April 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 

Webinar: Hunters to assist with deer control - Wednesday 5th April.

One of the range of options available for landowners to control the impact of deer and other pest species is to have recreational hunters come onto your property to control deer.

This raises lots of questions around insurance, safety, level of skill and accreditation, the sort of equipment used and the legal side of what landowners can and can’t do, such as what happens to carcasses and the use of firearms in populous areas.
The Sporting Shooters Association of Victoria (SSAA) runs a farmer assist program that offers a free pest control service to landowners.
David Laird from the SSAA will present to the next webinar more information about this service, answer any questions and show how landowners can access it. 
This will help you decide if this is an option for your situation.

The details are:
Date: Wednesday 5th April
Time: 5pm - 6pm
Place: On line – email Peter Jacobs for registration
VDCCN Executive Officer and Victorian Deer Project Officer, Invasive Species Council.
peterj@invasives.org.au

Land Management and Conservation. 

Mitchell Shire Council's information for residents on land management and conservation can be found here.

Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Group

UPMC Landcare Group meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of the month at The Shack, 1240 Wallan Rd Upper Plenty.

Next meeting is 6.30PM Wednesday 19th April.

A guest speaker will be local agronomist and grower Ian Mot. Ian will lead a practical how-to discussion about understanding your soil health, challenges, identifying weaknesses and how to manage and improve them. 

Interested in becoming a Landcare member? 
Did you know being a landcare member can give you access to funding for weeds / revegetation / fencing, and access to 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

Friends of Grasslands 2023 Small Grassy Ecosystem Grants

Friends of Grasslands is again offering grants of up to $1500 each for projects that promote the understanding, conservation, and management of native grassy ecosystems. 

A grant may be used to fund a small project or to partially contribute to a larger project. The nature of an eligible project can involve one or more of the following: education, research, surveys, monitoring, citizen science, on-ground work or training, publications (physical or electronic), advocacy or policy development, publicity and awareness raising, collaboration and networking, Indigenous engagement, or other forms of communication (spoken or written word, visual, other sensory).

Any individual or organisation can apply. Further information and to how apply here.

Closing date for applications is Friday 21st April.

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 

New Grassland Species Brochure now on-line.

MCMC contributed funds to produce the Grassy Plains Network brochure, Natural Temperate Grassland Species of the Victorian Volcanic Plain, showing the plants and animals of the native grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plain.

You can now download the brochure here.

Australian Plants Society Mitchell Group newsletter

Australian Plants Society Mitchell Group's first newsletter for 2023. Link here.