New website for the LPLN

The Loddon Plains Landcare Network is proud to present the brand new LPLN website.

Please visit www.lpln.org.

The website will be the new home of the LPLN blog, meaning this blog will no longer be updated. The website also contains plenty of other information and resources about the network, including our brand new "Blueprint for Action".

If you would like to receive email updates from the network, you can subscribe by entering your email address on the right sidebar.

Happy browsing!

January Issue LPLN News

The January issue of the LPLN News has been released!

The newsletter can be downloaded here.

Blueprint for Action

Happy New Year! The Loddon Plains Landcare Network has taken shipment of 250 copies of our "Blueprint for Action". The blueprint is the LPLN strategy document and outlines the network are, our focus, biodiversity elements and potential future projects through words, maps and photos.

The completion of the blueprint is a milestone for the LPLN and is a testament to the hard work of many people from the network, with the ongoing support of the Norman Wettenhall Foundation. Groups will receive copies of the blueprint over the next couple of months.

Seasons Greetings from the LPLN

Seasons Greetings from the LPLN! Group Christmas break ups and BBQs are on in earnest. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. All the best for the rest of 2012 (and the rest of harvest season). See you all in 2013.

Mt Buckrabanyule - Opuntioid Cacti National Coordinator visit

The National Coordinator for Opuntioid Cacti, Shauna Potter visited Mt Buckrabanyule on Friday 16th November. Ms Potter is undertaking a tour of areas in Victoria to gather information on Wheel Cactus and other Opuntioid Cacti, and the works being undertaken to control these invasive weeds.

 

Along with representatives of the local Wychitella District Landcare Group, Parks Victoria, the North Central Catchment Management Authority and the Loddon Plains Landcare Network, the gathering enabled a broad ranging discussion on the Wheel Cactus infestation at Mt Buckrabanyule from a National through to local perspective.

 

The group visited some of the core infestations on the mountain and heard from locals as to some of the issues arising from the weed and it's control

The LPLN is developing a project proposal to help control the Wheel Cactus on the mountain, which is a main infestation and source in the district. The most effective treatment for Wheel Cactus control is stem and pad injection with glyphosate.

Photos (click to enlarge) by Anthony Gallacher: Core infestation of Wheel Cactus (top), locals and representatives (middle), a large Wheel Cactus specimen (bottom).

November Issue LPLN News

The November issue of the LPLN News has been released!

The newsletter can be downloaded from the Loddon Plains Landcare Network gateway portal. Follow this link.

Northern Plains CMN joins the LPLN

The Northern Plains Conservation Management Network (NPCMN) is the newest group to become a member of the Loddon Plains Landcare Network.

The NPCMN works with communities, government agencies and non-government organisations within the regional landscape to protect, enhance and promote grassland and woodland ecosystems. This is done through recognising and supporting a workable balance between biodiversity conservation and sustainable farming. The network administers and promotes the implementation of land management techniques such as pest plant and animal control, fencing and revegetation with the aim of increasing habitat quality and extent.

The NPCMN focal ecological communities are the nationally critically endangered Natural Grasslands of the Murray Valley Plains and the nationally endangered Buloke Woodland of the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression Bioregions.

 

"We are very much looking forward to forging a strong and inspired partnership with the LPLN into the future to help secure and manage our remaining native flora and fauna." Beau Kent, NPCMN Facilitator.

Communities for Nature Small Grants - Open

The Communities for Nature Grants 2012 Small Grants Opportunity round has been released by the Department of Sustainability and Environment.

The grants are targeted towards community groups tackling local environmental issues, with funds available up to $10,000 per project. Applications close on the 19th of December 2012.

More information is available on the DSE website here.

Aerial flight - Farming for Sustainable Soils

The Salisbury West and Mt Korong Landcare Farming for Sustainable Soils group undertook aerial monitoring of their area on the 19th of October.  There were 3 flights, enabling 30 people from the group to view the Landcare efforts across the landscape. The flight departed from Bendigo and included a sweep down to Laanecoorie, then followed the Loddon River north past Bridgewater up to the Serpentine Creek and a circle out around the Fernihurst Weir. The flight concluded with a sweep past Mt Korong.

The monitoring flight looked at the initiatives of the group including the works on planting trees, putting in corridors across the agricultural landscape and widening the riparian area of the Loddon River. Also under observation was the effect of increasing ground cover between crops. The vantage point from above enabled a clear view of any exposed soils in paddocks. The importance of roadside conservation reserves and riparian vegetation corridors in the Loddon Plains landscape was also very pronounced from above.

The ideal flying conditions made for an insightful and enjoyable flight.

Photos: Plane at Bendigo airport (top), Loddon River and Serpentine Creek (bottom).

Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park Open Weekend

The Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park held their annual Open Weekend of the park on the 5th-7th of October. The weekend was part of the 2012 Naturally Loddon Festival.

