September 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

Recent events

National Tree Day events 

Volunteers from the Friends of Merri Creek (FoMC), Wallan Environment Group (WEG) and Upper Plenty Merri Catchments Landcare Group (UPMC) recently took part in Australia's largest tree planting and nature care event.

The two groups held community tree planting days in their communities to celebrate National Tree Day. 55 volunteers from the three groups planted almost 1000 indigenous trees and shrubs at sites in Wallan and Upper Plenty.

Our Lady of the Way Primary School Junior landcare 

Students from the Our Lady of the Way Primary School recently planted 200 indigenous plants. The students did a great job with a lot of enthusiasm as they mulched the garden, planted the plants and protected them with tree guards. The garden is really taking shape and it is part of the schools 'Bush Foods and Biodiversity' project which has been kindly funded by Landcare Australia. 

City meets the country #2 - Landcare & ANZ Tree Planting Day

Volunteers from the ANZ Bank recently travelled to Upper Plenty and joined with local Landcarers to help plant over 150 indigenous plants on the property of a Upper Plenty Merri Landcare member. After a good mornings work, the team appreciated the great BBQ lunch and dessert put on by the landowner David.
Plants were kindly supplied with funding from Fifteen Trees. https://15trees.com.au/

Landcare Week 2023 Celebration Dinner

To celebrate Landcare Week, more than 30 people from Kinglake, Whittlesea and Upper Plenty Merri Landcare Groups got together.
As one Landcarer put it. “We both really enjoyed last night's Landcare Week celebration. We usually aren't very comfortable mingling in a group but we did chat with quite a lot of people whom we'd never met before. It was a lovely idea to bring together several groups with similar aims and ethics. It's good to share experiences and ideas and to connect with other people's passions and inspirations. We enjoyed all of the talks and learnt from each of them.”  

Coming up

Hidden Valley Wildflower Walk - Sunday 24th September.

Walk among wildflowers on the Hidden Valley Rail Reserve.  
10am, Sunday 24th September.
A chance to see spring wildflowers, experience the rail reserve’s beauty and hear how this could become a lasting recreational asset for the whole community.
Meet at the end of Lucca Way, Hidden Valley.

More details and to RSVP: Claudia James (h: 5783 1325, m: 0438 880 941) or Tim Budge (m: 0412 051 574)

Rabbit Management Session - Saturday 14th October 

Join Landcare and the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) presenter, Neil Devanney for an information session on how to manage rabbits on your property.
We will look at the various control techniques that can be applied on your property and the technical side of effective rabbit control including:
• 'how big is the problem?' importance of monitoring
• how to knock down numbers effectively 
• warren and harbour destruction 
• the importance of follow up control
• and the strategic application of these components of control

When: Saturday 14th October 
Time: 10AM to 2PM.
Where: The Shack, Wallan-Whittlesea Road, Upper Plenty
RSVP to Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator Chris Cobern on 0413 855 490 or chriscobern@mcmc.org.au

Landcare Native Bat Discovery Night - Tuesday 31st October

Join Whittlesea Landcare to learn all about native Australian bats from Rob Gration, ecologist and director of EcoAerial with over 20 years of field based experience and technical expertise.
Join Rob in setting and checking some bat traps and be enthralled by a presentation about these fascinating nocturnal flying mammals. 

Tuesday 31st October 7pm-9pm
Whittlesea Community Activity Centre on Laurel St, Whittlesea
Bookings essential via: Landcare@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or Ph: 0437 345 475

This family friendly event involves an evening stroll (subject to weather) so please bring weather appropriate clothing for the event and a torch. 

Merri Creek bird survey - Sunday 17th September.

Merri Creek BirdWatch survey Sunday 17th September from 8:45 – 10:30am.         

Where: Bababi marning (Cooper St Grasslands). Meet in Cooper St service lane, just west of St George Chaldean Catholic Centre, Cooper St, Campbellfield.

Joining in a bird survey on the Merri Creek is a great way to find out about our fascinating local birds. It's also an enjoyable get-together, with some gentle exercise. Information collected in the surveys is valuable in showing the changes in bird populations over time, including their response to habitat restoration and revegetation along the creek.              

More information here.

Cattle Handling & Husbandry Field Day - Saturday 23rd September

Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to care and handle your cattle! Join us and Jack Briscoe as we learn how to ensure a low stress and high animal welfare farm!
This will be a FREE on-farm demonstration on cattle health, safety, and well-being.
Topics we will cover:
Understanding livestock behaviour
Best practice and timing of cattle husbandry
Practical demonstration of low stress handling, drenching, vaccination and ear tagging
Biosecurity practices and the importance of quarantining

Lunch will be provided so registration is essential! To register click here. 
9.30 to 12.30 at the Yan Yean Farm at 959 Donnybrook Rd Yan Yean.
For more information, contact the Stock Sense team at StockSense@vff.org.au or call 1300 882 833. 

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.

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 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