Welcome to the September edition of Bass Coast Landcare Network's E-news. 

This month it’s all about benefits, benefits, benefits!

From tax to water and energy savings, new grants that will be offering property and biodiversity restoration incentives, case studies on production benefits and courses to broaden your horizons or enterprises, read on to find out how you can access the many benefits of being involved in Landcare. Enjoy!

Scroll down for each section including:

• Upcoming events,
  
• Group and Network news,
  
• Grants/Training/Information & Landholder opportunities,
  
• New projects and project updates,
  
• Staff news.

You can also stay informed at our website 

www.basscoastlandcare.org.au

or on our facebook page at 

https://www.facebook.com/BassCoastLandcareNetwork/ 

and if you haven't already, give us a like and follow our page!

Bees Buzzing into Bass – New Master Class 

Bass Coast Landcare Network are about to start offering a completely different kind of experience, with our new Bee-Keeping Master Class kicking off in November.
We have teamed up with Robert Fransen of Sweet Bee Honey to provide a 12-month course on bee-keeping basics, from learning about bees and hives, to pests and diseases and harvesting our own delicious honey.
This course is limited to a very small group of people, however if there is a large amount of interest two sessions will run. Sessions will be held on the first Saturday of the month, beginning November 1^st. The cost of this masterclass is $200 for the 12 months, which must be paid upfront to secure your spot.
For further details, please call the Bass Coast Landcare Network Office on 5678 2335 or email [email protected]

Click this link to check out the training page on our website for details of upcoming courses.

Water stewardship tour reaches Phillip Island

The “Building a Water Stewardship Community in the Western Port Biosphere” Program is working across the region helping land holders develop water management plans for their properties to save water, nutrients and money as well as protect our natural resources, water supply, water quality and biodiversity of our creeks, wetlands and estuaries. 
At the Water Stewardship Field Day to be held at Bimbadeen farm on Phillip Island on the 20^th of September, there will be a tour to see some water stewardship actions planned and underway, talks by Bob Davie (Bimabdeen) and Lance Lloyd (Western Port Biosphere) on Water Stewardship and Carbon Farming.
RSVP essential via [email protected]

Click here for facebook event page with more information

French Island – Growing enough food to feed yourself

Ever wondered how much space you need to grow enough food to feed yourself? Well French Island Landcare Group have the answer for you at their A.G.M. on Sunday 23rd September when guest speaker Jarrod Ruch will tell you all about it. Jarrod has 30 years’ experience in horticulture & organic food production. Previously senior horticulturist for Diggers Club and former Head Gardener at The Briars Homestead, he is currently Manager – Land and Environment at Peninsula Hot Springs. Come along and learn about: growing food in small places, space requirements and design, crop selection and rotation management, intensive fertility management and maintaining a sustainable soil.

Members, non-members and new residents all welcome, the day starts at 11.00 am at the FI Community Hall, a light lunch is provided and a garden site visit will follow in the afternoon. RSVP’s are required by 14/9/2018 with any dietary requirements and enquiries, nominations etc. to Judy Metcher or Glenys Ralph or email: [email protected]

For more information on the French Island Landcare Group click here.​

Bush Dance for Landcare this spring on Phillip Island

Can you feel a bit of spring in the air? Phillip Island Landcare group sure can and are supporting a great new event, the 'Springtime Bush Dance' to be held on Saturday October 6th at the Cowes Cultural Centre. Put this event in your diary, organised by Bass Coast Pickers /The Bass Coast Acoustic Music Club with surplus funds donated to Phillp Island Landcare to support the great work they do across the island and San Remo. This musical event is open to singles, couples, families. No dance experience needed; Dance Caller teaches the steps as we go and participants bring a plate to add to the shared supper.

For a flyer with more info on timing, music and tickets click here to get to the Phillip Island Landcare Group website page

Save the date for new project  launch

“Climate change, land capability and capacity’

Come along to the project launch on Monday 8th of October to find out how you can get involved.
In this project Bass Coast Landcare Network will work with key partners RMIT, Federation University, Bass Coast Shire Council and South Gippsland Landcare Network and the agricultural community of southern Gippsland to respond to climate change. Case studies, field days and an online decision making portal allowing farmers and industry support organisations to make informed decisions about their response to climate change and sustainability will be some of the great outcomes from this project. ​
A flyer and more information to be released soon on our news and events page, please contact Joel Geoghegan from the Bass Coast Landcare Network on 03 5678 2335 for more information.

