march 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

Demonstrating Effective Weed Control Techniques - Saturday 15th April

Upper Plenty Merri Matchments Landcare invite you to a weed control field day demonstrating effective weed control techniques.
Date: Saturday 15th April 
Time: 10am -12pm
Location: Cleves Road South, Upper Plenty
Address link: https://goo.gl/maps/V4yPJNaHQqETc6pcA

Demonstration activities include:
EcoBlade demonstration - Regional Vic Farm Services
Demonstrating rig and backpack spraying – TREC Land Services
Drone spraying demonstration - Drone Spraying Australia

RSVP to Chris Cobern 0413 855 490 or email: chriscobern@mcmc.org.au 

Registering your property for native vegetation offsets - Thursday, 23 March

Are you interested in registering your property for native vegetation offsets but unsure how it works?

We have a guest speaker from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to learn all you need to know about this land management option.

The webinar will cover a range of topics, including:

• What native vegetation offsets are, and how the offset register works
• Benefits of accepting native vegetation offsets on your property (why consider it?)
• What makes a property eligible to accept offsets
• Steps involved in registering your property to accept native vegetation offsets
• Management and reporting requirements
  Plus, there will be time for questions and answers.

BOOKINGS: via Eventbrite
More information on Councils 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.

The National Feral Deer Action Plan (NFDAP)

The National Feral Deer Action Plan (NFDAP) is out for comment until 20 March 2023. 

This is an important plan as it is the first approach to addressing the problem of feral deer nationally and submissions and comments are encouraged. The plan is about establishing a containment line to stop the spread, remove smaller and isolated populations and protect high value assets.

To view the plan and make a submission click here.

Peri-Urban Property Biosecurity workshop (Wollert)

FREE Periurban Property Biosecurity workshop aimed at rural residents and community members interested in different aspects of farming.
During this free in-person session, you will hear from Scott Williams, Director of Forest Hill Consulting, as he discusses:

• The importance of biosecurity
• What would happen in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak
• Principles of good biosecurity
• How to find resources and develop a biosecurity plan.

This special workshop will provide residents with an opportunity to share their knowledge, understanding and ideas about managing property biosecurity and its local threats, helping to protect the agribusiness sector.
When: Thursday 30 March, 7pm-9pm. Doors will open at 6.30pm for registration and networking, with light refreshments provided.

Register your place by visiting: Eventbrite

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 membership.upmclg@gmail.com

Funding & grants

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 

Latest Land for Wildlife Victoria newsletter

This edition features a variety of articles. 

For example, discover how much you know about Fairy-wrens with the Fairy Wren quiz (bottom of page 5).

The article on Remote Cameras (page 15) may be useful to assist in monitoring wildlife visiting a revegetated area.

Nature Projects Online (page 5) is an example of the diversity of resources and information available on the internet. Listen to the different sounds that nature makes, including the chorus of calls that make up the natural world around us.

Hear from Sean Mc Connell (page 9) as he interviews land owners who are balancing production with conservation, restoring and protecting landscapes, and taking our land use to new innovative places.

Read how the translocation of Koalas in Victoria has been an important component of Koala management for more than 90 years, beginning with a history of Koalas on page 12.

I hope this edition of the LFW Newsletter finds you motivated for another year of managing and restoring wildlife habitat. Click on the link here: Newsletter.