Landcare & Community News |
Welcome to the October 2020 issue of the Greater Sydney Landcare & Community News.
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| Landcare update - Madeleine Florin Regional Landcare Coordinator
There was a pleasing show of support for the Hawkesbury-Nepean River Forum on 25 September 2020. More than 50 people from the whole catchment joined the first online forum to lay foundations for setting up a Hawkesbury Nepean Riverkeeper. An inspiring example of what is possible was presented by the Yarra Riverkeeper. And, there was plenty of optimism about next steps for getting a community voice for the river. Local Landcare Coordinator, Jasmine Payget, is coordinating the annual Parramatta Riverfest. There’s a packed program from 6-20 October. Find out more here. Later in October, Landcare from Greater Sydney and Hunter will join the BCT (Biodiversity Conservation Trust) for a workshop kicking off a partnership between the BCT and Landcare NSW on education for private land conservation. For more information about the Hawkesbury-Nepean Riverkeeper or the Landcare NSW and BCT partnership contact Madeleine Florin. | | | Have you seen these water plants for sale?
NSW Crime Stoppers in partnership with Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries is appealing to the community to help protect our waterways by reporting any sales of illegal plants such as frogbit, salvinia and water hyacinth. To find out more click HERE. To find out whether restrictions apply to the plants you buy or sell, go to NSW WeedWise or visit the NSW DPI Selling plants? page. | |
Local Land Services helping people escape to the country
With more people from the city moving to regional areas to “get away from it all”, Local Land Services has released a toolkit of new and updated resources to help people make the shift to country life. This includes the updated Rural Living Handbook and the "Every Bit Counts" online information hub for lifestyle and small area farmers. Check out the full range of resources available HERE.
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Subscribe to the Greater Sydney customer e-newsletter
A monthly e-newsletter keeping you up to date with our current projects, programs and other initiatives designed with farmers, landholders and the broader community in mind. Subscribe HERE.
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Comment on the draft Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan – Submissions close 9 October
Have your say on the draft Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan. Click HERE for more information.
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Are you heading out for a break to regional NSW? Be a welcome farm visitorWatch this video about how you can play your part in protecting farm biosecurity. Learn how you can help protect farms and regional areas from pests, diseases and weeds. By playing your part, you are helping keep local food on your fork. For more information click HERE.
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Foxes love suburban Sydney Read this story by ABC News about the high number of foxes in Sydney and how they have adapted to urban life. If you see a fox report it to the citizen science project FoxScan or download the FeralScan app. | | | |
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Register for a wildlife drinking station on your property
As part of the WIRES Water for Wildlife Project, WIRES is calling for property owners in drought and bushfire affected areas to register their interest for an arboreal drinking station (located in trees) to help wildlife, including koalas, survive during bushfire and drought. Research shows that arboreal drinkers were also visited by other native animals including sugar gliders, squirrel gliders, feathertail gliders, brushtail possums, tree frogs, geckos, goannas, pythons and a variety of birds. Applications close 9 October. Click HERE for more information or to register your interest.
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Sydney Wildlife - Mobile Care Unit
Did you know that Sydney Wildlife has a mobile care unit which provided a comprehensive rescue and rehabilitation service to many native animals injured by last season’s bushfires? The Mobile Care Unit is staffed by veterinarians who are experienced at treating wildlife and the clinic also provides hands-on training for veterinary students helping them to learn how to treat wild animals.
Visit HERE to become a volunteer and HERE to check out the amazing Mobile Care Unit.
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New plants available: Australian Plants Society Central Coast group
After such a strong response to its first online plant sale, new plants have been added to the APS Central Coast page. Limited stock is available and ends on 16 October. For more information contact Pat Carlton on 0458 300 922 or go to austplants.com.au/central-coast. | |
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Young volunteers Farm it Forward Farm it Forward teamed up with Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Network and North West Disability to Services to run a volunteer day where they set up their first plot in Hawkesbury. Located at the Secret gardens on WSU campus, the plot will be run by students to grow their own produce using permaculture practices. This is open to students of all levels of experience with food production and growing. For more information or to get involved click HERE or contact Katherine Clare at 4574 9601.
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New guidelines on sharing indigenous knowledge
More than 100 Indigenous contributors have created the first Indigenous-led guidelines on how to best strengthen and share Indigenous knowledge in land and sea management, funded under the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program. The guidelines and a film showcasing the work can be found at Our Knowledge Our Way. Click HERE to read more.
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Resources and Citizen Science | | “Share the Shore” to help our shorebirds
A range of resources and videos funded by the Save our Species program are available on how we can “share the shore” with shorebirds. From August to March, many shorebirds are nesting and raising their chicks on NSW’s picturesque beaches. A number of endangered species such as Hooded plovers, Pied oystercatchers, Beach-stone curlews and Little terns are very vulnerable during this time, particularly to unleashed dogs, 4WDs, trampling and bait collection. Three easy ways we can help these birds include: always leash your dog, walk on the wet sand and pay attention to signage during nesting season. Read more about beach nesting birds on the Birdlife Australia website. | | | | | Participate in Fairy Wren research
Do you see Fairy Wrens in your garden or out and about? Fairy Wrens are currently moulting into breeding plumage. You can help track this timing and sightings of wrens by getting involved in the Fairy Wren citizen science research project. Click HERE to get involved. Click HERE for more information about the Fairy Wren project. | | | | Botanic Gardens Biosecurity Network webinar series
This webinar series explores plant biosecurity and surveillance in botanic gardens. Includes topics like “Looking out for pests in an urban garden” and Myrtle Rust. Click HERE for more information. | | | | “Fight for Planet A” Action Toolkit
Developed by the team from Good for the Hood in partnership with the ABC’s “Flight for Planet A” documentary series, check out the Action Toolkit to help you become a climate champion in your own community.
| | | Bushland recovery after fire
Go to the Resource Library heading to read about how to assist the recovery of bushland after fire produced by AABR. Click HERE for more information. | | | |
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Podcast: Business of Biodiversity
A podcast produced by the Save Our Species program about threatened species and what farmers, business and NGOs are doing to protect them. To find out more click HERE or look up the podcast on your favourite podcast app.