Click here for the latest updates on our News and events page.​

National Landcare Conference & Awards

10th - 12th October - Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
With the theme 'Landcare - Building a Better Tomorrow', the 2018 National Landcare Conference offers three days of knowledge sharing, insightful discussion, as well as informative presentations by pioneers, leaders of NRM bodies, scientists, academics, government and environmental, climate and biodiversity experts.

Bass Coast Landcare Network Tour Day at our upcoming AGM in Bass – save the date

Saturday November 17^th is the date to save to take part in a tour led by Bass Coast Landcare Network Board and Staff members around our Landcare facilities in Bass. From our office to the River garden, Arboretum walk and the Nursery, we cant wait to show you behind the scenes as part of our AGM tour day. More details to come in the October edition of our E-news. We will also be pulling together our annual report soon and calling on all group secretaries for a group update to share with members across the network.

Click here to learn more about the Bass Coast Landcare Network, history, mission, programs and more.​

Wonthaggi Secondary College students put 30,000 trees in the ground in 2018!

Over the 2018 winter WSC students from year 8, 9 and 10 have braved the wet, windy, mountainous and sometimes foggy terrain of the Powlett and Bass catchments in order to restore habitat and beauty to land that is too steep for farming. 

The three sites were at Anna and Bruce Spiden's farm in Ryanston, Karl and Rachel Russo's farm in Woolamai and Stan Turpcou's farm in Kilcunda along the Bridge Creek reserve.

The students were rewarded for their efforts with lots of food and drink generously provided by landholders and the Rotary club. This has given the students the opportunity to be part of something that will continue to enhance the local environment for generations to come.

Editors note: Article contributed by Nick Sibly, WSC Teacher and Landcare member. Without Nick encouraging the school, teachers and students to get involved each year, this just wouldn’t happen – thanks Nick for all of your hard work and support!

Click here to learn more about our school education programs​.

Bass Coast Before and After - at Lew Potter’s. We want your photos and stories! 

We will soon be starting up a new feature on our facebook page, ‘Throwback Thursdays” and regular stories in each e-news where we will be featuring before and after shots from properties conducting Landcare works all around Bass Coast.

We would love for you to send in shots of your property to be featured. Help inspire others who are just starting out, those that are unsure of starting a new Landcare project or those who have decided they would like to do something more on their property. Be part of our great Landcare community, sharing with and learning from each other. 

Let’s start this series with Lew Potter. For those that know Lew, I am sure you would agree he is a pretty inspiring fellow and always quick to lend a hand and share advice to others. When Lew first bought his 18ha property in Kernot on Wattle creek in 2004, it had been heavily overstocked as a dairy out paddock, complete with eroded gullies and broken-down fences. Fast forward to 14 years later, over 15,000 plants have been put in the ground, eroded gullies fenced and retired from stock and a once grassy desert is now an easy to run, productive beef operation.

Without Landcare support Lew says this wouldn’t have been done and definitely not to this scale. Lew is a firm believer that there is more to Landcare than trees and dirt and nothing happens without the people. Good on you Lew, keep up the good work!

What’s your story? We’d love to hear it send your pics and info to [email protected]

Click here to see our facebook page, like and follow us to keep in the loop.​

Plant, spuds and beats – Gippsland Intrepid Landcare style!

What a day for over 60 Gippsland Intrepid Landcarers on the 18^th of August. Crappy weather didn’t stop them planting 8,000 trees at Karl and Rachael Russo’s before a baked spud dinner from Udder and Hoe, then camping and dancing to the tunes of Life is the way, Humming, Silicone Valley Band and local DJs. Gippsland Intrepid Landcare would like to say a big thank you to everyone who volunteered and an even bigger thank you to their committee and everyone who helped out! Big thanks also to West Gippsland CMA for the funding for this event.

