What's New in January 2022 BCLN E-news Hello to all of our Landcare Members, Partners, Sponsors and Friends throughout the Bass Coast Landcare Network and welcome to the January edition of the BCLN Enews. We hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year, and are settling into 2022 okay. We only have a small Enews this month, but things are slowly starting to pick up again after the break. There is still plenty of exciting info to share, so have a scroll! For all the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram... just click the links above! UPCOMING EVENTS Gippsland Intrepid Willow Monitoring on the Macalister River - February 12th Join Gippsland Intrepid Landcare on a kayaking adventure up the Macalister River from Lake Glenmaggie, mapping noxious willow trees. Paddlers will camp at Paradise Valley Campground, where dinner and breakfast will be provided. This is fantastic opportunity to hang out with some other young Landcarers while doing important environmental work, but places are limited and members will get first option, so be sure to sign up as a member at the link below! Click here to join! Click here for further event info Bass Coast Edible Gardens Open Food Gardens Weekend - February 19th and 20th Visit 20 Bass Coast Gardens this summer over the weekend of February 19 th and 20 th , including the River Garden! This inspiring weekend of open gardens features a selection of some of the most interesting and productive edible gardens across Bass Coast. You will be able to visit a diverse selection of gardens including community, backyard and acreage properties all producing a range of foods and using a variety of approaches. Tickets are available for a single garden visit or multiple and if you commit to doing a 3 hour volunteer shift at one of the gardens over that weekend, you can get a free ticket. Contact Bass Coast Edible Gardens Volunteer Coordinator Leslie Adams if you are interested in volunteering
[email protected] or call 0491 217 584. Click here to check out the website and read about all the gardens on display, and to book your tickets. GROUP AND NETWORK NEWS Covid-19 Causing Weed Control Delays With the current spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, BCLN is experiencing staff shortages which is impacting on work scheduled. This is leading to time delays which will continue over the Summer spray season. During this time we ask for your patience and understanding. We are committed to delivering agreed works, and are open to future works with the understanding it may be a little later than expected. If you have any queries please contact Mark Rowe at
[email protected] or on 0437 000 990. Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority Integrated into Melbourne Water As you may already be aware, from the 1st of January 2022, the Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA) has officially integrated into Melbourne Water. This means that the catchment and waterways management responsibilities across the Port Philip and Western Port region are now under a single, integrated entity with a shared vision to improve and enhance our land, water and biodiversity. Melbourne Water are now responsible for supporting the region’s many Landcare groups and networks and environmental volunteer groups. Barry Kennedy will continue to be the Regional Landcare Coordinator and other Melbourne Water staff are excited to get out in the new year and meet their new partners. The PPWCMA is proud of its strong relationships with partners, Traditional Owners and community groups, and this shared expertise, connections and projects will become an integral part of Melbourne Water. Click here to read a reflection from David Buntine, PPWCMA CEO Landcare Report Card 2020-21 Each year, the PPWCMA publishes a Landcare Report Card, which details the breadth of environmental volunteering across the region, based on data from the Victorian Government's Landcare Group Health Survey. The report card shares key statistics, as well as stories of the achievements Landcare groups and networks, friends groups and collaborative projects, and highlights the return on investment from the Landcare and environmental volunteering sector. Please note that only part of BCLN including Bass Valley, Phillip Island and French Island are within the PPWCMA (now Melbourne Water) and the rest of our groups are within the West Gippsland CMA. Click here to read the report card Dob in a Weed Regional Roads Victoria (RRV), previously VicRoads, is responsible for controlling weeds on RRV roadsides. If you see any weeds on RRV roadsides (see map above) you can notify RRV using this link https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/contact-us/feedback-and-enquiries Use the notes section to detail the weed infestation and location, and ensure you check the box that asks for a response. The more notifications RRV receives, the more weed control will be undertaken in Bass Coast. Click here to report a weed Gippsland Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Released The Gippsland Regional Climate Change Adaptation Strategy was released in late December, and is available to read. The strategy serves as a guide for regional adaptation action for the immediate future, and has been designed for the region to use as a tool to foster collaboration, support, resources and funding for actions within Gippsland that will support and better protect our communities, economy and environment in a changing climate. Click here to view the document Click here to read the media release PROJECT UPDATES River Garden Update Over the Christmas/New Years break with heavy rain followed by sun, the River Garden continued to grow at great rates... fruit, veggies grass and weeds! The sunflowers are in full bloom, and the apple espaliers have an abundance of fruit. We also have beetroots, apricots and the nectarines are slowly ripening. We are hoping to hold a River Garden Blitz morning, a 3-hour session with horticulture teacher Adrian James teaching about soils and composting on February 12th, but this will depend on the Covid situation. We will keep you updated via Facebook , however if you are really keen, please email
[email protected] to express your interest. Click here to see how you can get involved with our emerging River Garden Community! Offset Your Vehicle Emissions for 2021/22 with Local Planting Projects! If you feel passionate about the environment and want to do your bit for our beautiful native flora and fauna, why not consider offsetting your car emissions with Bass Coast Landcare Network? Just click on your car's size to make a donation, which will cover the planting of enough indigenous plants to offset your car’s emissions for a year and contribute to restoring your own local landscape. All your friends and family will also see your complimentary car sticker showing your commitment to the Bass Coast environment. Offset today Bass Coast Arc – Landcare Public Fund Making Projects a Reality – Donate Today to Make a Difference! The Bass Coast Landcare Public Fund is a regional non-profit organisation focusing on conserving biodiversity throughout Bass Coast. The Bass Coast Arc – “Community Access to Public Space” concept supports community groups to work with public land managers to improve the environment of our public spaces and create appropriate access to these unique areas. Your contribution, no matter how small, helps to protect native plants and animals in Bass Coast’s most ecologically important landscapes. SUpport us What's your story? We would love to hear from you and your Landcare group with stories and photos of what's been happening in your area and any suggestions of things that you would like to see in your E-news. We look forward to meeting and catching up with you at upcoming events and activities around Bass Coast. Until next edition, Happy reading, from the Bass Coast Landcare Network. Visit Our Site We want to hear from you for the next E-news! Please send us any of your stories, events or other information for the next edition of the E-news by the end of the first week of the month. All we need is a photo and a couple of paragraphs to be sent to:
[email protected] Let's be buddies
