Educational excursions into the environment

CORANGAMITE Catchment Management Authority (CMA) is wanting residents to join their Community Engagement Network (CEN).

The group is designed to share local perspectives and support better natural resource management outcomes.

Corangamite CMA covers an area from Ballarat to Geelong, and Peterborough to Corio Bay along the coast.

Currently the CEN consist of 13 members, but there is opportunity to recruit more for learning, information sharing and collaboration.

Members embark on twice-yearly field trips to rarely seen parts of the region and offer a community perspective to natural resources management across the catchment.

The CEN complements existing engagement approaches.

Trent Griffiths, manager of strategy and partnerships at Corangamite CMA, said residents’ stewardship was important.

“We can’t protect those special places without the community being involved,” he said.

“And so getting a community perspective on the work we’re doing, the plans we’re making, not just the CMA, but all of our partners in terms of where we’re putting our energies to protect and improve those natural assets, getting a community perspective on that is absolutely crucial.”

Griffiths said the network can also act as a “trusted group of partners” who can provide early feedback into specific draft plans and strategy.

He also said that because members were invariably engaged in local environmental groups, they could source knowledge or test ideas from their peers within the network for their own on-the-ground needs.

A recent trip the network took was a tour of the Curdies River catchment.

They visited the confluence of Scotts Creek and the Curdies River, where riparian works, catchment priorities and local challenges were discussed.

CEN members then visited a grazing property at Brucknell. They heard about farm dam management, Landcare partnerships, and a masterclass on using dung beetles to improve soil health.

They continued on with a tour of the Schulz Organic Creamery to see sustainable dairy farming, followed by lunch at the farm café.

The day finished with a visit to Peterborough Coastal Reserve and estuary to hear about citizen science water quality observations.

Corangamite CMA is encouraging applications from residents of diverse backgrounds, locations and associations.

Time commitments include about two half days per year, plus reading time and travel time.

Expressions of interest can be made at ccma.vic.gov.au/get-involved/community-engagement-network