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Central Otway Landcare Network covers Barongarook, Yeo, Yeodene, Elliminyt, Kawarren, Gellibrand, Carlisle River, Beech Forest, Ferguson, Alvie and the Stony Rises.
 
Central Otway Landcare Network - Events and Opportunities
  
Sep 14 2016                                      Sep 16 2016                                     Sep 16 2016
Barongarook Creek, Murray St Bridge, Colac

Contents
Funding and Project Opportunities -

Corangamite CMA is calling for expressions of interest for its Victorian Volcanic Plains Biodiversity Grants. Check out the CCMA website for the information and contacts www.ccma.vic.gov.au

The objective of the program is to support community/landholder involvement in protecting, enhancing or promoting Victorian Volcanic Plains and Western District Lakes biodiversity assets with a focus on on-ground outcomes and community awareness/engagement.

The VVP Biodiversity Grants Program is designed to contribute to the following:

• Facilitate on-ground biodiversity activities on the VVP.
• Enhance and maintain the capacity of private landholders to undertake biodiversity activities on their property.
• Increase community interest and knowledge of the VVP’s natural assets.
• Partnerships are fostered, built, maintained and strengthened that promote the VVP’s natural assets.
• Provide a catalyst for changing VVP land management behaviour/practices.





Applications are open until 30 October 2016.


More information and application forms – see links below.

VVP Biodiversity Grants Flyer
VVP Biodiversity Grants Round 2 Application Guidelines
 
This project is supported by the Corangamite CMA, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme
Anyone interested in the grants must be within the Corangamite CMA region and located on the Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion.

For further information or to register your interest, please contact Robert Bone on 5232 9100 or email: robert.bone@ccma.vic.gov.au
Do you have property in the Wool Wool, Corunnun, Alvie or Nalangil area? 
Did you notice a distinct increase in rabbit numbers this summer?

9 rabbits equates to 1 Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE).  Rabbits eat crops, roots, pastures, young trees, and young vines, and prefer short, succulent plants (native or not).  We can’t afford to keep feeding introduced European rabbits!

What: 
The community in the Wool Wool, Alvie, Corunnun and Nalangil area (Southeast of Lake Corangamite) is commencing a ‘Rabbit Reduction Program’ over the next three years.      

How:  
Incentive funding has been sourced for capacity building (Inc. Chem cert), planning,       rabbit treatment, harbour removal (ripping and woody weeds), mapping and monitoring to help landholders get on the front foot with rabbit management.

When: 
Landholders within the project area are invited to lodge an Expression of Interest (EOI) to participate in the project by Friday 11 November 2016.
There will be a Skills Workshop on Fri 4 Nov in Cororooke assisting you to design an integrated
approach to rabbit treatment (A Recipe for Success).  We’ll cover options and considerations for treating rabbits effectively on your property, helping to build your EOI and ensuring we’re all working together.  (Note: Attendees to the workshop will be favoured in the EOI assessment process)
 
Download your Expression of Interest from here

 
Image c/o Corangamite CMA

Alternatively - pick one up from the Cororooke General Store or Café Rooke (from Mon 29th Aug)

Or contact Landcare Facilitator Andrew Gray: 5232 9140 or email: andygray@coln.org.au
Recently the Barongarook Landcare Group (BLG) purchased a spray unit which can now be hired to BLG members.   Once membership is paid up, members can hire the unit for $50 per day. 

The unit comes with a Hire Agreement, operating and cleaning instructions.  It has a quality Honda motor, 400lt tank and two 50m hose reals with quality spray guns.   

Contact Andy for further details.
andygray@coln.org.au or 03 5232 9140     

 

 
Events -

Continued learning at the National Landcare Conference

Taking place at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre on 21-23 September, the 2016 National Landcare Conference and Awards offers three days of knowledge sharing, insightful discussion, as well as informative presentations by pioneers, leaders of NRM bodies, scientists, academics, government, and environmental, climate and biodiversity experts.

