Landcare & Community News |
Welcome to the August 2020 issue of the Greater Sydney Landcare & Community News. |
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| | Landcare update - Madeleine Florin
Regional Landcare Coordinator
Happy Landcare week! What a good moment to reflect on the value Landcare provides to society at large. Landcare NSW is amongst a coalition of organisations proposing a conservation and land management stimulus program. A recent report outlines the jobs, economic outputs and not to mention the restoration of land, water and habitat that the program could provide. A warm welcome to the new Parramatta Riverkeeper, Jasmine Payget. Hosted by the Parramatta River Catchment Group, Jasmine will work on environmental education and biodiversity programs aiming to make Parramatta River swimmable again. And, keeping rivers alive also has edible benefits such as sustainable oyster production which relies on healthy estuaries and clean water. Browse the newly published map and directory of oyster farmers in NSW. Recommended reading for groups is the COVID-19 update (July 2020) from Landcare NSW HERE. For the most up-to-date information relating to public gatherings go to the NSW Health website. | | | Landcare Week - 3-9 August
Landcare Week celebrates and acknowledges the thousands of Landcare networks, groups, facilitators, other environmental care community groups and volunteers across Australia working on conservation and sustainable land management activities in their local area. The campaign theme in 2020 is "Get connected with the environment in your local community".
If you're part of a landcare group, why not celebrate and share your landcare story on social media with the hashtag #LandcareWeek | | Weed of the month - Boneseed
'Tis the season for Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) to flower across Greater Sydney. This highly aggressive weed can produce up to 50,000 seeds in a year, invading bushland and destroying native plant species.
If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer or call the NSW DPI Biosecurity helpline on 1800 680 244. More information and photos can be found at the NSW DPI WeedWise website. (Photos: NSW DPI) | | Wandering trad biological control - expressions of interest wanted
Many readers would be familiar with Wandering trad, a herbaceous groundcover native to South America that has become a significant environmental weed in many parts of Australia. CSIRO has been involved in the research of a biological control agent since 2014 and is now coordinating the release of the leaf-smut fungus (pictured above, right) across NSW in partnership with community stakeholders. Anyone can register their interest to receive the fungus for release in NSW, including Bushcare/Landcare groups, private landholders and local government agencies.
Click HERE for more information about the project, or send an email to [email protected] to register your interest. | | 2021 National Landcare Conference now scheduled for 4-6 August, 2021
Save the date! The new conference date will be held during 2021 Landcare Week – Wednesday 4 to Friday 6 August, 2021. There are multiple events planned as part of the conference including the National Landcare Awards Gala Dinner and the National Landcare Youth Summit. A full day Field Trip program will shine a light on the diversity of Landcare projects in Sydney and the surrounding areas, including the impact on the environment, sustainable agriculture activities and local communities. For more information on the conference go to the Landcare Australia website. | | | | Regent Honeyeaters Released!
Recently 20 conservation-bred endangered Regent Honeyeaters were released into the wild where it’s hoped they’ll mix with the wild population and breed. Regent Honeyeaters are medium-sized black and yellow birds that feed on nectar from eucalypts and mistletoe. They are critically endangered, with only 350 thought to be in the wild. The 20 birds were raised at specialised facilities at Sydney's Taronga Zoo where they have been successfully breeding the species for 20 years. Read more about the project HERE and watch a video of the release HERE.(Photo: S Cohen) | | | Living Seawalls bring new life to our city harbour
Read about this project in Rushcutters Bay to attract more sea plants and creatures. Delivered by Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) and supported by City of Sydney. | | | | Landcare Spotlight: CHEN
(Cattai Hills Environment Network) | | CHEN is a non-for-profit organisation aiming to increase community awareness about looking after the local environment and waterways, specifically the Cattai Creek. The Cattai Creek flows through the Hills Shire and is unfortunately, like other nearby creeks, under serious threat from surrounding development. My name is Danielle Packer (pictured above, with a native plant), and I work for CHEN to help carry out the message of environmental care to our community. I have always been inspired to educate others about doing what we can in our day-to-day lives to help the environment and now as a Project Officer working for CHEN, I am able to do this. To bring the community together to create change in new and fun ways we have recently created a Landcare group at the Fred Caterson Reserve, which the Cattai Creek flows through. This group aims to bring like-minded people together, educate them about the local environment and to make positive changes to our creek and bushland through activities such as bush regeneration and water quality testing, with a little extra on the side! Although COVID-19 has limited some activities, in time we hope to transform the bushland in the reserve into a wildlife haven, and facilitate workshops and other opportunities to teach the community the skills to help our environment and the threatened wildlife it provides for, especially our beloved platypus. On 16 August, the Fred Caterson Landcare Group is meeting for water quality testing at Cattai Creek. To enjoy the day out at the reserve a little longer we've planned activities including making bookmarks using the flora surrounding us and will include afternoon tea. The details are on our Facebook page - make sure you "Like" us while you're visiting! You can also find CHEN on the web HERE.
| | Apps and Online Resources | | New Landcarer App
Landcarer is now available as a new mobile app. It can be used on android and Apple tablets and smartphones and downloaded from the Google Play and App stores. It’s easy to use and means you can share a post or check in with the Landcarer community anywhere, any time.
| | | | | | Bushfire Recovery Online Community
This online community has been set up on the Landcarer platform for anyone involved in on-ground projects in bushfire-affected areas across Australia. By joining you can connect with people working on similar projects, ask questions, share knowledge, post project updates and photos, troubleshoot issues, and access resources. Sign up to Landcarer and click on "Get Started". Once logged in visit the Bushfire Recovery Page and click "Join" to send a request to join the group.
| | | “I Spy Koala” app
Citizens can now report any wild Koala sightings using the new app, I Spy Koala, launched by the NSW Government. Reporting koala sightings is essential to help koalas in the wild. Better information about koalas leads to better koala conservation and better planning decisions. The app is available for download for Apple and Android devices. Important: If you see an injured koala, please call your local wildlife rehabilitation group for help. Read more about the NSW Koala Country project HERE.
| | | | | | Critterpedia: Testers wanted!
