Landholder grants and projects

Agricultural Chemical Users Permit (ACUP)

As part of our VBRRA grant for our new spray unit, Strathewen was also funded for 15 places in a certified Agricultural Chemical Users Permit course. Residents can enrol in the next NMIT course (see below) and claim a rebate.

Refer to the Information Sheet

This course, presented by NMIT, is an essential requirement to gain an Agricultural Chemical User’s Permit (ACUP) in the primary industries. An ACUP is required for the use of a number of restricted chemicals, including Schedule 7 agricultural chemicals, certain ester herbicide formulations, and atrazine soil residual herbicide.

Pasture regeneration

Residents whose pasture was burnt on Black Saturday and who have lodged and expression of interest in the Darley pasture recovery grant will need to prepare a pasture management plan. Landcare is working with the Natural Environment Recovery Working Group to provide additional information and assistance to landholders. The information sessions are open to all Strathewen landholders.

See News for details of the workshops.

Residents are also reminded that we have a soil testing kit available for loan.

For more information, talk to Tim O'Donnell at Nillumbik Shire.

Since the fires the following information has been bought to our attention:

 Capeweed & Erodium AG0201.pdf

Pasture Recovery v0.1.pdf (41.56 KB)

Perennial Pasture Establishment Guide.pdf (614.83 KB)

Meat and Livestock Australia - Pasture Improvement Calculator

Shelterbelts

We received funding from the Grocon Recylcing for Recovery to enable us to set up a demonstration shelterbelt at Barrie and Raes' place. In October 2010 the demonstration shelterbelt site was planted.  There are many purposes to a shelterbelt, including protection of crops, livestock, and the home, reduction of soil erosion, salinity control and biodiversity improvements.

The site  at the Tully’s property runs in a roughly NS direction and is 160m in length.

Prior to the shelterbelt being planted, the area was sprayed for weeds, then the soil ripped to make it more penetrable to moisture and also easier for planting.

The basic design of the shelterbelt was to have 3 rows, 3 metres apart.

Blackwoods were planted along the western side at 4m spacings and mixed at 2m spacings with shrubby species. The shrubby species used were a mixture of smaller wattles, ozathamnus, olearia and cassinia.

 Eucalyptus species were planted at 4m spacings in the centre row to add height to the shelterbelt, again with shrubby species between.

The Eastern row was planted in a similar fashion to the western one.

All plants had weed mats and guards placed around them and fencing was erected to protect the shelterbelt from grazing cattle and wildlife.

For more information on the planning and management of shelterbelts, refer to the following links:

Shelterbelt design

Shelterbelt management

Shelterbelts for livestock productivity

The list of plants below include species you may consider planting in a shelterbelt in our area. This list is by no means exhaustive:

Revegetation

Plants available  -  Indigenous pretties for your garden   

Everyone is reminded that we are still distributing the 500 flowering natives that will be suitable for your garden or for your letterbox planting. These plants were grown for us by local nurseries using seeds collected in the area.

Assistance with planting

Over the last 18 months we have been donated plants from various sources. Rather than knock these offers back because people don't have time for planting we have funding to purchase the required planting materials and are working with the staff at Nillumbik to access volunteer labour to get them planted. Around 10 landholders have already taken advantage of this and we encourage others to join in.

Restoring your garden

Please let Kylee know if you would like some plants. email enquiries@strathewenlandcare.org.au or phone 9714 8292

Replanting

If you are thinking of replanting your land, please consider the following points:

1. Nature's capacity to take care of the area by itself - that is, Is replanting really necessary?

2. The cost of replanting - Do you need to purchase water crystals, soil wetting agent, weed mats, plant guards?

3. The time involved to care for new areas of planting - Do you have the time and resources to keep the planting watered and weeded?

4. Species of plants for our region - Do you have access to plants that are local to your property?

For further information see:

Planting in burnt areas.pdf (142.02 KB)

Revegetation Planner.pdf (461.06 KB) 

Nursery at St Andrews

The community nursery has found a home beside the Diamond Creek behind the St Andrews Primary School. The nursery has a lot of donated equipment and is working on a minimalist design so it should be up and running very soon. Sue Aldred is representing St Andrews and Kylee is representing Strathewen so it would be great to see some new faces involved. Other communities have reported that their nursery has become a favoured place to meet and chat while growing the plants.

Blackberry control

We are offering the same support for blackberry control as we always have under our herbicide rebate program. Landcare members can keep their receipts and send them to Tom to claim a rebate. You may prefer to use the Nillumbik weed control grant.

