Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority | Landcare facilitators learning together

This week the Port Phillip and Westernport CMA delivered two days of training in the Moorabool and Werribee catchments for the region’s Landcare facilitators, as part of a series of training events supported by the Victorian Government.

Landcare facilitators are highly resourceful workers, but juggle a variety of roles and responsibilities within their Landcare networks.

The region’s facilitators had indicated a desire for more hands-on ways to experience the different land management challenges and opportunities facing the region. The training aimed to provide this opportunity, as well as some valuable networking with other land managers and facilitators.

The event also enabled facilitators to discuss and share ideas and approaches, and take part in discussions surrounding the Victorian Landcare Program.

Facilitators working across the Port Phillip and Western Port region were also joined by representatives from DELWP, Landcare Victoria and Corangamite region Landcare facilitators.

Day one

Waddawurrung (Wathaurang Aboriginal Corporation) led a tour that explained the deep spiritual connection and practicalities of life led by the Western Volcanic Plains people over the last millenia.

Scar trees, scattering of arceaological cutting tools and cooking hearths were among the highlights shown during the special day tour led by Dr Ilya Berelov. In some places the ground was covered in arceological items, giving the cultural awareness training a practical component.

The connection to waterways, creation stories and family recollections were weaved among a day surrounded by respect and conversation.

Wadawurrung lead an on-country sour of significant sites

Landcare facilitators also learnt about the work being done at Mt Rothwell Conservation Centre and the challenges they face around ongoing maintenance demands, supporting volunteers and preserving low populations of species.

Led by facilitator Cassie Price, a night walk showed the incredible progress being made at Mr Rothwell, including rabbit and fox free habitat for the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby and Eastern Quoll.

Day two

Facilitators learnt about the the longstanding, landscape restoration program, Grow West.

Grow West Coordinator, Helena Lindorff, and Moorabool Landcare Facilitator, Roger MacRaild outlined the landscape-scale revegetation the program has undertaken over the last 15 years, and how the resilience and adaptability of the program’s collaborative model that has led to its success.

Facilitators got to see the long-term outcomes of the program’s work from a number of high vantage points, including the newly revived Rowsley Nursery.

Facilitators with Grow West Coordinator, Helena Lindorff

The day ended with a tour of Sheoak Hill in Glenmore led by Farm Manager Chris Lunardi. The property has connections with many conservation programs including Moorabool Landcare Network, Grow West, Mt Rothwell and Wadawurrung.

Thanks to all that attended and supported the training.

Landcare in the Port Phillip and Western Port region.

Learn more about the Victorian Landcare Program.

On Thursday 12 September, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, announced the successful recipients of the Victorian Landcare Grants 2019-20.

In 2019-20, the Victorian Government provided $2.8 million in funding through the Victorian Landcare Grants program to support those who make significant contributions caring for the environment through on-ground works, education and community projects.

The grants will deliver 208 Landcare and environmental projects across Victoria’s 10 Catchment Management Authorities, supporting more than 500 groups.

Due to the exceptionally high number of quality applications received across the volunteering sector this year, an extra $1 million in funding has been allocated

The Port Phillip & Westernport CMA was thrilled to provide $428,672 of the grants to Landcare and community environmental groups. 25 project grants and 90 support grants were funded in the Port Phillip and Western Port region.

Project grants will be used to support on-ground works and community projects including weed control, pest animal control, protection of habitat, revegetation, and community education. Support grants will assist Landcare groups with their operating costs.

The Victorian Landcare Grants are helping to implement the Victorian Government’s long-term biodiversity plan – Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037.

Below is a list of all recipients from the Port Phillip and Western Port region. For the full list of successful recipients from across Victoria visit environment.vic.gov.au.

2019-20 recipients – Port Phillip and Western Port region

Project grants

Balcombe Estuary Reserves Group, Mt Martha Inc.
$19,981, Grassy Woodland and Swamp Scrub Restoration Extension: Mt Martha 2019-20
Bass Coast Landcare Network
$17,052, Westernport Catchment Custodian Kids: detecting, documenting and protecting the catchment
Bass Valley Landcare Group
$20,000, Creating, Protecting and Enhancing Swamp Skink and Powerful Owl habitat in the Bass Valley
Cairnlea Conservation Reserves Committee of Management
$19,940, Restoring the Wildflower Lands
Christmas Hills Landcare Group
$19,390, Woody Weeds out of Christmas Hills (Stage 9) and Learning about Owls
Friends of Beleura Cliff Path
$5,536, Removal of Environmental Weeds (mainly Polygala) on Beleura Cliff Path Corridor
Friends of Dandenong Valley Parklands
$18,440, Bushy Park Wetlands Propagation and Revegetation
Friends of Emu Bottom Wetlands
$7,755, Emu Bottom Wetlands for the Frogs
Friends of Plenty Gorge
$5,480, Friends of Plenty Gorge, North East Wetlands Revegetation and Community Engagement Project
Friends of Rye Foreshore
$6,000, Saving an Ancient Coastal Vegetation Site at Rye
Friends of Steele Creek
$19,999, Continuing to Protect Wurundjeri Country and Culture Together
Friends of the Melton Botanic Gardens
$9,883, Creating a Health Resort for Latham’s Snipe and our Native Birds
Friends of Werribee Gorge & Long Forest Mallee Inc.
$7,330, Rocky Chenopod Woodland Recovery Project
Middle Yarra Landcare Network
$10,920, Protecting Variable Billy-buttons and Musk Daisy-bush in Warrandyte State Park
Moorabool Landcare Network
$19,995, Indigenous plants with Indigenous people: Wadawurrung helping raise the capacity of Moorabool Landcare Nursery
Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network
$20,000, Greens Bush to Arthurs Seat Biolink Phase 2
Mt Rothwell Landcare Volunteers Inc.
$18,330, Bringing back our Basalt Grasslands: inspiring community conservation
Phillip Island Landcare Group Inc.
$19,892, Enhancement and Monitoring of the Phillip Island Wildlife Corridor
Sherbrooke Lyre Bird Survey Group
$19,890, Protection of Critical Breeding Habitat for Superb Lyrebird in Sherbrooke Forest
Southwest Mornington Peninsula Landcare
$20,000, Protect and Connect: Stage 1 – Hyslops Road Biolink Restoration and Revegetation
Warneet Friends Group
$17,350, Warneet’s War On Weeds!
Western Port Catchment Landcare Network Inc.
$20,000, Western Port Fire Recovery Revegetation
Western Port Seagrass Partnership
$7,300, Mangrove Revegetation to Reduce Erosion in Western Port
Wildthings Inc.
$18,453, Planting for Pollinators: Capacity Building through Demonstration, Education and Community Engagement
Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
$14,756, Weeding Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country