Landcare projects to green the region

A COMMUNITY event to celebrate, protect and enhance the biodiversity of the Bellarine Peninsula is among 13 groups and projects funded by the state government’s Landcare Grants program.

The Bellarine Catchment Network is running Biodiversity in Your Backyard at The Potato Shed in Drysdale on April 19, and the grant will support the event as well as the development of Bellarine flora and fauna booklets.

The event will explore the Bellarine’s unique flora and fauna through art with sculpture, song, murals, painting, photography and videos.

The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority is distributing the funding to support local Landcare groups carrying out environmental projects to improve regional waterway and land health.

The other 12 groups and projects to share in the $191,000 of funding for on-ground works are:

• Alvie Tree Planters for weed control and revegetation works at Red Rock Reserve
• Bellarine Landcare Group for re-greening the Bellarine koala corridor
• East Otway Landcare Group for enhancing the Bambra wetlands
• Geelong Landcare Network to host the Intrepid Landcare Leadership Retreat development of the Bellarine flora and fauna booklets
• Heytesbury District Landcare Network for connecting corridors and improving productivity and community nursery event
• Leslie Manor Landcare Group linking the Leslie Manor landscape
• Lismore Land Protection Group linking the Lismore landscape
• Moorabool Landcare Network’s in a jam with blackberry project
• Mount Leura Mount Sugarloaf Reserves Committee people, place and the plains project
• Weering Eurack Landcare Group reducing rabbit harbour and protecting Beeac’s remnant habitats
• Woady Yaloak Catchment Group on ground Landcare works
• Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group celebration 20 years of Landcare

Another 28 community-based environment groups will each receive $500 for group maintenance and support.

Corangamite CMA chair Alice Knight said the Victorian Landcare program was an investment in the future and it was fantastic to see local groups receiving grants to support their important environmental projects.

“This program highlights the great environmental outcomes than can be achieved through co-operation between Catchment Management Authorities, environment groups, local communities and the Victorian Government.”

For more information on Victorian Landcare Grants, head to landcarevic.org.au.