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CitSciOzOnline - every Wednesday during October
The Australian Citizen Science Association is hosting talks and discussions from people doing incredible things in the realm of citizen science today. Free for ACSA members ($20 non-members). More information HERE.
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School holiday activities: Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre
The Centre is open during the school holidays. Three x 1.5hour sessions are held daily. Bookings are essential. Click HERE for more details. | |
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RiverFest 2020 – from 6 October, online + various days & locations
Due to COVID-19, this year’s Riverfest will be held throughout the month of October and offers a wide range of online events and activities. There will also be opportunities to spend time on and around the river through foreshore clean-ups, citizen science activities and a nature photography competition! Click HERE for a full list of events and more information.
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Waterwatch trainingA free Waterwatch training workshop presented by Community Environment Network. 7 October - 10 - 1pm Erina Creek Click HERE to register. 22 October - 10 - 1.30 pm Budgewoi Click HERE to register.
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Swift Parrot talk and bird survey - 8 October, 9-12 noon Bateau BayJoin a guided walk and learn how to monitor the Swift Parrot and other birds. Click HERE for more information and to register
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Fairfield Hospital Tree Planting - 9 October, 9-1pm FairfieldHelp create an urban forest in the hospital grounds. This is a Creating Canopies event coordinated by Greater Sydney Landcare Network. Click HERE for more information and to register.
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Pollinator talk (online) – 13 October, 10.30-11.30am
Learn more about the relationship between pollinators and their floral hosts! Presented by Dr Alex Austin for Ku-ring-gai Council. Click HERE for more information. | | | | Backyard bird talk (online) – 15 October, 10-11am
In celebration of National Bird Week, join Holly Parsons from Birdlife Australia on how to ID birds and more. Presented by Ku-ring-gai Council. Click HERE for more information. | | | |
Farm it forward – protecting the plot – 17 October, 8.30-11.30am (Hawkesbury)
Help WSU Hawkesbury set up a rabbit proof fence to protect the plot on campus. Click HERE for more information. | |
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Eco Campout - Bushcare/Camping - 17-18 October, CattaiA Get Your Hands Dirty event designed for 18-30 'something' years to take action to restore bushland in north west Sydney. Click HERE for more information and to register.
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Introduction to backyard bee keeping – 7 November, 10am – 4 pm (Camperdown)
Presented by Pocket City Farms. Visit HERE for more details and to register.
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Greater Sydney Landcare Network AGM - 8 November, 9.00am-1pm
(face to face at Sydney Olympic Park or online via Zoom)
GSLN Annual General Meeting plus special presentations by Dr Kellie Leigh from Science for Wildlife, Platypus in Cattai and much more. Click HERE for more information and to register.
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Spider talk (online) – 11 November, 10.30-11.30am
Learn to love spiders with Dr Lizzy Lowe from Macquarie University. Presented by Ku-ring-gai Council. Click HERE for more information.
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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 | Top tips for writing grants
The Grants Hub have developed some basic grant writing tips to help you with your next grant application.Click HERE for full details. Supporting Agricultural Shows and Field DaysThe Australian Government is providing operational support for agricultural shows, societies and organisers to reimburse expenses for cancelled shows and field days due to COVID-19. Applications close 9 October. Click HERE for full details and to apply through the Community Grants Hub. 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. Applications for the Special Disaster Grant extended
The NSW Government is continuing to support bushfire affected communities with the extension of the Special Disaster bushfire funding program to December 15, 2020. The grant for eligible primary producers is up to $75,000 and is designed to help pay for immediate clean-up and repairs to infrastructure. Over 1,600 primary producers from across the State’s bushfire zones have so far received the grant payment through the NSW Rural Assistance Authority (RAA), with almost $100 million in Special Disaster Grants approved since January. Click HERE for more information. Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund (BCRRF)Resilience NSW has announced Phase 2 of the BCRRF providing bushfire affected areas with grants between $20,000 - $300,00 for social recovery and preparedness projects. Click HERE for full details and to apply. Small Business Bushfire Support Grant
The Commonwealth and NSW Governments announced a Small Business Bushfire Support Grant of $10,000. This grant is administered by Service NSW, not the RAA, and is available to small businesses. Further information on the grant guidelines, the list of eligible LGAs and the online application form can be found on the Service NSW website which also includes comprehensive information on other forms of assistance available. Apple and Wine Grape Grants for smoke-affected growers - coming soon
The Commonwealth Government has announced new grants to support apple growers and wine grape producers impacted by smoke taint in the recent bushfires. The NSW Government is currently working with the National Bushfire Recovery Agency to open this program as soon as possible. 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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