Interested in joining in the fun at future events? Click here

Three Creeks last Community Tree planting for the Season

Three Creeks Landcare Group members and friends had a perfect spring day on Saturday 8th of September, planting 3000 plants at Alan and Diana Holmbergs. From Diana after the day, “Love that so many people gave up their time to come and help. Thank you everyone we are so excited to have the area planted out with the wonderful local plants. Thank you Landcare.” Great job Three Creekers!

Click here to see more about the Three Creeks Landcare Group.​

Cloverdale Park Estate Planting

Our Works Crew have spent many cold and windy days over the past few months planting out a long drain running through the new Cloverdale Park Estate in Dalyston. The job involved spraying weeds including masses of capeweed, installing coir logs to control sediment movement and erosion, and now planting more than 87,000 plants throughout the drain and along the top edges.

The slopes and base of the drain were planted with water-loving plants, including multiple types of juncus, gahnia, cyperus and carex. The flat part at the top of the slope is currently being planted with a mixture of juncus, poa, dianella, lomandra, weeping grass, melaleuca, and eucalypts. The eucalypts, which include Strzelecki Gums (Eucalyptus strzeleckii) and Manna Gums (Eucalyptus viminalis) have been guarded and mulched to give them a good start and some protection from the winter wind.

What is currently an ugly muddy trench will soon be a beautiful area for locals to walk their dogs and for animals to take shelter and feed. Hopefully we will see wetland birds using this space into the future, the crew have already noticed an abundance of birdlife in the area.

Pictured: Works Crew Trainees, Caleb Kilgour and Angus Carrington planting out the waterway.

Click here to find out more about the Works Crew and how they can help you​

3 Creeks Landcare Group: Fundraising for a good cause, your support is appreciated!

The 3 Creeks Landcare Group has acquired some excellent wine from the Gippsland Wine Co to raise funds for the Group.  Stocks are limited so please call Ray Kirk on 0491136487 or complete and email the attached order form to order your “3 Creeks” branded wine:  Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet and Chardonnay.  $14 per bottle or $80 for 6.

For a PDF copy of this order form email [email protected]

To find out more about the 3 Creeks Landcare Group click here.​

Tax time – Landcare tax benefits

At the bottom of this story are the links to the Australian Taxation Office pages with the relevant tax information relating to Landcare works.

We would also love to share with you a message from Lisette Mill - Basalt to Bay Landcare Facilitator about accessing ATO tax incentives to cover costs for Landcare works.
"Who do I work for? I think most weeks my customers are these cows. Their lives are interwoven with the goals of the organisation I work for and many I work with. To improve their lives by stimulating the provision of carbon sequesting, biodiversity enabling, climate buffering trees and shrubs is something I work to - for the cows and the managers of the cows. We are looking down the barrel of a short spring and a hot summer. Dairy cattle require 4 square meters of shade at midday to reduce the impacts of heat stress on their productivity/fertility/and welfare. Heat stress can start in temperatures as low as 25 degrees. These cows are lucky - they have access to shade already. But luck is not a business model that powers farms to keep going, nor is it the ticket to the agricultural competitiveness of Australia.
Every cattle grazier in Australia has the option to plant shade and shelterbelts. Every one can access the ATO tax incentives to cover 100% of the costs. Today. Think of the cattle and share this in your networks".

Click on the three links below for information on capital expenditure for landcare operations, shelterbelts and riparian works.
https://www.ato.gov.au/business/primary-producers/in-detail/capital-expenditure/landcare-operations/

https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/view.htm?docid=AFS/ShelterBelts&PiT=99991231235958

https://www.ato.gov.au/law/view/view.htm?docid=afs%2Flandcare

Reduce energy costs in your farm or food processing business

Energy is a significant cost for most farms or businesses. Many business owners throughout Victoria and Australia have shown changed work practices, and cost-effective equipment improvements can reduce energy costs. 
Help is available to reduce your business' energy costs from the Victorian Government website. A Farms and Business section includes cases studies on how farms and businesses are saving money through better energy management. An Equipment and Technology page shows how to better manage the energy consumption of specific types of equipment or technologies that you are using.

Click here to find out how businesses throughout Victoria and Australia have cut their energy use through changed work practices and cost-effective equipment improvements.​

Grants available to assist Energy reduction measures on Farm

As part of the Victorian Government Agriculture Energy Investment Plan, you can now apply for an on-farm energy grant. These grants provide support to farmers to replace energy inefficient equipment, install more energy efficient systems and enable own-generation capacity.

