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. 

Landcare Week

Become a Citizen Scientist

Landcare Australia is encouraging everyone to become a citizen scientist during Landcare Week.

Every Australian can participate in this Landcare Week activity. Simply register with ClimateWatch and you can monitor, collect and record data that will help shape the Australia’s scientific response to climate change.

Data collected by ClimateWatch will be used by anyone studying the impact of climate change on ecosystems.

Over the past 5 years the Tarago Catchment Sustainable Farms Project has been working towards acheiving the vision of 'Creating a liveable and productive catchment with sustainable farms and healthy waterways'

The new sign was launched at Apex Park, Neerim in June to provide information on the Tarago Catchment, Tarago Reservoir and the Project.

Apex Park gives a fantastic view over farmland, down to the top of the Tarago Reservoir with the Tarago State Forest in the backdrop. So far the sign has been very well recieved with many visitors to the area stopping to see what it is all about.

Photo: Mike Haughton and Ian Maclagan checking out the new sign

The Federal Government has funded the Landcare group through its Community Action Grants program to run a project which will fence off and revegetate 5 dams to create valuable mini flora & fauna reserves (“bio-islands”), whilst retaining the primary purpose for the dam to be a source of water for the farm.

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.