JUNE 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

Landcare Weed Control Field Day

The UPMC Landcare Group held a successful field day recently.
On a farm in Upper Plenty three local weed management contractors demonstrated to landcarers a variety of techniques that landowners can use on their properties, taking into account their own situation and budget.
Demonstrations included:
EcoBlade demonstration by John Baulch Regional Vic Farm Services.
Website: https://gorsebusters.com.au/
Demonstrating rig and backpack spraying by Daniel Young from TREC Land Services.
Website: www.treclandservices.com 
Drone spraying demonstration by Yasin Gulec of Drone Spraying Australia.
Website: https://www.dronesprayingaus.com.au/

For information and advice about identifying and managing weeds on your property contact the Upper Merri Landcare Facilitator Chris Cobern on 0413 855 490 or by email on chriscobern@mcmc.org.au

Coming up

Farm Chemical Users Course - Free event

This free workshop is for landholders in the Hume and Mitchell Council areas.

When: Saturday 5 & Saturday 12 August
8.30am to 4.30pm Kalkallo Community Centre.
33 Toyon Road, Kalkallo.

Participants will gain skills and knowledge to understand the rules regarding the selection of chemicals, appropriate storage and handling of the chemicals, mixing and calibration of the chemicals and the effective application of such. 

You must register HERE via Eventbrite before 30th July. 

If you have any enquiries please contact: Mitchell Shire Council environment@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au

Lunch provided.
Both Saturdays will have to be attended to successfully complete the course. 

Bird walk for beginners

Join bird enthusiast and Biodiversity Project Officer Tanya Loos along Jacksons Creek for an hour with the birds. 
9am - 10am 17th August.
Register HERE.

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.

Next meeting is 6.30PM Wednesday 21st June.

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 Kate Toogood membership.upmclg@gmail.com

Funding & grants

Gorse Control

The Victorian Gorse Taskforce’s (VGT) Community Grants for 2023-24 is now open. The VGT, with support from Agriculture Victoria, offers funding support for community-led gorse control projects. 

VGT’s Community Grants’ objectives:

• reduce the impacts of gorse on environmental, agricultural, and social values
• strengthen community and stakeholder connections for better gorse outcomes
• build community knowledge and capacity in managing gorse
• promote best practice gorse management.

Funding: community groups may apply for funding up to $8,000 for gorse control works on private land. All participating landholders may receive up to $1,500 in grant funding, but must match this with their own monetary contribution.

Eligibility: grants are available to all Victorian community-based groups e.g. Landcare and Friends of, that have a focus on improving natural and agricultural areas.

How to apply: visit the VGT community grants webpage to download a copy of the Guidelines and Application Form. Email your completed application to info@vicgorsetaskforce.com.au.
Applications close: 30 June 2023
Contact: for more information contact the VGT on 0417 593 250 or email to info@vicgorsetaskforce.com.au

Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party - Community Grants 

The Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party (VSTWP) is providing community groups and organisations with the opportunity to apply for grants to manage serrated tussock.
Grants of up to $5,000 (GST excluded) are available to deliver a project which meets the priorities and criteria outlined in these guidelines.
Please see the guidelines and application form below, which includes how to submit the grant application, contact details and the criteria for assessment.

Grants are currently open for application: 
Apply here: VSTWP Community Grant Application form
Guidelines here: VSTWP Community Grant Guidelines 

Sustainable Farming Brochure - Caring For the Land

The Yellow Creek-Dairy Creek Landcare Group released the CARING FOR THE LAND – Sustainable Agriculture brochure recently. The brochure gives an overview of what can be achieved with both agriculture and environmental issues such as rectifying erosion and salt encroachment, so that high productive land can be reclaimed.

The brochure was written and designed by YCDC Landcare Group members Rod Cavanagh and his daughter Annette. 

For a copy of the brochure contact Upper Goulburn Landcare Network Coordinator Chris Cobern on 0413 855 490, email ugln.projects@ugln.net or visit the website.

Woi-wurrung Merri Creek Grasslands Names

Long-awaited Woi-wurrung names for two Merri Creek grasslands managed by Parks Victoria were formally gazetted in December 2022. 

This is 16 years after Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elder, Aunty Doreen Garvey-Wandin, provided a series of innovative names for Merri Creek grasslands, based on body parts of the mother kangaroo, at the request of the Friends of Merri Creek.

The newly gazetted names are: galgi ngarrk (backbone) for the Craigieburn Grassland Nature Conservation Reserve and bababi marning (mother’s hand) for Cooper St Grassland NCR.

The name marram baba (body of the mother kangaroo) has also been adopted for the proposed parklands that extend along Merri Creek from the Ring Rd to Beveridge. The use of lower case for the first letter in the names is a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung preference and has been accepted by Geographic Names Victoria.

Rabbit Free Australia R&D Forum - The Future of Nationally Co-ordinated Biocontrol 

Andreas Glanznig, CEO, Centre For Invasive Species Solutions gives an update on what's happening for the nationally coordinated rabbit biocontrol at the Rabbit Free Australia Online R&D Forum 2023.
View the recording HERE.