KCLG Landcare eNews - September 2020
KCLG incorporates Landcare sub-Groups Upper Kiewa, Kergunyah-Gundowring, Kiewa-Bonegilla and independent Groups Baranduda and Yackandandah Creek.
Hello Landcarers,
Welcome to the September edition of the KCLG eNews! How are we going?
If you have something to promote such as an event, planting day or other Landcare related matter, let me know and i'll include it in the next issue.
Megan Hughes
Facilitator - Kiewa Catchment Landcare Groups
Tues, Wed & Thurs
kiewalandcare@gmail.com
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Landcare Group Signs
Would you like to have a Landcare Group sign on your gate? These signs are made to order with your Landcare Group's name on it. Get a list together of who would like a sign and do a bulk order using the form below. These signs are eye catching and help promote your group and your efforts to restore the health of the land. Never know you might even get some new members!
Order form HERE
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Soils for Life - latest case study
The Olsen’s started viewing and managing their property as a system and as a result the ecology of the farm has improved dramatically, so too have the social benefits as the family that works together, stays together
https://soilsforlife.org.au/olsens-hallora/
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Rabbit Control project in Kergunyah
Although our expression of interest period has closed for the Biodiversity Response Planning project, we are still very interested to know of rabbits and warrens on your property.
- Blackberry's are a major refuge for rabbits and reducing clumps and infestations is key to controlling rabbit numbers. It is now time to prepare for blackberry control as germination and new shoots begin to grow from September, making this spring period a key time for chemical treatment. Fruit/seed begins to form and fall January through to April, so while it is still an active growth period for successful chemical treatment of blackberry, the newest generation of seed may have already landed on the ground.
- Baiting with pindone oats or carrots or 1080 oats or carrots over the months of January to March is the optimal time for 'knocking down' a high percentage of the resident rabbit population. As 1080 is a Schedule 7 chemical, this requires an Agricultural Chemical Users Permit. A webinar on how to bait effectively and safely (for yourself and non-targeted animals) on your property will be hosted by Tim Bloomfield and Neil Devanny from the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) in the coming months, stay tuned for details.
- Warren destruction is the third prong in effective rabbit control and probably the most important, although all three methods make this a tried and true successful integrated approach. Collapsing a few warrens by hand is hard yakka and possibly not effective compared to ripping warren networks with a 20t excavator. This is the tool highly recommended by VRAN for destroying warrens so that they will not be re-inhabitable. VRAN also recommends having a zero tolerance approach to rabbit warrens on your property, active or not. This control method is best done after the initial 'knock down' of the baiting program, so this activity is done March, April and May to be most effective.
For our project work over the next few months, can anyone help with a few items:
- Does anyone have a 20t excavator or licence? We are looking to train somebody local to effectively rip warrens.
- Is there a bait layer like the one pictured in the local area that anyone can direct me too?
- Can anyone recommend where I might locate a carrot chopper (not a helicopter) for the free feeding part of the baiting program?
Any help on the above would be very gratefully received.
Megan Hughes, Project Officer
0407 227 814
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Wetlands, ponds, wet zone, soak....global citizen science survey on wetlands
We are encouraging citizens from around the world to join in and contribute to the data collection in this survey. Wetlands can be interpreted pretty broadly – almost any aquatic ecosystem except for the oceans and great lakes can be included, that includes lakes, rivers, ponds, estuaries, mangroves, salt flats, …..whether important or not, large or small, private or public property. Your local wetland is of much interest as others.
Please consider contributing to the survey, with a site or more than one. And share this request with your colleagues & friends, and with other organisations with an interest in wetlands or aquatic ecosystems.
Some interesting findings came out of the world wide survey done in 2017. It shows that our community interaction with a local wetland is vital to how healthy it is.
Prof Max Finlayson - KCLG Committee Member
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News from Yackandandah Creek Landcare Group
Chris Horton (owner and manager extraordinaire of the Yackandandah Post Office) coordinated volunteers to plant 680 seedlings along the Rowdy Flat rail trail in memory of his son Richard. The rail trail runs through beautiful country and it was a lovely day to gather together so many locals, including the awesome Yackandandah Scouts, to help commemorate Richard's life.
A memorial planting of 300 trees for much loved Kath Bragge, an active and valued member of Yackandandah Creek Landcare Group also took place to honor her life and love of the Yack Creek walking trails. A seat will be installed along the path with Kath's name on it, somewhere for her to rest, watch the birds and listen to the creek. Thanks to the volunteers who helped make these events a great success, Covid friendly and a win for our local environment.
And! a new interactive sign for kids and adults alike has been installed at the Bells Flat Rd wetland.
Jo Millar
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Brilliant birds: discover the birds that love our farms - webinar
Join ANU Sustainable Farms ecologist Dave Smith and Birdlife Australia’s Ben Humphries, for a webinar to:
• Find out more about how Sustainable Farms & Birdlife Australia monitor birds on farms and in backyards, and why it's important
• Discover the tips & tricks the experts use to identify birds
• Participate in a live ID session: send us your pics or audio recordings before the webinar (contact details below) and Dave and Ben will identify some of these during the webinar.
Friday 4th September 12noon - 1pm
Register HERE
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Regional Resilience in the COVID Economy and beyond: finding your way forward
Be part of shaping a resilient future for your region. Explore what the emerging COVID Economy means in terms of opportunity and risk.
Join us on Thursday, September 10th at 9.30 -11am (via Zoom) to explore what the emerging COVID Economy really means in terms of opportunity and risk.
This workshop will focus on:
- The realities of the rapidly emerging COVID Economy
- Which conventional business and operating models are dropping away
- Insights into what is starting to rise and replace ‘business as usual’, and
- Starting to find your way forward in terms of actively addressing the opportunities and risks that are present for you,
your business or organisation, and for our region.
Don't miss out, register today at bit.ly/regionalresilienceworkshop
These workshops are being sponsored and are therefore free to participants.
This launch session will be followed up with a series of three workshops over 3 months,
for those keen to take practical steps to work on their new approach post COVID.
These workshops will work best if two/three people come from each organisation.
The organisers are Start Up Shake Up
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Deer and Rabbit harvesting in Kiewa Valley for human consumption
Koallah Farm is based in Western Victoria, we are a small scale abattoir, processing a wide range of species. We have recently obtained our Wild Game Processing license, which allows us to process animals which have been field harvested for human consumption.
All animals must be shot and dressed so as to ensure they are fit for human consumption, as a majority of our markets are in the hospitality and human consumption areas. In effect, all animals which are presented to us for process, must have their gut removed, but their skin and pluck (heart, liver, kidney & lung in tact).
All of the people who shoot for us are fully qualified and accredited. They need to be registered with us prior to being able to supply us any animals which they hunt. We are very conscious on limiting the impact they have on both the land and any non-target species.
We currently have a field depot based in Kiewa, in which registered hunters can deliver animals, and we are actively seeking suppliers of both venison and rabbit. We are also able to locate hunters who can assist landholders with the management of rabbits and venison. We pay the shooters for the animals which they deliver to our depot. Payments are made on a per kg basis for venison and a per head basis for rabbits.
A majority of the hunting is done at night, often with thermal and noise restricting technology.
I would appreciate it if you can pass my details onto anyone who may have a need to have pests removed as well as anyone who may wish to become a field harvester and supply us produce.
Our Office Contact Details are;
Koallah Farm
191 Purrumbete Estate Rd
KOALLAH VIC 3260
Ph: 03 5594 5222
E: info@koallahfarm.com.au
W: www.koallahfarm.com.au
Regards,
Steven Castle
Managing Director
Koallah Farm
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