Case Studies: Local Landcare Coordinator Initiative 2016-2019

The issue Wild dogs, feral pigs, foxes and increasingly deer populations, are having a significant impact on the local farmers and with most information sessions, they only just scratch the surface on the latest population updates and tools. There are not very many opportunities to go in the field and get an in-depth demonstration of…

Silverleaf nightshade has long been a problem in the Riverina, with some local shires feeling the effects greater than others. This weed is a very persistent weed, so it can be a long road to successful management. Researcher Hanwen Wu delivered two “Weed Roundup” events, in the Morundah and Leeton areas. At Morundah, Hanwen showed…

There are a diverse range of landscapes throughout the Riverina, and so too there are specific problems with pest animals and weeds in each of these landscapes. In a meeting between communities we identified a current need for education and awareness in best practice management, identification skills, hygiene, online resources and current legislation. In this…

Wetlands and environmental water are very important in times of drought, particularly in a Ramsar wetland that is home to many endangered and vulnerable species of birds in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, such as the endangered Australasian Bittern, and the vulnerable Australian Painted Snipe. In a climate where irrigators, communities and the environment all compete…

The Strontian Road Landcare Group (SRLG) formed in 1991, in response to salinity issues. The increasing soil salinity was gradually laying waste to ever-increasing areas along the Strontian Road, with large redgums starting to die, pastures and crops failing to thrive, and dam water becoming increasingly salty. With the help, advice and funding from many…

Urban Landcare groups have a great advantage in that they typically cover a large population base, but this can sometimes be difficult to translate to levels of engagement. With so many competing groups in the urban space, it is hard to get people’s attention and let them know that your group even exists, let alone…

Small rural schools often struggle to be able to offer their students interesting learning opportunities, due to the logistical issues and costs associated with getting experienced presenters to the school. As a result, kids at these schools may miss out on these valuable experiences, which can have a big impact on their awareness of, and…

Sometimes you just need a different view to restore your motivation. Seeing how someone else has tackled a problem, learning about their successes and failures, getting ideas to try on your own farm… We all know the value of learning from other farmers, but sometimes we need a little help to get us out there…

Many Landcare groups enjoy undertaking projects which help restore and enhance their local environment, but the significant work involved requires strong, continued participation by members to sustain enthusiasm. A partnership between nine local organisations has delivered benefits for the groups, the community and the local environment.

Setting up a new group is an exciting milestone for a Landcare Coordinator. By taking a well-planned approach and using some good facilitation tools such as World Cafe, a new group was enthusiastically formed. The Muttama Creek Catchment lies between Cootamundra and Gundagai featuring highly fertile alluvial planes along a narrowed river system contrasted by…

Drought can hit hard on Landcare activities, as landholders find themselves extremely busy feeding livestock, managing on-farm water issues and weighing up options in the planning of their stock numbers and income streams. In such unpredictable times, on the other hand, Landcare field days and BBQ gatherings can also provide farmers with a welcome break…

People interested in caring for the land in the irrigation area were keen to learn about the collection of seeds native to the area to encourage the development of endemic plantings. Sue Logie from LLS has significant skills, experience and knowledge to assist people in learning about seed collection requirements. Collecting seeds that are endemic…

Narrandera Landcare Group (NLG) was celebrating its 20th Anniversary. The question was how to celebrate it in a significant way. The Group was provided with a grant to hold a National Tree Day/20th Anniversary tree planting event with the objective ‘to get the local community to engage with the environment, take interest in it, then…

A recent meeting of enthusiastic people at The Rock resulted in the Eastern Riverina Landcare Group being reformed. The Group will represent landholders and the general community in the Henty, Lockhart, The Rock, Yerong Creek and Mangoplah region. Eastern Riverina Landcare President Alanna Barrett said “We aim to encourage continued sustainable land use in our…

