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Case Studies

‘Mr Landcare’ inspires young and old

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Youth
LOCATION: Emu Park, QLD
SPONSORS: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

2006 NLP Individual Landcarer Award Finalists

Alby Wooler, QLD

Back in 2000, Bicentennial Park in the small seaside town of Emu Park near Rockhampton had degraded and denuded areas, including a salt scald. Local Landcarer Alby Wooler led the community in becoming involved in Olympic Landcare, and the small local revegetation project developed a life of its own. Alby asked local Para Olympian Gerard Gossan to be the project’s mascot, and on the day students, families, groups and politicians got their hands dirty to plant 3,600 trees. Rather than finishing there, the project inspired the formation of the Emu Park Bushcare Group, which has gone on to plant 8,000 plants and rehabilitate a coastal lagoon. That is typical of any project that Alby has a hand in.

2004 Landcare Primary Producer award winner

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Revegetation
LOCATION: North West Tasmania

Andrew Nichols, “Redbanks”, Tasmania is the 2004 Rural Press Landcare Primary Producer Award winner.

This award is made to a primary producer who has made a significant contribution to landcare, shown through sound land management practices and sustainable productivity.

2006 Rural Press Landcare Primary Producer Award Finalists

ISSUES: Irrigation salinity and waterlogging, Mine rehabilitation, Non-indigenous heritage, Other, Pasture and crop management, Pest animals - terrestial or aquatic, Remnant vegetation, Revegetation, River corridor management, Soil acidity, Soil health, Water quality
LOCATION: Philip Island, Vic

2006 Rural Press Landcare Primary Producer Award Finalists

Bob and Ann Davie, Phillip Island Landcare Group, VIC

In 2003, Anne Davie heard a speech by the renowned environmentalist Dr David Suzuki, where he called Melaleuca the kidneys of the earth. It was a significant moment for her – she realised that he had just beautifully described what she and her husband Bob were trying to achieve on their cattle property ‘Bimbadeen’ on Phillip Island, Victoria.

A large property and a small fortune in reclamation works

ISSUES: Drought management, Pest animals - terrestial or aquatic, Revegetation, Stock management
LOCATION: Mt Riddock Station, NT

2006 Rural Press Landcare Primary Producer Award Finalists

Mt Riddock Station Landcare Project, NT

According to the Centralian Land Management Association, a familiar cry from pastoralists in the Northern Territory is: ‘Oh, but it always rains at Mount Riddock!’ In fact Mount Riddock Station enjoys the same amount of rain as other stations in the area – about 300 millimetres a year. It is Dick and Ann Cadzow’s good management that makes the property appear so healthy.

A million trees lay the foundation for a sustainable mallee industry

ISSUES: Other
LOCATION: Kalannie, WA

2006 NLP Individual Landcarer Award Winner

Ian Stanley, WA

When he first took over the 20,000 hectare family farm north of Perth from his father Don, Ian Stanley was sceptical about how trees could ever be integrated into farm operations. He believed that ‘big is beautiful’ and that large, open paddocks encouraged operational and economic efficiency. His father’s efforts to create a network of mallees planted in contoured belts to control surface water runoff were primarily an annoyance for Ian. They hampered his efficiency drive, getting in the way of the new and bigger machinery he was introducing to the farm.

Albert Park Primary Builds Frog Habitat

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Water quality
LOCATION: Melbourne
SPONSOR: Mitre 10

A Mitre 10 Junior Landcare Grant has enabled students at Albert Park Primary to build a frog habitat.

Applying a cost benefit analysis to a catchment plan

ISSUES: Revegetation
LOCATION: Little River, NSW
SPONSOR: Alcoa

2006 Alcoa Landcare Community Group Award Finalists

Little River Landcare Group Inc, NSW

Losing half the seedlings from their first major planting due to drought didn’t deter the members of Little River Landcare Group Inc from persisting with their vision of a healthy and productive environment, diverse in both its biology and its community.

Art, radio, big rocks and countless committees

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Education/awareness raising
LOCATION: Queanbeyan, ACT
SPONSORS: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Tom Baker, ACT

Tune into community radio station QBN FM in Queanbeyan on a Sunday morning and you’ll catch Radio Landcare, a one hour program devoted to landcare guest speakers and information. It also runs on Tuesday mornings on Canberra’s 2XX. The programs are produced by Queanbeyan’s Landcare powerhouse Tom Baker, who for 20 years has channelled his passion for environmental improvement and conservation into countless action groups and projects. With so much Landcare activity in the ACT, Tom is never short of stories to go on air.

Australian Seabird Rescue

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Threatened species, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Ballina, NSW
SPONSOR: Zodiac

Based in Ballina on the far north coast of NSW, Australian Seabird Rescue (ASR) is a team of volunteer specialists focussed on the welfare of seabirds, waterbirds and marine turtles and the reduction of human impact on their habitats.

Automatic irrigation sees practices changing in Victoria

ISSUES: Drought management, Irrigation Management, Pasture and crop management
LOCATION: Shepparton, Victoria

In May 2006 the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority celebrated the one hundredth Automatic Irrigation Grant to farmers in the Shepparton Irrigation Region. The automatic irrigation systems not only help farmers sleep through the night – they have productivity and environmental benefits too and can pay for their cost in as little as three years.

