“Wins all round” for Gisborne and Kerrie if Landcare push grows

LANDHOLDERS in Gisborne and Kerrie have been urged to help establish landcare groups in each of the towns.

Grant Godden, a facilitator with the Upper Deep Creek Landcare Network is after members for Gisborne and Kerrie Landcare groups.. Picture: Kylie Else

LANDHOLDERS in Gisborne and Kerrie have been urged to help establish landcare groups in each of the towns.

Upper Deep Creek Landcare Network, Macedon Ranges Council and Jacksons Creek EcoNetwork are leading the move.

Gisborne has been without a dedicated landcare group since 2003, with friends groups supporting patches of land such as UL Daly Nature Reserve.

Upper Deep Creek Landcare Network facilitator Grant Godden said the establishment of landcare groups in Gisborne and Kerrie would mean the majority of environmentally sensitive areas adjoining farm land and town habitations in the southern part of the Macedon Ranges would be looked after.

He said an advantage of landcare groups was bringing landholders living adjacent waterways and forested areas to each other to determine common solutions for pest and weed management.

“Gisborne has Jacksons Creek which feeds into the Maribyrnong catchment and it would be great to see these waterways better protected,” Mr Godden said.

“There is some push for a biolink in Gisborne, but ambitions like this really need a landcare group to make them a success.”

Mr Godden said landcare groups were a “win win” for landholders. “It might be stock is fenced off for revegetation while hobby farmers and established farmers meet to exchange ideas,” he said.

“There can be wins all round – better soil and pastures for the farms once weeds and pest solutions are implemented and more knowledge for the hobby farmers.”

Mr Godden said Landcare had been a big success across the Macedon Ranges with groups such as Newham establishing innovative approaches and getting a lot of the community on board.

Kerrie has not had a landcare group before but there had been pushes in the past, Mr Godden said.

Meetings for the prospective groups will convene in March. Landcare members can be of any age and own any size of land.

Meetings and working bees are held periodically.

WHERE TO MEET

GISBORNE: Thursday, March 9, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at the Gisborne council shire offices, 40 Robertson St. RSVP to [e-mail] or call 5782 0184 by Tuesday, March 7.

KERRIE: Thursday, March 16, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at Kerrie Hall, Kerrie Valley Rd, Kerrie. RSVP to upper.deep.creek. [e-mail] or call 5782 0184 by Tuesday, March 14.