This event is part of
The Benambra and Omeo communities have been very concerned about the amount of English Broom in the district and the rate it has been spreading. You are invited to attend a workshop on managing English Broom.
Local community landholders, along with the various local Dept Agencies, i.e. Parks Victoria, DSE, DPI, Public Land Services, Vic Roads (Gippsland), Goulburn Murray Water, East Gippsland Shire and the NECMA and EGCMA’s, are working together which was the reason the problem has featured on ABC’s Landline twice.
Our local Benambra, Dinner Plain, Omeo Landcare Group (BDPO Landcare Group) is concerned about the spread of Broom downstream through the Mitta Mitta and Murray River Systems. We are aware Broom is spreading below the Dartmouth Dam wall. It would be catastrophic if the Mitta Mitta below the Dartmouth, the Hume Weir and the Murray River below the Hume were to start looking like the Dartmouth and Mitta above the Dartmouth Dam.
Why would it be catastrophic? The main industries in North East Victoria contributing to the region’s wealth are agriculture, forest products and the tourism. These industries have the potential of being affected by the spread of Broom. This region, with a population of around 95,000 contributes $3.24 billion a year to Victoria’s economic wealth. Would this figure be reduced and what would be the cost if Broom was to take a strangle hold on the waterways, as it has in the Benambra/Omeo district?
Our English Broom Workshop is to raise the awareness of the weed, talk about its history in the district, combine forces to tackle the weed, talk about control methods, share information and discuss where to next.
We would appreciate your participation and support in a workshop to be held at the Hinnomunjie Recreation Reserve on the 5th May, 2009 from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm. We are involving various agencies, the local community, as well communities where this weed has the potential to impact.
Please contact me for more information. Lunch is provided, so please register your RSVP by the 29th April.