Well, it depends… Did you ask if it was thirsty?! The Junee Area Network folded in 2010, however a Landcare presence was sustained through the fantastic work of the cross property planning project. This project worked with community to achieve 797 ha of natives planted, 695 ha of existing native plants protected, 67 km of…

The Chair of the Hay Landcare Group, who had dedicated themselves to the group, recently passed away. One project was incomplete with limited milestones completed and no data outcomes for reporting. This was due to the project’s primary carriage by the Chair and sparse committee involvement. With the chair’s passing, no succession in place and…

Honeybees are considered the most important insects in our ecosystem. They are integral to Australian agriculture because pollination from bees is required for nearly two-thirds of Australian food production and for increased plant biodiversity. Plant biodiversity contributes to positive outcomes such as soil and water retention, local area cooling and carbon sinks. So bees provide…

With only limited activities in the Hay region that involved the urban community in Landcare, an opportunity was taken to support community interest in holding a practical tree pruning workshop. The aim was to upskill individuals on the requirements of keeping their backyards and orchards tidy, healthy and free of fruit flies. There were no…

The Hay Plains Landcare Group is in the rebuilding stage, and had conducted limited activities and projects in recent months to entice the local community to support them and become members. The group membership has in the past mainly appealed to the rural and farming community surrounding the region with limited urban membership. Current members…

Coolamon Shire is home to some rare stands of remnant Grassy Box Woodland communities on both private and public land. Species studies have indicated the presence of some rare and beautiful plants such as the Chocolate lily (Dichopogon strictum) which, when in flower, smells like a chocolate milkshake! The Kindra State Forest also provides important…

The Wiradjuri Walking Track follows a 42 km trail around the city of Wagga Wagga. Did you know that as you walk, ride or run this track you are following a traditional Aboriginal Song Line? No? Well, not many people do really. An Aboriginal Song Line is about the murru (journey) through the garray (land)…

It is well supported by research that Landcare groups are vehicles for positive landscape-scale change. However, after years with little or no support and access to funding, Landcare groups have experienced a progressive decline in membership numbers, with the Tarcutta Landcare group at risk of folding and the Eastern Riverina and Junee Area networks forced…

The Tarcutta Valley Landcare Group was one of the first Landcare groups to establish in NSW. Despite our long history, in recent years the involvement of many landholders in Landcare shrank to a level that led to concern for its future in the current form. This was due in part to lack of support from…

The Hay Trees on Plains Landcare Group has been in existence for many years and has undertaken a number of substantial projects. These projects were largely managed by the Chair of the group, and he took care of most of the finances and paperwork for the group. When he suddenly became ill and passed away,…

Gully and streambank erosion is a serious issue in the Kyeamba Creek catchment. Our land has been altered for agriculture and with an increase in heavy rainfalls in the last few years, unnatural erosion of the banks and gullies of the upper catchment have intensified with significantly more sediment being transported downstream. This impacts on…

At a local Landcare meeting, landholders raised concerns about the rapid spread of invasive woody weeds in the Tarcutta Valley. Woody weeds, in particular blackberry, are causing significant degradation to remnant native vegetation, farmland, hillsides and watercourses across the Tarcutta Valley. The problem has spread beyond the capacity of the individual landholder or land manager…

The areas surrounding the Coolamon township are increasingly being converted from native vegetation and agricultural land to large residential blocks and small farms, known collectively as peri-urban properties. Landholders in these areas typically do not obtain a living from their property, so are not an integrated part of the wider farming community – nor the…

In the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA) there are a number of people employed within different organisations as Natural Resource Management (NRM) officers. Within their portfolio these people have worked on individual projects and achieved small, though important, outcomes. However, much of this work has gone unnoticed. There has never been a process or system in…

Lachlan Fold Wildlife Action Group received a grant from the NSW Environmental Trust in 2013 to provide habitat for Glossy Black Cockatoos, which are a threatened species. An extension had been granted for completion of the project but the group needed assistance not only with allocating, prioritising and planning the project, but also in ensuring…