Christmas Hills Landcare email news - 3rd March 2011

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

Included in this newsletter:

1. CHills Lounge - Friday, 4th March
2. "Two years on"
DVD - Nev Ragg's images of nature returning to Christmas Hills after the bushfires - $15 each
3.
Rabbit bait station construction working bee - Saturday, 5th March
4. Support for rabbit control in fire-affected areas - Expressions of interest due Tuesday, 8th March
5. New Christmas Hills Landcare management committee

6. Next Landcare event – Learning about local fungi - Saturday, 9th April

7. Recovery of nature following the bushfires - presentation by Dr Graeme Lorimer - Thursday, 24th March

 8. Managing Horses on Small Properties - short courses by Jane Myers (MSc Equine) - 21st & 23rd March, and 22nd & 24th March
 9.
Want to play for The Ashes on the SCG? - Sunday, 3rd April

 10. Community Environmental Recovery Action Plan for Christmas Hills - community workshops Sunday, 1st May & Sunday 22nd May

 1. CHills Lounge - Friday, 4th March

The CHills Lounge (Christmas Hills Community Happy Hour) is on again from 5:30pm onwards this Friday 4th March at the Christmas Hills North Fire Brigade Station on the corner of Ridge and Muir Roads. A great way to meet and socialise with your neighbours, these are held on the first Friday of every month

 

2. "Two years on" DVD - Nev Ragg's images of nature returning to Christmas Hills after the bushfires - $15 each

Local photographer, Nev Ragg, has compiled a DVD of photos he has taken of nature recovering after the bushfires of 2009. With an evocative soundtrack by local musician, Sebastian Jorgensen, this DVD captures remarkable and striking images of plants and animals as they returned to the areas of Christmas Hills burnt in the fires. Included are several time series taken from fixed locations that illustrate the return of native vegetation.

Copies can be purchased for $15 each at the reception desk at Montsalvat in Eltham, the Kangaroo Ground general store, and the newsagent in Yarra Glen. $5 from the sale of each copy is donated to the Christmas Hills Fire Brigade.

(You can also purchase copies direct from Nev at the CHills Lounge tomorrow)

3. Rabbit bait station construction working bee - Saturday, 5th March

Come along to a working bee at 11am this Saturday March 5th at Peter & Jane Russ' property, 1597 Eltham-Yarra Glen road and help complete  construction of the remaining rabbit bait stations.

Please bring gloves, and bolt-cutters if you have them.  Please let Gad or Kylie (9730 1101; 0429 039 730) know if you can attend, or just come along and lend a hand.  If we get at least 6 people it should take less than two hours to complete.

4. Support for rabbit control in fire-affected areas - Expressions of interest due Tuesday, 8th March

Nillumbik Shire Council, through the Natural Environment Recovery Working Group, is offering support in 2011 for landowners in fire affected areas who are experiencing rabbit problems.

Properties within the fire-affected area and within a one kilometre of the fire edge in Christmas Hills are eligible for this support. The support offered consist of a one-off  financial subsidy to cover up to 50% of the cost of a rabbit control contractor.  Eligible properties have previously been contacted by Nillumbik Council, but Expressions of Interest can still be accepted if received no later than Tuesday, 8th March.

Properties are encouraged to form groups of at least 3 to improve the effectiveness of the control. Properties > 30ha will be considered a group in their own right.

Recipients will be asked to undertake follow-up action for two years, including:

1.    Participation in Council’s future Land Management Incentive Programs – which offer subsidised rabbit control to residents who get together with their neighbours to form ‘rabbit action groups’.

2.    Adopting a proactive approach to rabbit management on private land. Where possible, this may include removing rabbit harbour (wood/debris/weeds), identifying and collapsing warrens, and monitoring changes in rabbit activity.

If you would like more information or would like to complete an expression of interest form, please contact:

Kirraly Moran, Rural Extension Officer - ph: 9433 3328; email: Kirraly.Moran@nillumbik.vic.gov.au.

