Greetings Christmas Hills Landcarers

This newsletter is to update you with news and events related to Christmas Hills Landcare.

Included in this newsletter:
   1. Plotting the demise of rabbits in Christmas Hills – Sunday 18th July
   2. Community Cabinet in Eltham - Tuesday 20th July
   3. "Weeds in bushland in a post-fire environment" field day - Sunday 25th July
   4. Accredited chainsaw operators course – Monday 26th July, Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August
   5. Watsons Creek Biolink planting - National Tree Day - Sunday 1st August

 

   6. Community Environmental Recovery Action Plans for Christmas Hills, St Andrews and Strathewen
   7. Christmas Hills News - July/August edition

1. Plotting the demise of rabbits in Christmas Hills – Sunday 18th July
The next Christmas Hills Landcare event is on this Sunday and will provide practical demonstrations of most of the rabbit control methods being used in our targeted rabbit control program, in particular ferreting, pindone oat baiting with a bait station, identifying warren entrances using a smoke machine, and collapsing warrens with a mini excavator. More details in attached flier.

If you are planning on attending please note that the event will be held outside (lunch will be under shelter, but the demonstrations will be in the paddock), and the forecast at this stage is cold, cloudy, windy with rain at times from late morning, so please dress accordingly.

 

Lunch in the form of a selection of rabbit dishes prepared by several members of the group will be provided, but if you don't want to eat rabbit you will need to bring your own lunch, and you will need to BYO chair, mug, plate and cutlery.

2. Community Cabinet in Eltham - Tuesday 20th July

 

The Victorian Government's Community Cabinet is coming to Montmorency Secondary College on Tuesday, 20th July.  In the afternoon there is an opportunity for community groups to meet and lobby Ministers about issues that they are passionate about.
To speak to a Minister you must register. You either need to complete an online form (http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/component/rsform/?formId=9) or call 9651 5640 or email comcab@minstaff.vic.gov.au

The Community Discussion will be held at the Gymnasium, Montmorency Secondary College, Para Rd, Montmorency from 3:30pm onwards on Tuesday 20th July.

3. "Weeds in bushland in a post-fire environment" field day - Sunday 25th July

 

Weed ecology expert, Darcy Duggan (presenter on Greening Australia Victoria's acclaimed Habitat and Conservation Management Course) will lead a field day organised by St Andrews Landcare Group. The day will start with a presentation, followed by a walk and talk in the field, and then a question and answer session. The day will cover aspects of which weeds to worry about, what control methods will be effective, recognising common weeds, and where to start.
Where: St Andrews Community Centre (old School), Main Road, St Andrews
When: 10am to 3pm, Sunday, 25th July - morning tea and lunch provided
Bring: walking shoes, wet weather gear, drink
Cost: Free, but the session is limited to 20 participants
RSVP: to Sue Aldred on ph: 9005 8048; mob: 0409 409 288; or email: sue.aldred@gmail.com

4. Accredited chainsaw operators course – Monday 26th July, Saturday 31st July and Sunday 1st August

 

St Andrews Landcare Group has extended the invitation to members of Christmas Hills Landcare Group to register for this course.
Delivered by a registered training organisation, and comprising Certificate II units in Forest and Forest Products, this course will cover:

• personal protective equipment and safety
  
• a wide range of chainsaw techniques
• chainsaw maintenance

Where: St Andrews Community Centre (old School), Main Road, St Andrews (Monday evening - theory), and two local properties (Saturday and Sunday - practical)
Cost: $300 - but course is limited to 12 places only
To book and for more information: call Sue on 0409 409 288, or Miriam on 0438 384 157

5. Watsons Creek Biolink planting - National Tree Day - Sunday 1st August

 

Parks Victoria have registered the Watsons Creek Biolink Revegetation project as a key planting site for National Tree Day on Sunday August 1st.
Volunteer registration is required for all groups and individuals wishing to participate. All children under the age of 18 are required to be supervised by a parent or guardian.
Being relatively remote, the site has limited facilities. A portable toilet will be onsite for use by participants. It is expected that all participants supply their own food and water requirements for the time that they are on site.
Appropriate clothing, including sturdy boots are required. As we can’t control the weather, we recommend that you bring a sun hat and sunscreen. We also recommend that you bring warm clothing and a raincoat. As the site has a lot of grass on it, waterproof pants or gaiters are recommended. A change of clothes should also be considered. If you can, please bring a pair of gloves. Gardening gloves are fine if in good condition.
Where: you can enter the project site at the end of Marshalls Road where it meets the Kinglake National Park (enter through the gate on the right)
If you would like to be involved in this unique project or require further information contact:
Tara Sanders, Fire Recovery Project Officer
Mobile: 0437 705 432
Email: tsanders@parks.vic.gov.au

6. Community Environmental Recovery Action Plans for Christmas Hills, St Andrews and Strathewen

 

Expanding on an initial proposal by the Strathewen Landcare Group, The Nillumbik Shire Council, on behalf of its Natural Environment Recovery Working Group, made an application to VBRRA for a project designed to provide cohesive and coordinated direction to environmental land management and recovery programs over a 10 year timeframe for each of the fire affected communities of Christmas Hills, St Andrews and Strathewen. This project is taking a broader, catchment-based view of environmental recovery and will encompass areas not directly burnt in the bushfires.

The project consists of three main elements:

• the collation of existing bushfire recovery and other environmental information into a central repository to act as a basis for informed community decision making and shared understanding of local environmental assets
• development of Community Environment Recovery Action Plans for each of the three fire affected communities and catchments in Christmas Hills, St Andrews and Strathewen, informed by the repository and community dialogue and deliberation
• implementation of an education program, including training and establishment of demonstration sites to illustrate environmental recovery methods
  

Nillumbik will be engaging a consultant to deliver much of the project with the view to completing it by the end of 2010. The project is expected to involve extensive community consultation so stay alert for opportunities to contribute in the form of public meetings, training days and workshops.

7. Christmas Hills News - July/August edition

 

The July/August edition of the Christmas Hills News is now out. You can download a copy from the Christmas Hills Landcare group website at:
http://portphillipwesternport.landcarevic.net.au/Christmashills/christmas-hills-community-newsletters

• Share this news on Facebook