Over 40 people attended the weekend at various stages, with some new memberships among the members renewing theirs again for 2012-2013. 

Based at the historic Davies Homestead, attendees were treated to various talks on the Friday evening, including Helen Stevens local history presentation.

Weekend activities included the removal of old animal exclusion plots and fallen fences, weeding around the meeting complex, preparing tree guards to be installed later this month, and seedlings planted last year were checked for their progress.

A total of 27mm of rain fell over the weekend, which resulted in the program being slightly modified from expected and may have kept attendance down. However the weekend was still a success despite the damp weather!

Congratulations to the Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park committee and volunteers who put a tremendous amount of effort into organising the event each year.

Photos by Jill Millsom: Retrieving animal exclusion plots (top), Helen Stevens local history talk (middle), wildflower display (bottom).

FTLA Secrets to Successful Groups Training - Bendigo

The Farm Tree & Landcare Association are running a "Secrets to Successful Groups" training session in Bendigo on Thursday 29th of November 2012.

The Department of Sustainability and Environment is supporting ten sessions across Victoria to assist Landcarers to improve the capacity and health of their groups and networks.

Each session will cover several topics out from the following:

• Legal duties and governance
• Employment and employer responsibilities
• Effective decision-making
• Health and Safety
• Manageing the books
• Volunteer recruitment and succession

Sessions are open to all Landcare groups, Friends of groups and anyone else in the community involved in Landcare. The session is free with lunch and refreshments provided!

The flyer can be found here.

To RSVP email ftla@vff.org.au or call 03 9207 5527 and include your top 3 preferred topics.

Field Trip to Salisbury West and the Loddon Foothills

15 boarded the bus at Bridgewater for the tour of Salisbury West and the Loddon Foothills as part of the Naturally Loddon Festival on 30 September. The tour showed the works of the Salisbury West Landcare Group fitting with the festival aims to promote the natural environment, biodiversity and cultural heritage in the Loddon Shire. The group heard commentary from local knowledge brokers Jean McClymont, Phil Dyson and John Penny.

Tourers were treated to beautiful sites around the area including the Loddon River, Serpentine Weir, and Salisbury West, as well as the significant Indigenous Cultural Heritage Site at Powlett Swamp.

The remarkable achievements of the Landcare group were plain to see (in shelterbelts, green haystacks and in fencing of the Loddon River) but also more nuanced in the works done in regards to soil sustainability, farm works, crop and pasture rotations.

At one point a snappy snake gave the group a fright, reminding us that spring has arrived in our natural wonderland.

Many thanks to Jean McClymont for organising the trip and to the State Government Victorian Landcare Grants and the North Central Catchment Management Authority for funds to run a most enjoyable day. 

Thanks also to the Loddon Shire for promotion and running of the Naturally Loddon Festival.

Photos (click to enlarge): Salisbury West stop (top left), Paddock talk with John Penny (top right), Serpentine Weir (bottom left), Loddon River (bottom centre), Powlett Swamp (bottom right).

Goldfields Bridal Creeper Bash

The Loddon Plains Landcare Network has been successful in its application for a Project Grant in the 2012/2013 Victorian Landcare Grants Program. The grant allows the Network to develop a Bridal Creeper control and community awareness project, targeting two infested sites in Bridgewater and Inglewood.

Part of the project includes a Chemical Users Training Course run in early 2013, available for members of the LPLN. Members who are happy to volunteer in the spraying of Bridal Creeper at the two sites will receive a subsidised spot in the Chemical Users Training Course thanks to the grant. 

Please get in touch with Anthony Gallacher if you want more information on the project, or to register your interest in doing the training.

Email: anthony.gallacher@gmail.com
Phone: 03 5446 9249
Mobile: 0447 095 501

Photo of Bridal Creeper

September Issue LPLN News

The September issue of the LPLN News has been released!

The newsletter can be downloaded from the Loddon Plains Landcare Network gateway portal. Visit the following link:

http://northcentral.landcarevic.net.au/lpln/newsletter

Loddon Vale Landcare Fishing Platform Opening

A gathering of people enjoyed ideal weather on Fathers Day for the opening of the Loddon Vale Landcare Fishing Platform on Serpentine Creek at Durham Ox.

Attendees were greeted with the sounds of country music provided by Peter Sheahan and wife Evelyn, with the fishing platform acting as an ideal stage.

The gathering heard from Laurie Maxted and guests including Loddon Shire Mayor Geoff Curnow and North Central Catchment Management Authority CEO Damien Wells, before the Hon Peter Walsh MP officially opened the Platform, casting a line into the Serpentine Creek.

After the plaque unveiling and some tree planting, the group relocated down the road to the Durham Ox Hall, where they enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by the Maxted family.

