Neerim and District Landcare Group

What is Landcare?

Landcare is a non-political, uniquely Australian partnership between the community, government and business to protect and repair Australia’s magnificent, yet stressed, natural resources.  It consists of approximately 4000 Landcare and 2000 Coast care groups made up of volunteers that work together on projects such as revegetation, weed removal, stream bank stabilisation, litter removal and dune stabilisation to name but a few. 

Beef producers are invited to attend the Gippsland Beef School, covering aspects of  managing an efficient, highly profitable beef enterprise.

The beef school will feature interactive presentations using live animals and concurrent sessions allowing participants to choose topics most relevant to their business.

An industry dinner will be held on the Thursday evening, with local producers speaking on how they use different marketing tools to get more from their business

Registrations close April 30th
Further information:
Fiona Baker (DPI) 5624 2234
Email: fiona.baker@dpi.vic.gov.au

   As part of a holistic approach towards pest control, and due to the increasing numbers of Indian Mynas breeding in the Baw Baw shire area, NDLG applied for a grant to begin a community based program trapping and eradicating them.  

We began by running an information night dealing with all pest animals and the ways of dealing with them. Forty people turned up and we gathered some information as to who was interested in each species and had enough people interested to go forward with a Trap building workshop.  

Healthy Soils - Linking Soil Carbon and Soil Acidification with Farm Management Practices

 Soil health is a rapidly growing area of interest amongst landholders with most recognising the direct correlation between a healthy soil and productive, pastures and healthy livestock. Soil Carbon is currently a very popular discussion point for farmers, scientists and government.

The Westernport Catchment Landcare Network & Tarago Catchment Sustainable Farms in partnership with Bass Coast Landcare Network & South Gippsland Landcare Network have received funding through the Australian Government Caring for Our Country program to work with 100 landholders situated throughout the Westernport Catchment in a specific soil carbon/acidification project over 3 years.

This is a summary of funding opportunties that are available to Neerim & District Landcare Group members (depending on which catchment you live in). These funding opportunites may also be available to non members - please enquire with individual Project Managers.

Most of the funding available is for standard fencing and revegetation type projects however there is also funding available for a wide range of other land improvement type projects as well as for training and courses.

We will try to keep this page as up to date as possible, but funding often changes within very short timeframes so we would advise you to contact the various Project Managers to determine if the funding is still available. If you hear of any other funding opportunities available please let us know at news@ndlg.org.au

Map: Use the map above to roughly determine whether your property is located in Westernport, Tarago or Latrobe Catchments. (To open larger map see the map link at the bottom of the page)

Tarago Catchment Sustainable Farms Project

Reducing nutrients and sediment runoff from farms, through improving land management practices and increasing knowledge. Available to properties located in the Tarago Reservoir Catchment.

Healthy Soils - Linking soil carbon and soil acidification with farm management practices

The aim of the project is to increase soil carbon levels and reduce soil acidification levels on each of the 100 farms. Available to properties in the Westerport Catchment & the Tarago Reservoir Catchment.

CORE 4 Program

Reducing nutrients and sediments in Gippsland Lakes. Available to properties in the Latrobe Catchment.

Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network Small Grants

A couple of years ago, it became apparent that the Neerim South Recreation Reserve was suffering the ill-effects of drought, particularly the long dry spells between September and May each year. The ground was proving dangerous to cricketers in Summer and football players during pre-season training and earlier in the playing season. The ground lacks an irrigation system and relies wholly on rainfall. In a prolonged period of lower-than-average rainfall, the ground will continue to suffer and present OH&S risks to players.

It should be noted too, that purchasing town water was not an option for the reserve's commitee of management to consider as town water, when available, is expensive in the quantities required, and more importantly, simply not available during periods of staged water restrictions.