Farmers are encouraged to apply early, as grants are available to eligible primary producers until March 2020 or until available funding is exhausted (whichever comes first).

Any farmer wanting to access one of the grants needs to have had an approved on-farm energy assessment.

Find out more about application guidelines and the free on-farm energy assessments and fact sheets by clicking here.

BCLN Website – Now loaded - Case studies from the Demonstrating Sustainable Farm Practices project.

Over 20 case studies can now be found on our web page from properties involved in the successful Demostrating Sustainable Farm Practices project. BCLN has been involved in this project for many years, supported by Western Port Catchment Landcare Network through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Included are our very own Hops Demonstration Trial at the Bass River Garden and market garden at Phillip Island Community Orchard.

Click here to take you to our case studies page.​

Funding success! Biodiversity Response Planning Project for Bass Coast

85 new projects for on-ground biodiversity action worth $33.67 million, and 4 new projects for Marine Environment Targeted Action worth $1.1 million have been announced by the Victorian State Government for funding through Biodiversity Response Planning. Funded projects will be delivered over 3 years, commencing in 2018-2019 through to 2021.

Bass Coast Landcare Network was successful with our project ‘Building the Bass Coast Biolinks’ for $413,320 where we will be working with the Bunurong Land Council to improve the best quality remnant vegetation in our area through weed control and pest animal control. We will also create vital biolinks to connect remnants through revegetation works.

If you are interested in conducting a Landcare project for next year, click here for an expression of interest form.

More funding success! Community and volunteer action grants

Victorian State Government Minister for Environment the Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio announced successful Community and Volunteer Action Grants recipients on 3 September 2018. The grant round will fund 73 applications, totalling $2.4 million.

Congratulations to our groups in Bass Coast Landcare Network who were successful with the following projects:

• Kongwak Hills Landcare Group - Gums, Owls and Growls in Kongwak Part 2 - $50,000
• French Island Landcare Group Inc. - Protecting and Enhancing French Island's unique biodiverse vegetation - $49,400
• Phillip Island Landcare Group Inc.- Enhancing Phillip Island's biodiverse wildlife corridor through community - $49,640

If you are interested in conducting a Landcare project for next year, click here for an expression of interest form.

You can now offset your car emissions with BCLN

We are excited to announce our new program to encourage people to offset their car’s emissions. The way the program works is members of the community can make a donation which varies depending on the size of their car, and in return, BCLN will plant a number of native plants which will offset the emissions of that size car.

Participants will receive a sticker for their donation, which states ‘We’ve Offset our Car Emissions with Bass Coast Landcare Network’ which they can proudly place on their rear windscreen to show off their commitment to the environment. We hope to gain lots of interest and see these stickers out on the roads soon.

To offset your car emissions with BCLN click here.

Bass Coast Arc – Public Fund making projects a reality - Donate today to make a difference

The Bass Coast Landcare Network Public Fund is a regional charitable organisation focusing on conserving biodiversity in Bass Coast. We need your tax-deductible donations to help fund small projects by local community groups working with the relevant Land Managers to improve public spaces and create community access.

Under the banner of “Bass Coast Arc – Community Access to Public Space” the Public Fund aims to support local community groups doing things like: Managing pest plants and animals, surveying vegetation, repairing and upgrading infrastructure, including public tracks and fences.

Be a part of this important work - Click here to donate today!​

Works Crew – Farewell to Luke Phillips

This week we said goodbye to Luke Phillips who started with the Bass Coast Landcare Network in 2015 as a trainee, completing his Certificate 3 in Conservation and Land Management with Landcare. He then went on to work on his Diploma in Conservation and Land Management. Luke has been a valuable member of the Works crew and will be missed by all. Luke is heading to the gold coast to experience working and living in a different location and we wish him all the best.

To meet the rest of our staff team, click here.​

We would love to hear from you and your groups with stories and photos of what's been happening in your area and suggestions of things that you would like to see in your E-news.

We especially can't wait for you to send us in your before and after shots from any Landcare works you have done on your property.

We also look forward to meeting and catching up with you at some of the events coming up around Bass Coast, 

Until next month, 

From the Bass Coast Landcare Network.