The platform is a culmination of a large effort by the Loddon Vale Landcare group and many others.

Loddon Vale Landcare President Laurie Maxted emphasised the extensive community involvement in the Fishing Platform project. “Grateful thanks to the North Central CMA, Loddon Shire, Morsons for the monument, Alan Gerard Stringer and Paul Henderson for constructing the Shed, Minister Walsh for opening the platform and Loddon Plains Landcare for their contribution” Mr Maxted said. “This is the Victorian Government’s fishing licence revenue at work,” Mr Maxted said.

“A special thanks to all the Loddon Vale members who helped out at the working bees and to Averil Harris for all the behind the scenes work. It’s certainly pleasing to see it already being used” Laurie Maxted said.

Photos by Anthony Gallacher.

Top: Sheahans provide some country music entertainment.

Middle: Minister Walsh casts the first line into the Serpentine Creek

Below (left to right): Tree planting, Crowd watches the launch proceedings, Signage in the Fishing Platform shed

Farming for Sustainable Soils

The combined Salisbury West and Mt Korong Landcare Groups Farming for Sustainable Soils project is in its second year of trials funded through the Federal Governments Caring for Our Country funding.

The groups have been busy with the project, addressing a variety of issues with ground cover maintenance, stubble retention, shelterbelts and soil tests.

Two paddock walks have been held to examine the pasture varietal site at Salisbury West, one of half a dozen paddock scale demonstration sites. Late in August a crop walk was conducted from Powlett to Korong Vale, discussing yield prediction, crop nutrient requirements, stubble retention and moisture retention in trial paddocks.

"Green Haystacks" are managed for grazing while providing shelter and biodiversity across the landscape. These salt bushes, acacias and trees are planted in fenced blocks turning unproductive land into grazing opportunities for sheep.

Ongoing independent soil tests have identified the need for remediation techniques trials in 2013 on all soil types in order to address hard panning and anaerobic soils.

For more information on the Farming for Sustainable Soils project, contact the Facilitator Jean McClymont, ph: 03 5437 3281 or email: bjmccly@activ8.net.au.

Photos: Jean McClymont

East Loddon Landcare Meeting

East Loddon Landcare had it's first gathering on Wednesday 15th August at the Four Posts Hotel, Jarklin. There was a great turn out with 20 people attending. The meeting was chaired by Bill Twigg. Anthony Gallacher from the Loddon Plains Landcare Network also helped out with proceedings and talked about the network, fielding answers for questions about Landcare.

The interim start up committee will meet on the 5th of September, with the Inaugural General Meeting for the group on the 12th of September at the Jarklin Pub.

Thanks to Bill Twigg for organising the evening and to all who came along!

Photos by Anthony Gallacher: Left - Bill Twigg; Right - Attendees.

Annual General Meeting

The Loddon Plains Landcare Network Annual General Meeting is being held at the Shire Offices in Serpentine on the 4^th of September, 7pm-9.30pm.

The AGM is a chance to mingle with members from other groups and get up to speed with the progress of the network. The President, Treasurer and Landcare Facilitator will present their annual reports.

Light supper provided. Please attend if you are able!

Ministerial visit to the LPLN

The State Minister for Environment The Hon Ryan Smith MP visited the Loddon Plains Landcare Network (LPLN) area on Wednesday the 25^th July. Arriving aboard a coach with the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) Board, the Minister paid a visit to the Loddon Vale Landcare Fishing Platform project on Serpentine Creek at Durham Ox.

NCCMA Board member and LPLN President Laurie Maxted spoke about the Fishing Platform project and this was followed by lunch up the road at the Maxted family homestead.

Over lunch the LPLN Facilitator, Anthony Gallacher spoke about the progress of the network to date, including the success of the workshops run in May and the advancement of the GOANNA project with the support of The Norman Wettenhall Foundation.

The LPLN Committee of Management would like to thank the State Government for its support of the network through the Victorian Local Landcare Facilitator Initiative and the Victorian Landcare Grants Program.

A special thanks to the Maxted family for their hospitality and a delicious lunch.

From left to right: James Williams (NCCMA Board), Anthony Gallacher (LPLN Facilitator), The Hon. Ryan Smith MP (Minister for Environment), Sarah Meredith (Ministerial Advisor). Photo: Mal Brown

East Loddon Landcare Pub Night

 

East Loddon Landcare is reforming, starting with a pub night at the Jarklin Four Posts Hotel. 

Get involved in Landcare and hear news from the Loddon Plains Landcare Network.

Pub meal provided. 

Come along and help create a new local Landcare community.

 

7pm Wednesday 15^th August

Four Posts Hotel,

Cnr Loddon Valley Hwy & Jarklin East Rd, Jarklin

 

For more information contact Anthony Gallacher on 0447 095 501, 5446 9249 or by email at anthony.gallacher@gmail.com.