Pheasant Creek farmer Gary Hatfield believes Landcare has helped him find the productive balance between farming and improving the environment and aesthetics of his property in the Lang Lang River catchment region.
A committee member of the Mt Lyall Landcare group, Gary’s transformation of his 73ha property with plantings of thousands trees, fencing, erosion protection and other works has added value to his business, created shelter for cattle, turned hazardous sites into areas of beauty and fostered the return of wildlife.
“We all have a responsibility to better manage and improve our properties,” Mr Hatfield said. ”I’m learning all the time, and the more you become involved with Landcare the more aware you become of the environmental issues and hazardous areas. “
Landcare is looking for ‘switched on’ people like Gary Hatfield who want to improve the condition of their land, or volunteer with others by contributing their time to Landcare work.
“It will take the efforts of many people to make a change to our environment, but if the task appears insurmountable the achievements of Landcare in the last 20 years have been significant,” said Sarah Canham, PPWCMA Western Port and Dandenong Landcare Coordinator.
The Hatfields moved from Drouin to the former dairy farm more than four and a half years ago, where they raise Murray Grey cattle. Undulating land, with some remnant vegetation, falls to a large stream frontage of Pheasant Creek on the western boundary, which was an early focus for rehabilitation.
One of Mr Hatfield’s first Landcare achievements was to fence off a hazardous half-hectare deep gully that ran into an old dam. He planted 800 trees and plans to plant more.
Other projects include:
* A Melbourne Water stream frontage management project: fenced two billabongs and planted 400 lowland forest trees, enhancing important wetlands
* South Gippsland Landcare, Melbourne Water, Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority and Department of Primary Industries are funding a blackberry eradication program in an unmanageable 2ha embankment site over the next two seasons. Mr Hatfield will follow up with further weed control and planting of thousands of understorey trees
* Retired and fenced a former tip site, planted 800 trees, along with a steep gully incorporating two springs running down to the creek, funded through South Gippsland Landcare
* Fenced off the farm’s main spring fed dam and planted 400 trees
* Planted 100 trees into an east-west wildlife corridor
* Effluent ponds cleaned out, the area beautified and fenced for water storage in case of fire, also connected to the wildlife corridor.
* Excavation of tunnel erosion hazardous to cattle
Mr Hatfield has applied for funding and will rally volunteers for the next major project: planting hundreds more upper and understorey trees in fenced areas and along the property’s southern boundary next autumn.
“The benefits of Landcare are for everyone – and we have lots of wildlife here now – you name it we’ve got it. I would recommend all farmers look to Landcare. Everyone needs to improve their environment and land management, particularly now in these critical times of drought and climate change.”
Volunteers from Land for Wildlife have inspected the property and Mr Hatfield intends to have environmental appraisals for the reintroduction of koalas.
South Gippsland Landcare Network hold numerous field days, events and training sessions for people to learn about what they can do, and participate in a wide range of fun activities. By participating in Landcare activities people can make new friends, learn new things, and most of all make a real difference to the place where they live.
The Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA) and South Gippsland Landcare Network are working together to support the growth of Landcare in the area.
Landcare Groups provide opportunities for local volunteers and landholders to share ideas, information and experiences, and work together to achieve better environmental and community outcomes for the greater good of the region.
The PPWCMA has a Landcare Support Team available to provide advice to people wanting to get involved, and can link landholders, groups and agencies working on Landcare projects.
‘We want everyone who is interested in Landcare to take the next step and get involved in what is happening in their local area, and find out what they could do to help keep their area special,’ Sarah Canham said. |