Dear <<First Name>>,
And there goes another year! A huge thank you to everyone in our Landcare community for your hard work and many hours volunteering on all sorts of different projects over the past 12 months. It has been amazing to see the resilience in our area as we emerged into a 'covid-normal world', and congratulations again on the different goals we have achieved.
The Ovens Landcare Network wishes our community and all Landcare members a relaxing festive season, and we are looking forward to seeing you in the new year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Flood Support
Scroll or navigate down to Funding Opportunities to find a list and links to current Victorian Flood Support. If you have a Landcare project site on your property (eg fencing and revegetation) that has been affected by flooding please make a record and take photos once it is safe, and pass these details on to your Landcare Facilitator or the North East Catchment Management Authority (NECMA or 1300 216 513). For urgent flood damage please report it via the Snap Send Solve app or contact the CMA.
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Congratulations to the Upper Ovens Landcare Group on the completion of their Bushfire Recovery Protecting Threatened Species project.
The group received funding after the Black Summer Bushfires to help them increase awareness of the impacts of fire on many of our threatened species, with a focus on the rare Omeo Gum (Eucalyptus neglecta). The Omeo Gum has very small, vulnerable populations scattered through the high country and much of its possible range was affected by the 19/20 fires in the Australian Alps. As part of this project, Upper Ovens Valley Landcare collected seed from local surviving trees and had 1000 seedlings propagated to plant back into its range around the Buckland Valley. The aim is to increase the population and resilience of this species in the face of future bushfires and pressure from climate change.
Upper Ovens Valley Landcare also hosted an excellent forum on Threatened Species and Fire back in April. The day included fantastic presentations from a range of experts who are working with many of the threatened species in our alpine areas. It has been great to see this project achieve great community awareness raising and the onground works of weed removal, fencing, and tree planting. Well done to everyone involved!
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Soil Conference for Land Managers
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Tuesday 28th February
North East Victoria
One for the diaries. North East Catchment Management Authority (NECMA) will host a soil conference for land managers focused on carbon, soil health, and climate change.
Look out for program details in the next edition of this newsletter or email samuel.gitahi@necma.vic.gov.au
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Healthy Land, Healthy Horses Workshop
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Sunday 26th March 2023
Wangaratta TAFE
Equine Land Management with international expert Stuart Myer.
The workshop is aimed at horse owners that either own land, lease land, or keep their horse/s on
agistment (so that’s everyone who owns or manages a horse!).
Learn how to make small or large changes in horse and land management that improve the ‘lifestyle’ of
horses and people and at the same time benefit the environment. A true win-win-win situation.
Keep the Date. Booking details in the next edition of this newsletter.
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Check your eligibility for flood recovery finance and loans
Did you know impacted primary producers and rural landholders from the majority of Victorian council areas can apply for flood recovery grants and concessional loans?
Find links to grant guidelines and application forms via tinyurl.com/yubvrut3
Plus, for information and resources to help primary producers and rural landholders on the ground please visit go.vic.gov.au/3ANZ225
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NAB Foundation Community Grants
Applications close on 28 February 2023
The NAB Foundation is currently seeking applications for Community Grants. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for projects that help communities prepare for natural disasters, support long-term recovery and build resilience to future disasters and climate change.
Prioritised funding areas include:
- Future-proofing natural environments
- Future-proofing wildlife
Learn more about how to apply for a grant in the application guide, or submit your application today.
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Strengthening Rural Communities | FRRR
Applications close 5pm Wednesday 1st of March 2023
The Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal is offering three funding streams through the Strengthening Rural Communities program. Please click through to view the objectives of each stream and eligibility requirements:
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Small Environmental Grant Scheme | Norman Wettenhall Environment Trust
Expressions of Interest open regularly
Providing support for people undertaking projects that will make a positive difference to the natural living environment, in land, sea or air, rural or urban. The Norman Wettenhall Environment Trust supports grassroots organisations and individuals, and academics who are working with on-ground community groups. The expression of interest process opens regularly throughout the year. For more information click here.
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Property Management Plans
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Future Ready Farms
Limited to the first 10 applications from members of each Landcare group in the Ovens Landcare Network catchment
The Ovens Landcare Network is please to offer Landcare members the opportunity to work with a professional to develop a property management plan.
This includes an online meeting to develop a map of your property, and you will receive a laminated print-out of the map and a digital copy. Submit you expression of interest here.
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On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot - Sheep
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Online EOIs must be completed by midnight on 31 January 2023
Are you a sheep or wool farmer interested in becoming one of a select number of participants for round three of the On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot?
If so, email actionplanpilot@agriculture.vic.gov.au to receive a summary document that describes the requirements of the Pilot program and a link to the online application form.
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Over the next two years, the Pilot will support up to 250 farm businesses to estimate their emissions profile and identify actions to manage and reduce emissions on farm. Delivered over nine rounds, the Pilot will support farmers across Victoria’s key agricultural industries and commodities.
Pilot participants will be able to apply for a grant from a pool of $5 million dollars to implement an action from their Emissions Action Plan.
For more information including frequently asked questions visit On-Farm Emissions Action Plan Pilot.
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Victoria's heavy rainfall is impacting the state’s soil. Flooding conditions can significantly alter the level of nutrients in the soil. It's important that we manage wet soils as best we can by:
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1. Minimising traffic of heavy vehicles on wet paddocks
2. Keep stock separated from the most saturated soils
3. Soil test prior to sowing crops or pastures to nutrient availability for the 2023 season.
For more information on managing flooded or wet soil, including drainage systems, visit Managing wet soils | Dairy | Livestock and animals | Agriculture Victoria
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Japanese encephalitis awareness
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Flooding and heavy rainfall have increased the risk of mosquito-borne diseases in Victoria, including Japanese encephalitis (JE).
JE can cause illness in susceptible animal species including horses and pigs.
In pigs, the most common clinical signs are mummified and stillborn or weak piglets while horses usually show no signs of illness but can present with fever, jaundice, lethargy, neurological signs and anorexia.
For more information click here.
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