Hello to all of our Landcare Members, Partners, Sponsors and Friends throughout the Bass Coast Landcare Network.

We have an absolutely jam-packed event calendar ready for you, with the Sustainability Festival to be launched October 23rd, leading into 6 weeks of online and in-person events (scroll down for the Festival program) There's sure to be something of interest for you.

There are also plenty of good news stories of plantings, successful grants, new grants available, weed control, project updates... lots of exciting things are happening in Landcare!

We hope you enjoy this month's BCLN Enews!

For all the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram... just click the links above!

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Join us virtually for the Sustainability Festival Launch event, where you will be sure to be inspired and entertained by a range of speakers covering a variety of topics relating to Sustainability. Over 80 people have already booked in to what is shaping up to be a really interesting event. 

​The opening night will be hosted by television favourite and Junior Landcare ambassador, Costa Georgiadis, and will also feature Dr. Susie Burke covering the important topic of mental health during a changing climate. After a Welcome to Country from the Bunurong Land Council, keynote speakers will be followed by a series of informative shorter presentations from Bass Coast Shire Council, Zoe Geyer representing Totally Renewable Phillip Island, Paul Haar representing CERES Fair Wood and Jasmin Rooks representing the youth of Bass Coast.

Click here to register for this exciting event!​

The Sustainability Festival is geared up to be a spectacular event, there has been a huge response with around 60 confirmed events to be run over 6 weeks! Events covering local food systems, housing, gardens, cloth nappies, planting for bees, local birds, water, social sustainability, electric vehicles, available rebates, waste reducing products and more, will be hosted by a range of organisations, businesses and groups. This year’s Festival program is now live on the Festival web page with more events to be added through the festival period so keep checking back in for something that interests you. 

Click here to check out the Festival website and view the event program!

This event is supported by the Bass Coast Shire Council, Westernport Water and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning through the Supporting our Regions to Adapt program.

Next week is National Water Week from the 18th to the 24th of October. Water Authorities across Victoria, including our own Westernport Water are hosting an online learning festival with the theme of 'Explore your Backyard', featuring fun and engaging educational material about our local 'backyard', including information on protecting local waterways and environment, vegetable garden tips, sustainable gardening practices and saving water. There will be informative presentations, on-demand videos and tours, online activities and resources, experiments and more. 

Follow the Facebook page for all the latest information by clicking here. 

The  Aussie Backyard Bird Count is a great way to connect with the birds in your backyard no matter where your backyard happens to be — a farm, a suburban backyard, a local park, a patch of forest, down by the beach, or the main street of town. You can count as many times as you like over the week, we just ask that each count is completed over a 20-minute period. The data collected assists BirdLife Australia in understanding more about the birds that live where people live. Prizes are to be won, too!

Click here for more information on how to take part.

This year between the 22-25th October, join Australia and 13 other countries in the largest scale citizen science biodiversity survey in the southern hemisphere! The Great Southern BioBlitz encourages everyone in Southern Hemisphere countries to record organisms during Spring. All observations made on iNaturalist during the event will be automatically included. This is your opportunity to participate in a large, global biodiversity survey.

Click here for more information.

Our next River Garden Blitz will again feature local horticulture teacher Adrian James as guest speaker, this time on Sustainable Gardening. Save the date, more details will be available soon and bookings will be opening on Eventbrite soon too. Keep an eye on our facebook page for more details. 

Click here for more information on how you can get involved at the River Garden!

GROUP AND NETWORK NEWS

After much secrecy while waiting for 'official' government announcements, we are now happy to be able to announce the success of some of our groups in the 2021 Community Volunteer Action Grants! These grants are part of the Biodiversity On Ground Action Program of the Victorian State Government.  The following groups are now able to run these exciting new projects:

Stream 1. Strengthening Environmental Volunteering

Kongwak Hills Landcare Group - Kongwak Hills homes for wildlife, Engaging Volunteers in Citizen Science

Phillip Island Landcare Group - Upskilling environmental volunteers to increase Island biodiversity

Stream 2. Biodiversity on ground action and stewardship

Anderson Inlet Landcare Group - Protecting places for laces 2.0

Bass Valley Landcare Group - A unified approach to foreshore management

French Island Landcare Group - Enhancing the unique natural landscape of French Island

What a difference to our landscapes and people these projects will make! Congratulations to all of our groups and best of luck on your projects. 

New Korunburra Landcare Group member Jim, figured out how to make the weather work for a perfect morning planting around his property in Bena. Around 12 volunteers (CovidSafe) spread out along all Jim’s planting plots, which were organised with spots sprayed, bamboo stakes, and hundreds of plants already spread out ready to be planted.

A great morning was had by all, with planting, chatting and laughter... something we all need in these weird times. About 1,300 plants went into the ground, and Jim has also planted about 5,000 himself. A simple BBQ and salads were supplied for lunch for the hungry volunteers. Well done Jim, for a fantastically organised day, and to the members who volunteered their time to enjoy the sun, and plant for the future.

Click here to learn more about the Korumburra Landcare Group.​

Recently Bass Coast Landcare has aimed at targeting Wandering Trad, with the release of Trad smut, a biological control that spreads through spores and slowly uses the weed’s energy for its own fungal growth, ultimately infecting the invading trad.  Infected trad rhizomes were transplanted at Pioneer Hill in Kongwak and the Bass River in Bass. A big thank you to Bill Incoll for supplying the infected trad and posting it to us.  If anyone has wandering trad and would like some biological control next season email your site location and contact details to [email protected]​

For more information on weeds in Bass Coast click here. 