In collaboration with Data 61, CSIRO is currently developing a new app “Critterpedia”, which is an instant identification app for creepy crawlies. It aims to provide education and awareness for all Australians by helping to identify insects and snakes. Read the full article or visit the Critterpedia website HERE.
| | | Summer bushfires: how are the plant and animals surviving 6 months on?
The Conversation has mapped articles and research which explore the impact Australia’s summer of fires had on the landscape and the work being done to rescue and recover habitats. Click HERE to read more. | | | | | | Fire in farm landscapes fact sheet: Keep your fallen timber
and dead trees
Did you know that after a fire keeping fallen timber and dead trees in the
landscape is one of the best things you can do for
biodiversity and landscape health on your farm? Read more HERE or check out the Sustainable Farms website, with more information on improving natural assets on farms HERE. | | |
Webinar: Bushfire recovery – what role can Landcare play? - 4 August, 2pm. Hosted by Chris Cobern from the Upper Goulburn Landcare Network. Register HERE.
| | | | Urban platypuses: threats and challenges - 6 August, 2pmPart of a webinar series by Melbourne Water and industry professionals. Registration and more information HERE. | | | | Bandicoot talk - 13 August, 6pm Join an online presentation on the North Head Bandicoot Monitoring Project. Presented by North Sydney Council. Visit HERE to register | | | | Australian Native Food Gardens - 26 September, 10am
Workshop by Pocket City Farms. Cost $85. Click HERE for more information. | | | | Stay informed about upcoming events
If you would like to stay informed with Landcare events that are happening around NSW please visit the Landcare NSW Gateway
For upcoming Local Land Services events visit the LLS Events page and filter by region. | | Grants, Funding and Awards | Bob Hawke Landcare Award - closes 31 August
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award is a prestigious, national award that publicly recognises an individual involved in championing Landcare and who inspires others to take action on their own property or through a Landcare group. The Bob Hawke Landcare Award recipient will be awarded a prize package to the value of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management to enable an even stronger contribution to Landcare. To be eligible for the award, nominees must be an individual and actively involved in Landcare and natural resource management or sustainable agriculture. The Bob Hawke Landcare Award will be presented at the National Landcare Awards gala dinner on Thursday 5 August, 2021 in Sydney. The Bob Hawke Landcare Award is administered by Landcare Australia through support from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. For more information and to submit a nomination click HERE.
Supporting our neighbours - public land boundary fencing program
The NSW Government is helping bushfire-affected landholders with the cost of rebuilding boundary fences adjoining public lands. Private landholders who share a boundary with public land and were impacted by the recent bushfires are eligible to receive up to $5,000 per kilometre to contribute to the replacement of damaged boundary fences. Grants can be issued retrospectively to cover costs already incurred. Click HERE to apply or call 1300 778 080.
Greening our city grants for local government
Applications are now open for local government organisations in Greater Sydney to support tree planting and greening projects to increase urban canopy cover. Local Government NSW is working with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to deliver up to $12.5m across two funding streams of including: - Stream 1: Cooler suburbs to increase tree canopy and reduce extreme heat exposure.
- Stream 2: Green innovations focuses on finding innovative solutions to challenges the community and stakeholders are facing as they work towards achieving increased tree canopy and green cover across the Greater Sydney Region.
Applications are now open and close 19 August 2020. Macpac Fund for Good
Up to $10,000 for Environmental Projects. If you are part of a not-for-profit organisation working on environmental or social causes related to the outdoors, you may be eligible for a Macpac Fund for Good grant. Your activities need to be based in New Zealand or Australia, or their territories. For more information on the types of funding we provide, or to apply for a grant, please fill out this application form. 4 rounds are held each year - the next round is open from 1 August - 31 October. Click HERE for more information.Wettenhall Environment Trust's Small Environmental Grant Scheme
Providing support for people undertaking projects that will make a positive difference to the natural living environment, in land, sea or air, rural or urban. Supports grassroots organisations and individuals, and academics who are working with on-ground community groups.
Includes four rounds every year. Grants are usually $10,000 and focus on flora and fauna conservation, or threatened mammal conservation. The next round opens in October 2020. Click HERE for more information.The Sunrise Project Small Grants program - up to $5,000. It is an open application process for small grants (up to $5,000) for community groups working to hasten the transition from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy or to protect Australia’s ecosystems from the negative impacts of the coal and gas industries.
Click HERE for more information.The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal "Tackling the tough times together" grants are always open. These grants help communities access the resources they need to support one another through the ongoing effects of drought. Grants are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed quarterly. For more information click HERE. | | This project has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust. | | |
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