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APRIL 2022

Coming Events

Discovery Series

Tamar NRM is excited to launch the Tamar NRM Discovery Series. There is a range of interesting field trips and workshops on offer for FREE to engage, educate and inspire you. Jump on the website www.tamarnrm.com.au for details.

Our next Discovery Series Workshop:

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE

All events require participants to wear sturdy foot wear, sun smart clothing, hat, drink and snacks.

Some walks will involve walking up to 1 kilometres on uneven surfaces.

Registeration via our website: tamarnrm.com.au

Enquires: Alison Hugo Program Coordinator 0438 265 792
Alison.hugo@launceston.tas.gov.au

Thanks to grant funding from the Australian Government as part of the 2021 Volunteer Grants Program.

Our first workshop. Bird Identification Walk

Besom Heath Field Day

Besom Heath is the lesser-known cousin of Spanish Heath and is present in the Bridgenorth-Rosevale area of Tasmania. It is the only known infestation of weed in Australia. As part of its three-year Besom Heath Eradication Project, Tamar NRM will be hosting a Field Day on 26th May at Bridgenorth Football Club for anyone interested in learning more about the weed and project.

Funding Opportunity for Land Owners with the weed Besom Heath

Tamar NRM in Partnership with the Tasmanian Government’s Weeds Action Fund has funds available for landowners to assist in the control of the weed Besom Heath. There is funding for activities including weed mapping, weed management plans, purchase of chemicals and the hire of Tamar NRM's spray trailer.

If you have Besom Heath on your property and want more information please contact Denis Giasli at denisgiasli@gmail.com

Tamar Valley Farm Discussion Group

Let's talk about soils and pastures and cattle and carbon!!
And the weather…..

The Tamar Valley Farm Discussion Group is a group of 12-15 farmers who meet on the first Thursday of each month to talk….and talk they do, about all and everything to do with farming and land and animal management and the environment and work-life balance and equipment. There may be a beer and a steak thrown in for good measure.

Tamar NRM is delighted to support this group, which provides both a business and a social focus for participating farmers, who can often be quite isolated on their own properties. Did you hear about the latest drone technology…..?

Previous Events

Tamar Valley Leaders Lunch

The first Tamar Valley Leaders Lunch of 2022 was held on February 16^th, with Guest speaker Professor Dominic Geraghty, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Tasmania speaking on 'Sustainable Regional Campuses for the North'.

Dominic outlined the progress of the new buildings at the developing Inveresk campus of UTAS, and showcased the outstanding architectural design and high-level of sustainability built into the features of the buildings. This is an exciting development for the city of Launceston and the north of the state. The new Library is now open to students and the general public.

Tamar Valley Leaders Lunches are provided through a partnership between Tamar NRM, the Launceston Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Central Launceston, and the Hotel Grand Chancellor Launceston. Wine is provided by Velo Wines.

Leaders Lunches are planned for every second month in 2022 - the next will be in April.

Clean Up

Tamar NRM's Catch It in the Catchment held a successful clean-up event at River Bend Park with Soroptomist International and Minister for the Environment Roger Jaensch MP.

Lulworth Landcare also ran successful clean up event with 25 volunteers coming out to help keep the coastline rubbish free. Thank you to all the volunteers that attended clean up events.

Source to Sea Excursion

On March 31 and April 4, over 50 students, parents and teachers got to expereince the first Source to Sea, Kanamaluka/Tamar Estuary excursion as we followed the journey of the Kingsmeadows Rivulet from the source to the sea. The Friends of the QVMAG, the Childrens University and John Calvin School will also expereince the full day excusrsion later in the month.

Click on the link to follow the journey:

VIEW BOOKLET

This was all possible thanks to funds from TasNetworks Sustainable Futures Grant Program and support from Plastic Free Launceston and City of Launceston.

Completed Projects

Tamar Valley Weed Management Strategic Plan 2022-2026

We are delighted to announce the finalisation of the new Tamar Valley Weed Management Strategic Plan for 2022-2026. Funded through the Tasmanian Government's Weeds Action Fund and developed by local consultants RMCG, the Plan focusses on the 9 key weed species that impact the Tamar Valley's environment. The Plan provides a blueprint for regional action and activity to tackle weeds in the Valley.

The project was overseen by a Steering Committee and involved extensive community consultation and engagement from stakeholders across the region.

SEE PLAN

Ragwort Raids 2022

Ragwort is a serious “declared” weed in Tasmania and is poisonous to stock, particularly cattle and horses. It has the potential to infest at least 64,600 ha in the George Town, West Tamar and Launceston municipalities. It is also present through a large portion of the remainder of Tasmania. For the past 23 years the amount of ragwort in the three Tamar Valley municipalities has been significantly reduced during annual Ragwort Raids through the efforts of dedicated community volunteers in collaboration with the three Councils and a number of corporate organisations. The threat of widespread infestation and the financial burden that would impose has thus been avoided. There would be a significant cost if ragwort re-established in the Tamar Valley and surrounds.

The Ragwort Raids have supplemented the actions of many landholders to control this weed on their property by using a number of integrated measures, including chemical, mechanical and biological control. During January and February 2022, Tamar NRM coordinated four Ragwort Raids covering the majority of major roads and many minor roads in the three Council areas. The dedicated raiding days were: 22 January – East Tamar; 23 January – West Tamar; 25 & 29 February – Launceston and districts.

A big thanks to Ragwort Raid Coordinator Kay Bailey who coordinated the Ragwort Raids 2022.

Awards

Tamar NRM’s Sustainable Living Festival Recognition

Tamar NRM are very proud to announce the following awards.

2022 West Tamar Council's Australia Day Awards
Community Event of the Year
for the Sustainable Living Festival
- Winner

Spirit Super Business Excellence Awards
Exceptional Event of the Year Award
for the Sustainable Living Festival
- Honourable recognition

Other News

Welcome Denis Giasli

Project Co-ordinator, Besom Heath Eradication Project

We are delighted to announce that Denis Giasli has been appointed to the role of Project Coordinator for this important 3-year project to tackle - and hopefully eradicate - Besom Heath in the Bridgenorth area of the West Tamar.

Denis bring extensive experience of land and weeds management and a long-held interest in this particular weed. The project is co-funded by Tamar NRM and the Tasmanian Government's Weeds Action Fund, and runs to June 2023.

A chemical spray trial started in November 2020 will establish which chemical can effectively kill the weed, and this will be followed by on-ground works and the engagement of affected land holders.

TAMARNRM.COM.AU

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Tamar NRM · City Of Launceston Council Depot · 50 Remount Rd, MOWBRAY TAS 7248 · LAUNCESTON, TAS 7248 · Australia