guest speaker Karen Thomas from Melbourne Water you have the  opportunity to find out:

What beetles are in your area
Why dung beetles are important to your farm ecosystem and how to attract more
How you can monitor and rear more dung beetles
Workshop will be followed by an on-site farm walk to find some dung beetles.

This event will be held on Thursday 30 March from 10:30am-12:30pm. For more information, and to register visit - Dung Beetle Workshop - Romsey.

Farm Chemical Users Course - ACUP

A two day Farm Chemical Users Course will be held in Whittlesea township on 18 and 25 March 2023. The course will qualify participants for the Agricultural Chemical Users Permit (ACUP). Cost is $50pp.

To register for the course contact Emma Bennett, Whittlesea Landcare Facilitator M 0437 345 475 E emma.bennett@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Group

Interested in becoming a Landcare member? 
Did you know being a landcare member can give you access to funding for weeds / revegetation / fencing and a variety of field days and workshops for knowledge learning and sharing.
As well as a social connection to your local community and neighbours.

Link to the Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Group (UPMC) Facebook page here.

For UPMC Landcare Group membership enquires contact Kate Toogood on 0404 720 564 or membership.upmclg@gmail.com

Funding & grants

The Seedling Bank - grant applications now open 

Since 1996, National Tree Day has seen Australian communities plant almost 26 million trees. The Seedling Bank aims to further support these dedicated volunteers with their planting efforts by providing financial support where seedlings are needed most.

The program supplies native seedlings to schools and community groups around Australia. Financial grants are awarded directly to successful applicants to get seedlings in the ground and help restore our unique Australian landscape. So far, 90 groups have received funding through The Seedling Bank and almost 39,000 seedlings have been planted around Australia.

The Seedling Bank supports projects both big and small throughout the year, as we believe every day is Tree Day.

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 

Native plants & animals

Growling Grass Frog in the Merri Catchment

The Growling Grass Frog (GGF), Litoria raniformis, once abundant across Victoria’s lowlands, is now considered Vulnerable, nationally. In the Merri Creek, this species is still present, but is highly threatened by development impacts. 

Read more here about the masterplan to improve planning outcomes and habitat for the Merri Growling Grass Frog populations. 

Providing water for your local birds this summer 

It might not feel like it, but summer is upon us which means that, particularly on hot days, birds and other wildlife are looking for places to have a quick drink and cool off. For tips and information click here. 

Loving Grasslands Documentary Series

Loving Grasslands is a 4-part documentary series capturing passionate local landholders and managers in the Hume region who are working with nature to restore and maintain the health and biodiversity of the local environment.

Episode 1 - Diggers Restoration: Since 2001, Dietmar and Susanne Hildebrand of Diggers Rest have turned the once parched site of the original Sunbury Rock Festival into a park-like retreat for nature lovers.

Episode 2 - Out of Nature’s Way: When a 2014 fire destroyed trees, fences and livestock, landholding veterinarians, David & Lisa Brown of Sunbury, decided to let nature help restore landscape biodiversity.

Episode 3 - Striving for Complexity: By controlling Bent grass with cell grazing, John Lakey is creating a complex of winter and summer active pasture species, resulting in more complex flavours in the beef produced from Lakey Farms, Sunbury.

Episode 4 - Restoration by Fire: In Eucalyptus Court Reserve, Mickleham, Hume’s Eric Stone is using fire to restore this grassy woodland and create habitat for indigenous species of flora and fauna, especially woodland birds.

To learn more, go to - Loving Grasslands - Hume City Council