To compliment the work done by the bushfire recovery working group, we are also offering additional support to properties immediately below the fireline. Contact Bronwyn on 9714 8451 for more information. 

Nillumbik chilean needle grass (CNG) and Serrated tussock working group

Thanks to the determination of Julia Gibson from Arthurs Creek, the Chilean Needle Grass and Other Stipoid Weeds Committee has been formed. 

The major issues they are considering at present are:

1. Mapping - they aim to prepare a complete map of infested areas in the Shire based on current data, identify areas that need surveying and clarify control boundaries.
2. Quarry - investigate local quarries as a continuing source of contamination.
3. Slashing / road maintenance - develop plans to help protect clean and controlled areas, including the use of roadside signage.
4. Community education.

Strathewen Landcare has just completed a survey of Eagles Nest Road, Strathewen Road, Hewitts Road, Hildebrand Road (to Shaws Road) and Shaws Road.

Here is the CNG/ST data for Strathewen in Google. Click on the link. Select Open. The file will be opened in WinZip. Double click on the doc.kml file to open it in Google Earth. The data will be listed under 'Temporary Places' in 'Places' in the Google Earth navigator. If you want to keep it just drag it up to 'My Places'.

http://www.strathewenlandcare.org.au/Chilean%20Needle%20Grass%20&%20Serrated%20Tussock%20Surveys.kmz

Roadside environmental weeds program

Roadside environmental weeds have been a major project for Strathewen Landcare over the last 10 years. Nillumbik Shire has been able to use bushfire recovery money to run the program within the bushfire affected area but we still need to apply group funds to employ a contractor below the fire line. The weeds we are targetting are onion weed, oxalis, bridal creeper etc. The official classification of these weeds mean they do not qualify for any government funding.

Feral animals

Rabbits and foxes are an ongoing problem. Deer, pigs, goats and starlings are also regular visitors to Strathewen but their numbers are still building up.

Link to RabbitScan by clicking here - this is an initiative of the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre.

Community Environment Recovery Action Plan

The purpose of this project is to develop strategic community environmental recovery plans for each of the three fire affected communities of St Andrews, Strathewen and Christmas Hills.

The primary objectives of this project are:

• to involve the three communities in making informed decisions about the protection and recovery of their local environmental assets,
• enable them to articulate and document their local short and long term recovery priorities, and
• enable them to determine their involvement in terms of individual and collective voluntary effort and seeking investment and support.

Grocon Recycling for Recovery

Our natural environment recovery group (NERWG) has been granted $78,000 from the Grocon Recycling for Recovery program. By working within our existing structures and confirmed funding we will be able to put all these funds towards on-ground works.

• Implement strategic pest plant  and animal control programs – 3 landcare groups x $15,000 each ($45,000)
• Implement priority revegetation/regeneration programs 3 landcare groups x $5000 each ($15,000)
• Volunteer coordination – 30 days CVA @ $600/day ($18,000)

Strathewen has identified shelterbelts as our priority revegetation areas.

Plants guards and weed mats are available at wholesale prices from the Strathewen Landcare Group.

Further information on either of these offers can be obtained from Kylee Woods on 97148292 or enquiries@strathewenlandcare.org.au

Erosion information

Nillumbik Shire Council has appointed Tim O’Donnell as a Rural Extension Officer to work with you on erosion problems. Tim can be contacted on 9433 3207 or email tim.odonnell@nillumbik.vic.gov.au

Stream Frontage Management Program. if you want help with a creek or gully on your property, or you are already a participant in the Melbourne Water Stream Frontage Management Program, contact Anna Zsoldos on 92351476 or 0409 509 451 to organise an on-site visit.

General bushfire recovery information

IMPORTANT The Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority has gathered together bushfire recovery information specific to land management. In particular the link More information about agriculture and Land includes a very comprehensive list of web-based documents relating to natural resource management  after bushfires (including native and domestic animals).

Click here to go to the PPWCMA Bushfire Resources page

Other useful links: 

Strathewen Community - click here to see what's happening in the community and the Strathewen Community Renewal Association

Nillumbik Shire Bushfire Recovery Information - click on Bushfire recovery information from the menu on the right of the screen.

Port Philip & Westernport Catchment Management Authority

Department of Primary Industries - click on Bushfire Response and Recovery Information on the right of the screen.

Department of Sustainability and Environment

Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority

2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission