DECember 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

Junior Landcare Nest Box Activity

Students from Our Lady of the Way Primary School recently installed nesting boxes that they built along the Wallan Creek at the Wallan Community Park.
The boxes will provide important artificial homes for wildlife including sugar gliders, ringtail possums and parrots. We also inspected some of the other nest boxes at the reserve that were installed last year and found ringtail possums nesting in them.
The teachers and students said that they all had a lot of fun and it was so great to see the kids outside enjoying nature.

Landcare farm dam planting activity 

On Wednesday 22nd November 11 keen landcarers planted 200 sedges and aquatic plants around a dam on the farm of an UPMC Landcare member.
The landowner has fenced the dam off from his stock and the new plantings will help to increase aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity and habitat, and improve the water quality in his dam. After the planting was completed, and in typical Landcare tradition, we were treated to a delicious lunch and dessert which everyone enjoyed.

New Environment Group for Hidden Valley

The Hidden Valley Environment Group Subcommittee (HVEG) was officially established at a community meeting in Hidden Valley on 29 November 2023.
HVEG has been established to perform tasks, community engagement activities, and undertake work that is focused on protecting, enhancing, and restoring the natural environment of Hidden Valley, Wallan, on behalf of Wallan Environment Group (WEG).
WEG's committee looks forward to working with HVEG on work to protect, enhance, and restore the natural environment of Hidden Valley, on both public and private land.

HVEG's next meeting is at 6.30pm on Wednesday evening 10th January at the Hidden Valley Resort.
If you are interested in learning more please contact the Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator, Chris Cobern on 0413 855 490 or email chriscobern@mcmc.org.au

Landcare News

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

Merri Creek - A Ribbon of Nature in Melbourne's North

Just in time for Christmas, this beautiful full colour book, Merri Creek: a ribbon of nature in Melbourne’s North, celebrates 50 years of community efforts to protect and restore one of Melbourne’s most popular waterways. Contributions from more than 20 photographers demonstrate the vibrant flora, fauna, and history of the creek.
Based on a series of banners developed for Merri Creek Management Committee in 2015, the book highlights the outstanding community achievement since 1975 in transforming the Merri Creek from a weed-smothered drain to a much-loved waterway running through a bushland corridor.

$65 from the Friends of Merri Creek on-line shop 

“For thousands of years, the Creek and surrounding lands were a source of food and culture which sustained the traditional custodians, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people. But by 1970 the Merri was in crisis. Heavily polluted, with much of the native vegetation and wildlife gone, it had become a drain and a dumping ground. Over the past few decades, the story of the Merri has been one of transformation. […] Today, the Merri Creek is flourishing again, but there are many challenges ahead and there is still much work to be done. We invite you to join in this community effort.”

Nature Stewards Program

Mitchell Shire Council together with Macedon Ranges Shire Council and Hepburn Shire Council have joined with the Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) to run a Nature Stewards program.
This 6-to-10-week program running from 16 March to the 25 May 2024, teaches participants about local environment, ecosystem processes and sustainable land management.
Topics will include:
· Geology and soils 
· Fungi
· Plants
· Animals
· Climate change and seasons
· Ways to care for Country and manage private property
· How to become a citizen scientist, conservation volunteer, advocate for nature, or a nature guide

A 50% subsidy is being officered by Mitchell Shire Council.
Applications are now open via the VNPA website and close 3 March 2024.

Funding & grants

Victorian Government’s Partnerships Against Pests Grants Program

The Allan Labor Government is delivering a new round of grants that will help Victorian farmers, landowners and landcare groups manage established weeds and pest animals.
See media release.

These grants are not for on-ground works, but instead for:
capacity building
raising awareness
partnerships & collaborations
Applications close: 9am Monday 19 February 2024. More information here.

Grant Guidelines and Grant Proposal Form are attached and accessible versions are available to download here.