WHAT'S NEW IN MARCH- Grants, events and more.... BCLN E-News Welcome to the March edition of the Bass Coast Landcare Network E-news. New funding opportunities have been announced so now is the time to get project plans for your property in to us, if you haven't already. These can then be included in applications being worked on by Landcare groups across the network right now! Read below for more information on the process involved in planning, approving and conducting a Landcare project. There are also some great Field days in the upcoming events section, lots of stories in the news section and plenty of interesting resources for you to check out as well. 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! UPCOMING EVENTS Click on the links for event information and booking details. ''Growing Community, Growing Food - River Garden Field Day Series" Starting March 24th Bass Coast Landcare Network can’t wait to get you involved in a series of information and hands on activity days starting Saturday March 24th at the River Garden in Bass. What a great way to get involved in this dynamic, new space, soon to be a community garden, trials, innovation and education precinct on the banks of the Bass River. Click this link to find out what's in store for this day and book your place. Real Genetics, Real Dollars, an on farm Information day Hico are pleased to be supporting the ABS Australia 's Genetic Validation Day at the farm of Murray & Lisa Huitson (16A Campbell Road, Kernot, Vic) on Tuesday 27th March @ 10:30am. If your interested in genetics and how it can impact your bottom line then this is the day for you. This should be a well attended field day so be sure to register ASAP. Contact is Brian Enbom on 0459 239 344. Day on the Farm series continues in April Save the date for the 6th of April and join us for a fun school holiday activity at Bimbadeen Farm on Phillip Island. Chickens, cowes, bees, shop, farm stay and more, there's a lot to see and do for all ages. More details to come on each day in a flyer to be released soon. Click here to go to our News and Events page for the latest information to be released Luminous Galleries return to the Waterline Local artists are already building surprising art installations and preparing for the Launch of the Luminous Galleries on April 7 th at Corinella. There will be food, drink and performances at the Corinella launch with artworks spread across four towns: Pioneer Bay, Grantville, Corinella and Coronet Bay. These innovative galleries will feature a scattering of small permanent ground lights with specially designed tie-down features, and will be installed in the foreshore public spaces of four towns. Sculptures will sit over the lights and glow at night in the towns. Each artist or group will have their work over the lights for three weeks in a display that changes monthly. This project is proudly administered by the Bass Valley Landcare Group. For more information go to theedgeofus.com.au Southern Gippsland Sustainability Festival 2018 This year Bass Coast Landcare Network will again team up with South Gippsland Landcare Network on a stall at the Southern Gippsland Sustainability Festival at the State Coal Mine in Wonthaggi on Saturday 8th of April. This is an event that focuses on sustainable living options in Southern Gippsland (Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shires). Held annually, alternating between South Gippsland and Bass Coast, the Festival hosts displays of alternative energy, local produce, self-sufficiency skills and a range of sustainable products. The Festival showcases a range of exhibitors and eco friendly products, provide practical information, down-to-earth demonstrations and speakers. These provide practical skills for residents and visitors to use daily at home, work and in their community. Local entertainment and children’s activities mean that the day is not just about learning, but is also about having fun. We hope to see you there! For more information on this event click here Farm World 2018 Landcare will be at Farm World this year at the Melbourne Water display, we would love to see you there! Its on this year from Thursday 12 th to Sunday 15th of April. Widely regarded as Victoria’s largest premier regional agricultural event, Farm World attracts more than 55,000 visitors and over 800 exhibitors, plus conference sessions, workshops, demonstrations, equestrian competitions, and great all round fun for the whole family. For more information on this event click here Gippsland Intrepid Sandy Point Retreat Gippsland Intrepid Landcare will be holding our their first ever Landcare retreat from the 28th- 29th of April at Sandy Point, Victoria! Places are limited to 25 people and there will be a charge of $30, which includes food, accommodation and activities. We have a lot planned for the weekend including; Sea spurge/weed removal, Surfing Lessons, special guest Tim Silverwood- ‘Getting your project off the ground’, Leadership training session and plenty of nature walks. We have already sent out emails to our members, so places are going quickly! Gippsland Intrepid Landcare is a volunteer group for passionate, creative and energetic 18-35 year olds, connecting young people to their region through environmental projects and epic adventures. New members always, always welcome! Please email your expressions of interest A.S.A.P. to gippslandintrepidlandcare@ gmail.com GROUP AND NETWORK NEWS Profitable and Sustainable Farm Forestry at a local level A recent visit to Amber Creek Farm in the Fish Creek region of South Gippsland proved to be a real highlight for over 40 Bass Coast landcarers. Amber Creek Farm is owned and managed by Dan and Amelia Bright. Dan and Amelia have a wonderful story to tell us all on sustainable resource management and ethical practices. They raise pasture raised pigs and run a sawmilling operation targeting local timber plantations and salvaged timber. Dan and Amelia live ‘off grid’ and believe in having a positive impact on their environment and community, have a no waste philosophy, adopt regenerative farming techniques and have a ‘local’ focus. It is this local focus that has enabled them to create a niche for themselves in the sawmilling industry. Click here to read more of this story on our website Conducting a Landcare Project - the process explained We have had a few questions lately about the process involved in applying for, getting approved and conducting a Landcare project so we thought we would give a brief outline here and point you in the direction of a few documents we have updated on our website for more details. If you have a plan or idea for a project on your property that you would like to turn into reality, you can either contact us directly or fill out an 'Expression Of Interest Form' on our website (click the link below). We encourage landholders to first look at our 'Landcare Grant guidelines document' (click the link below) to see if your project activities are eligible. Once we receive your expression of interest form, or you get in contact with us, our Landcare Staff will arrange a site visit to your property to discuss your project. Projects then are presented to the relevant Landcare group or project committee for approval, landholders are notified of the outcome and then Landcare groups and Staff will do our best to find or allocate funding to help turn your project plans into reality. If we already have firm project plans from you, we can be prepared to get approvals and put in applications for various types of appropriate funding as they are released. If you have any questions or would like to book in a site visit please contact Dave Bateman, Natural Resource Management Coordinator on 0488399151 or email
[email protected] Click here for more information on the process of conducting a Landcare project Click here to take you to the Expression of interest form Click here to take you to the Lanadcare Grants guidelines document New BCLN Drone and YouTube channel The Bass Coast Landcare Network has recently purchased a DJI 3 4K drone! This will have many applications into the future but for now we have set up a YouTube channel to show some of the aspects of the work that our Works Crew undertake including weed management. We will now also be able to show planting successes and use it as a marketing and community engagement tool to show changes in our landscape as a result of Landcare works. Though in its infancy there are already a few videos online, watch and subscribe for regular additions to our channel by clicking the link below. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7s8fObO8Fn9mMZVI8RNj9A Contact Works Crew Coordinator Cameron Butcher for more information or to discuss how the Works Crew can help you:
[email protected] GRANTS, TRAINING, INFORMATION & LANDHOLDER OPPORTUNITIES New funding announced from State and Federal Governments open to Landcare groups and closing soon - get your project plans in now! Do you have ideas for projects on your property but need a bit of help to get it going? We would love to hear from you if we haven’t already. Our staff are currently helping our Landcare groups put together submissions for the funding recently announced from our Federal and State governments listed below. The National Landcare Program - Environment Small Grants is now open! This program provides up to $5 million in grants in 2017-18 to community, environment, and other groups to undertake natural resource management activities that improve the quality of the local environment. Grants are for between $5,000 and $50,000. Applications close: 19 March 2018 5:00 pm https:// www.business.gov.au/ Assistance/ National-Landcare-Program-E nvironment-Small-Grants