5. New Christmas Hills Landcare management committee

At the AGM on Sunday, 13th February, the new management committee for the Christmas Hills Landcare Group was officially elected. The new committee is:

  • Doug Evans - President
  • Mark (Gad) Gardner - Vice-President
  • Rob Shackleton - Treasurer
  • Kylie Moppert - Secretary
  • Nicole Noy - Committee member
  • Ross Coupar - Committee member
  • Tina Keene - Committee member

The new committee has met since then and amongst other things has developed a program of events for 2011. The program as it currently stands is as follows:

  • April - Learning about local fungi with Bruce Fuhrer
  • June - Demonstrations of the tools and equipment in the new tool trailer with Ross Coupar
  • August - Demonstrations of alternative rabbit control methods - warren slumping (using explosives), and carbon monoxide fumigation
  • October - Learning about native pastures - how to recognise and how to manage
  • December - End-of year break up

6.
Next Landcare event – Learning about local fungi - Saturday, 9th April

Bruce Fuhrer, author of  “A field guide to Australian fungi” (considered the most comprehensive photographic field guide on Australian fungi yet published) will deliver an illustrated talk on local fungi, and then lead us on a field walk to see what fungi we can find. This all takes place from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday, 9th April at "Four Winds" the property of David Lang and Joan Stephens. More detail here.

7. Recovery of nature following the bushfires - presentation by Dr Graeme Lorimer - Thursday, 24th March

St Andrews Landcare and Nillumbik's Natural Environment Recovery Working Group invite you to an evening with Dr Graeme Lorimer for a presentation on "Recovery of nature on private property following the 2009 bushfires"

When: Thursday March 24, 7.00pm

Where: St Andrews Community Centre

Light supper provided

RSVP for catering purposes to Sue Aldred: ph 9433 3201; mob: 0409 409 288; email sue.aldred@gmail.com

8. Managing Horses on Small Properties - short courses by Jane Myers (MSc Equine) - 21st & 23rd March, and 22nd & 24th March

Brought to you by Nillumbik and Manningham councils, the Managing Horses on Small Properties Course provides horse keepers with a comprehensive outline on how to keep and manage healthy horses and pastures on small properties. The workshops aim to educate horse owners on the value of sound property management practices, in terms of horse care, horse health, financial benefits and aesthetic improvements to their property.

Jane Myers has worked in the horse industry for over 30 years and has a Masters Degree in Equine Studies from the University of Wales. She has conducted research at the world famous Edinburgh University School of Veterinary Science, and worked as a lecturer in equine studies at the University of Melbourne. She has studied horse behaviour intensively and has a commitment to horse welfare that fosters a responsible relationship between the rider, the horse and its environment.

Each short course is comprised of two evening workshops that run from 7pm to 10pm, and there are two opportunities to do the short course:

  • Course 1: Monday, 21st March and Wednesday, 23rd March at Warrandyte Community Centre, 168 Yarra Street, Warrandyte - book by calling Manningham  Council on 9840 9124
  • Course 2 (repeat): Tuesday, 22nd March and Thursday, 24th March at Edendale Farm, Gastons Road, Eltham - book by calling Nillumbik Council on 9433 3207

 

10. Community Environmental Recovery Action Plan for Christmas Hills - community workshops Sunday, 1st May and Sunday 22nd May

Two workshops have been scheduled to involve the Christmas Hills community in further development of the Community Environmental Recovery Action Plan (CERAP) for Christmas Hills. Both will be held at the Blue Wren Theatre at the Christmas Hills Primary School, with the first to be held on Sunday, 1st May and the second on Sunday, 22nd May. Please put these dates in your diary now, and further details will be circulated when available. Please also encourage others to participate and have a say in the design and content of a land management and fire recovery action plan for our community.

As part of gathering local knowledge to inform these workshops, the consultants undertaking the Christmas Hills CERAP (EnPlan Partners) are offering to meet small groups of 2 or 3 neighbours on site to hear their views on land management issues, priorities and practices in their neighbourhoods.

It is also an opportunity for landholders to find out a bit more about the Christmas Hills CERAP and how it is expected to benefit them.

To arrange a visit, please contact Darrel Brewin of EnPlan (mob: 0417 185 071; wk ph: 5261 5229; email: dbrewin@pacific.net.au

9. Want to play for The Ashes on the SCG? - Sunday, 3rd April

St Andrews and Christmas Hills residents are invited to join together to take on the Strathewen residents in the inaugural "Ashes" cricket match on Sunday 3rd, April. Both teams are seeking as many people as possible from their respective communities to swarm to the SCG (Strathewen Cricket Ground, Chadds Creek Road) on the day and play a part in helping their community to take home the Ashes. Whilst only eleven team members will take to the field at any one time, teams can have as many members as they wish, as all participants - young and old, male and female, sporty and not so - will have an opportunity to play on the day.

The Diamond Creek Rotary Club will provide a barbecue lunch and refreshments during the match. The action takes place on field from 11am to 1pm and concludes with an afternoon of off field mingling with neighbours and friends. For more information, please contact Warwick Leeson on 0439 347 797, or simply turn up before 11am.

Cheers

Doug