TUROSI recently partnered with Bass Coast Landcare Network to sponsor a Landcare planting of 2000 plants at Brad and Dani Carr’s farm at West Creek. The planting was originally going to be planted with the help of a local primary school, however Covid-19 restrictions got in the way of this being possible. The BCLN Works Crew along with the Carr family got the plants in themselves. Brad and Dani Carr have done multiple successful Landcare projects over the past 13 years on their farms and provide a great example of sustainable beef farming in our region. To complement this partnership project, the Carr family also completed a significant Biolinks direct seeding project (pictured). This project was seeded in late September ready for the Spring rains.
We estimate over the next 25 years that the TUROSI sponsored project will sequester an estimated 255 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere.
Bass Coast Landcare Network thanks TUROSI for their support and looks forward to a productive partnership into the future!

Click here for information on sponsorship opportunities.​

On Saturday, the 25^th of September, NRM Project Coordinator and Landcare Facilitator – Jye Andersen presented to the Tenby Point Residents Association (TPRA) on our ‘Reel Big Fish’ project. The project targets mangrove revegetation around Western Port to improve nursery and feeding grounds for fish and we are looking to engage local community groups and schools in implementation of mangrove plantings over the next 2 Summers. Stay tuned for more information on how you can get involved in the coming months!

This project is supported by Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, through funding from the Australian Government’s Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program.

For more about Natural Resource Management Programs, click here.​

Big thanks to Ben from the Bass Valley Primary School for delivering some leftover veggie seedlings... The school students grew too many to use, so they kindly donated them to be planted in the River Garden. Much appreciated!

Click here to learn more about the River Garden.​

Invasive weeds that threaten natural assets will most likely increase in the future as drought, fire and flood events become more frequent and extreme under climate change. Classical biological control is the only feasible management option for environmental weeds at the landscape scale to protect and improve biodiversity and natural ecosystem services. It involves the deliberate introduction of host-specific natural enemies of a target weed from its native range into the region where the plant has become a problem. Effective biocontrol agents do not eradicate the target weed, but rather suppress weed populations so they are less competitive with native species and impose fewer negative impacts on native ecosystems.    
 
Louise Morin from CSIRO Health & Biosecurity shared updates on a major biocontrol initiative at the 2021 National Landcare Conference.

Click here to view the session.

Students, trainers and industry are being encouraged to have their say on the future of agriculture training, with consultation now open as part of a Victorian Government review that will strengthen the industry. The Future of Agriculture Training in Victoria Review was launched in June to examine how the TAFE system can continue to meet the changing needs of Victoria’s growing agricultural industry. The review is being led by Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle, who has already undertaken preliminary discussions with TAFEs and industry across Victoria – and will deliver a final report to Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney in December.

Click here for more information.​

Parks Victoria is developing a Land Management Strategy that will underpin planning and management of Victorian parks activities to achieve consistency across the state.  If you would like to hear more about this draft Strategy, or request a formal briefing for your organisation email [email protected] The Parks Victoria draft Land Management Strategy is open for public feedback until 1 November 2021. 

You can review the draft Strategy and Outcomes Reporting Framework and provide feedback or register for online information sessions here.

GRANTS, TRAINING, INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDHOLDERS

The Small-Scale and Craft Program is a four-year program that supports agribusinesses looking to scale-up operations, diversify product lines, expand exports, create new jobs, and strengthen tourism in Victoria. Grants of $25,000 to $100,000 are available to eligible small-scale and craft agribusinesses for projects within the program guidelines. Click below for eligibility criteria and to learn more.

Click here for more eligibility requirements and to apply​

Are you part of a Landcare group with a project you'd like to do, or an event that you’d like to run? Need extra funds? Then consider applying for a grant through the Bass Coast Council Community Grants Program, which now includes a Quick Response Grant program. The Quick Response program will provide grants of up to $1,000 every month (Except June), or until budget allocation is exhausted. Rounds open the first day of each month (except June) and close on the last Friday of the same month. Applications for October's Quick Response grants are now open! Round 1 of the Community Grants 2022 is now also open with applications closing on Friday, 4 March 2022.

To apply, or for more information, visit www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/grants or contact the Community Grants and Projects Officer on [email protected].

The Victorian Government is calling on young farmers to take their careers to the next level, with expressions of interest open for the 2022 Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program. Eight positions are available in the 2022 program which pairs young farmers with experienced farmers in a mentorship, overseen by a skilled farm business consultant. The Program is open to farmers aged 18 to 35 years to develop the skills they need to better manage their farm businesses, identify risks, and develop strategies to build resilience and achieve their business goals.

Click here for further information.​

After the last Blitz in July, we have finally been able to host another River garden Blitz on Saturday 9th of October welcoming back guest speaker, local Horticulture teacher Adrian James. We didn’t let restriction numbers stop us this time and did a session in the morning and in the afternoon so we could stick to the number limits. The session focused around pests, diseases and disorders, but instead of just treating the visible problem itself, Adrian taught us to look at things holistically with the I.D. / Treat / Manage approach. We found out that often the problems started in the roots, soil or surrounding environments and that managing those things are just as important as treating the site of the problem itself. We also got the swales weeded, the remaining nuts and fruit trees pruned and quite a few of our spring/summer veggies planted, including celery, kale, tomatoes, chilies, beets, herbs, zucchini and more.

At our next Blitz on Saturday 13th of November we will be welcoming back Adrian for a session on Sustainable Gardening, to fit in with the many events being run for the Sustainability Festival this year. Look out on our web page for more details on this day being confirmed and bookings opening soon. We have also been busy beginning preparations for hosting the last event in the Sustainability Festival at the River Garden, the Produce Market, to be held on Sunday the 5^th of December. We can't wait to see this space transformed into a bustling outdoor marketplace that will connect many of our local growers and local eaters who want to reduce food miles and enjoy delicious fresh food. Applications will open for this market very soon on our Festival web page.

Looking forward to seeing you down at the River Garden!

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.

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. ​

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.