Based around the theme ‘Collaborative Communities – Landcare in Action’, the diverse conference programme will provide; robust discussion, opportunities to network with peers, and insights from community leaders and innovators on the latest trends and technologies driving the industry.

Delegates are also invited to experience local natural resource management across Victoria, firsthand – where this year Victorian’s celebrate 30 years of Landcare – through a number of field trips to sites and projects.

In collaboration with National Landcare Network and NRM Regions Australia. Delivered by Landcare Australia through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and the Victorian Government.

Register or
Find out more at the Landcare Australia Communities Portal   (if not already, click the 'sign up' button)
Weekend 11-14 November 2016

Spring on the Victorian Volcanic Plain: Native Grasslands, Stony Rises, Lakes and Seasonal Wetlands

The Victorian Volcanic Plain Biosphere Committee is working towards establishing a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve over the Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion in Victoria. One of the main aims of this weekend tour around Camperdown is to raise the profile and appreciation of the critically endangered grasslands and grassy woodlands in the region.

We invite you to join us for an interesting natural history weekend, where we will showcase a number of features around the Camperdown area, including visits to Plains Grassland sites, stony rises and several significant lakes.

The area we will visit is at the centre of the Western District Ramsar Lakes, which have fascinating hypersaline ecology. The diversity of habitats on the Victorian Volcanic Plain is substantial and we've designed this event to help you experience the original natural habitats, understand the threats to the region's values and the priority actions for conservation.
We've chosen a selection of special places that you wouldn't normally visit, including interesting remnants on private land, and we've invited a number of local experts to explain the various features to you.

We're excited to share the unique values of these locations with you!

Go to the Eventbrite page for much more detail and bookings, with tickets at $65.

If you feel you need more information before purchasing a ticket, please send the VVP Bioshere Committee an email at vvpbiosphere@gmail.com

The Otway Food and Fibre Showcase was a hit in April and we intend to run a bigger and better event in 2017.   

Save the date - Sunday 30 April 2017
 
Again, the event will be at the Commerce Pavilion, Colac Show Grounds.  It will also be part of Eat Local Month, the mega celebration of all things 'local food', across the Surf Coast and Otway Shires.
Would you like to help out? If you have any interest in sharing or developing your skills in 'Local Food' event management and coordination, please don't hesitate to get in touch.  Many hands make light work!
Particular assistance is required in coordinating demonstrations and venue (village) layout and design. 
More info coming soon.
Connewarre Landcare invites you to their Bee Keeping Workshop

Saturday 8th October 2016 
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
5 Lower Mount Duneed Road, Mt Duneed.
1pm Registration and Welcome, 1.30pm to 4pm  presentation by local bee keeper John Edmonds.

This workshop is a free event sponsored by Connewarre Landcare    
 
Please RSVP to Ernie Fontaine – Secretary Connewarre Landcare
 By 5.00pm Friday 7th October 2016 – email esprit1@bigpond.com or 0421210178

           
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
  • how many hives can you have or need
  • how do I get started
  • what type of bees are best
  • what time commitment is required
  • what diseases and pests affect the bees and hives
  • when is the best time to harvest the honey
  • where should hives be placed on a property
  • how are hives cleaned and inspected
  • how do I get more information
  • where can I buy equipment from 
  • and much more 
Registrations are now open. Early bird is $225+GST and there are pre-conference tours and post-conference workshops which can be booked at the same time. Around half the expo booths are taken.

All info is on the website http://www.nationalbiologicalfarmingconference.org.au/ and there are regular updates on Facebook – please like the page: https://www.facebook.com/biofarmingconference/ and follow the conversation at #natbiofarming2016
  • Victorian Landcare magazine - Issue 66
       

Otway Food and Fibre Showcase 2016 
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Barongarook Landcare Group · 64 Dennis Street · Colac, Vic 3250 · Australia

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