2008 Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards
Community Group Caring for Private Land
Winner: Western Port Slow the Flow Cluster
Environmental collaborators, the Western Port Slow the Flow Cluster recently won the Community Group Caring for Private Land Award at the 2008 Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards and in doing so highlighted the importance of work to protect local threatened species.
Four Landcare groups in the Western Port Region of the South Gippsland Landcare Network make up the Cluster. They joined forces to combat the increasing pressures on existing native vegetation in the upper Bass and Lang Lang catchments. These four groups are Poowong, Mt Lyall, Loch/Nyora and Triholm Landcare Groups.
The Cluster Group joined forces to focus on environmental and noxious weed issues on roadsides and public land, remnant protection, revegetation and nutrient budgeting on farms to improve water quality.
Each of the four groups operate as usual, however the Cluster works together on strategic issues. They collaborate to get better outcomes across the landscape, to make more efficient use of staff and volunteer time and jointly apply for funding and sponsorship opportunities.
Accepting the award on behalf of the Cluster Tony Gardner said “its great to get recognition for what we’ve been doing. We’ve got a great community with lots of passionate volunteers who are working toward complete catchment care. The Cluster has integrated nutrient management, weed management, biodiversity and riparian health and have a number of programs that work for landholders with different needs.
“The Landcare groups involved have strong links with the community. Many of the 300 members are respected locals and it makes a difference in getting local landholders involved in our programs.”
Tony was joined at the awards by the ‘Giant Gippsland Earthworm’, shown in costume in the attached photo. Aside from its attendance as a PR stunt, the message about the earthworm is very real. The Giant Gippsland Earthworm is reputedly the largest earthworm in the world with specimens up to two metres in length. They have a very small distribution in the South Gippsland area between Korumburra, Loch and Warragul. Their numbers are in decline and they are listed as a nationally threatened species.
The Slow the Flow Cluster have been active in protecting and improving habitat for the worm on private and public land and educating the community through interpretive signage and newsletters.
The Giant Gippsland Earthworm in the photo is a friend of the Slow the Flow Cluster and sometimes comes out of its cosy burrow to promote and thank the group and its effort to protect it.
The Cluster was selected from three outstanding nominations and presented their award by actress Kerry Armstrong in front of 250 guests.
The Awards celebrate Landcare Heroes and focus on the thousands of volunteers making a difference by tackling some of the big issues in Melbourne’s landscape and catchment environments.
All winners of the Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards will go on to be nominated for the 2009 Victorian Landcare Awards.
For interview about the importance of the Giant Gippsland Earthworm and the work of the Slow the Flow Cluster, please contact Tony Gardner on 5662 5759. |