Back on country

ISSUES: Indigenous heritage
LOCATION: Savannah region, northern Qld

2006 Alcan Landcare Indigenous Award Finalists

Northern Gulf Indigenous Savannah Group, QLD

For the first time, seven different indigenous language groups have come together over a vast region to achieve common goals. The communities, from Queensland’s northern gulf, are participating in natural resource management through the Northern Gulf Indigenous Savannah Group (NGISG). The NGISG is made up of two elected members from each participating indigenous community and an employed coordinator, Ron Archer, a Djungan Elder. It was created in May 2002 to improve indigenous involvement in land management issues for the Savannah region of northern Queensland.

Balcombe Estuary Coastcare

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Indigenous heritage, Remnant vegetation
LOCATION: Mornington Peninsula, Victoria

2004 Victoria Coastcare Award Finalist, Balcombe Estuary Rehabilitation Group (BERG), was formed in 1997 and has over 200 volunteers dedicated to the rehabilitation of the Balcombe Estuary Reserve.

Bedford Ground Water Interception Scheme

ISSUES: Dryland salinity and waterlogging, Water quality

In 1996 the Coorong District Council initiated the Bedford Ground Water Interception Scheme at Cooke Plains, an hour and a half east of Adelaide in the Coonalpyn agricultural region.

Coorong District Council was the 2004 South Australia Research Award Finalist.

Big Picture Brings Big Profits

ISSUES: Pasture and crop management, Remnant vegetation, Revegetation, Soil erosion by water, Soil health
LOCATION: Woori Yallock, Victoria

In recent months Australians have become increasingly aware of environmental issues and our farmers are no exception; but what is probably not widely recognised is that many farmers are working hard to improve the environment and understand that what’s good for the environment is often also good for the bottom line. This is why more and more farmers are adopting Whole Farm Planning.

Birdwatch — Bringing Birds Back

ISSUES: Revegetation, Threatened species, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Canberra, ACT

Greening Australia project, Birdwatch – Bringing Birds Back, earned recognition as the 2004 ACT Research Award Finalist.

Does revegetation provide habitat for native bird species? To answer this question and better understand and improve the habitat value of revegetation, Greening Australia teamed up with CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems and the Canberra Ornithologists Group (COG) to undertake the Birdwatch project in 1999.

Bob and Anne Davie

ISSUES: Dryland salinity and waterlogging, Stock management
LOCATION: ‘Bimbadeen’, Phillip Island, Victoria

Brangus beef producers Bob and Anne Davie have been farming in southern Victoria for the past 50 years, however their property ‘Bimbadeen’, which spans 440 acres on Victoria’s Phillip Island, has undergone remarkable changes during this time and now stands as one of Victoria’s leading examples of farming using Environmental Management Systems (EMS).

Boxthorn & Blisters!

ISSUES: Remnant vegetation, Weed management
LOCATION: Brimbank
SPONSORS: Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Sony, Westpac

In Melbourne’s north - alongside Tullamarine airport - Jacksons Creek and Deep Creek join to form the city’s second river, the Maribyrnong. The confluence, deep in a basaltic valley system with ancient red gums and a mob of kangaroos, is a magical, seemingly remote spot, unknown to most Melburnians and yet visible from the air to thousands of travellers daily

Bringing Landcare Groups Together, Lake Macquarie

ISSUES: Community development, Revegetation, Streambank erosion
LOCATION: Central Coast, NSW
SPONSOR: Alcoa

Lake Macquarie Landcare Inc won the 2004 Alcoa Landcare Community Group Award for its success in bringing together hundreds of landcare groups and activities to share resources, expertise and information. Over the last four years, the group has grown extensively and now covers 140 landcare groups working in estuaries, urban areas, forest, heathland and along the coast.

This award is made to a community group that has adopted sound land management practices on public or private land and is working towards sustainable land use and/or enhancing or protecting an area on behalf of the community.

Brisbane Valley Kilcoy Landcare Group

ISSUES: Streambank erosion, Weed management
LOCATION: Brisbane Valley, Qld

The Brisbane Valley Kilcoy Landcare Group has been working hard for 15 years in the Brisbane River catchment upstream from the Somerset and Wivenhoe Dams, the main water supply for over a million people in south east Queensland. Brisbane Valley Kilcoy Landcare Group was a 2004 Queensland Community Group Award Finalist.

Building a secure future for ginger farmers at Buderim

ISSUES: Pasture and crop management, Soil erosion by water, Soil health, Water quality
LOCATION: Buderim, QLD

2006 Rural Press Landcare Primary Producer Award Finalist

Templeton Ginger Farm, QLD

Ginger growing in Australia is largely confined to the rich soils around the Buderim Ginger Factory at Yandina, inland from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. However farms in the district are being sold as their productivity drops below the quota required by Buderim Ginger. The main cause of falling productivity is the repeated use of nematocides, which have bred resistant strains and destroyed the microbial balance of the soil. In tandem with development pressures on farming land, the future for ginger growers was looking grim. But ginger grower Shane Templeton is working with the University of the Sunshine Coast and local businesses to trial different approaches to controlling non-beneficial nematodes and keeping soils productive for the future. He comes from a long family tradition of ginger farmers committed to environmental and community wellbeing.

Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C)

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Revegetation, Streambank erosion, Urban land degradation
LOCATION: Bulimba Creek, Queensland
SPONSORS: Coles Group Limited, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Sita Environmental Solutions

The Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee Inc. (B4C), represents local care groups concerned with the sustainability of Brisbane''s Bulimba Creek catchment, an area covering 122 square km from Hemmant to Runcorn. The Committee is a not-for-profit, voluntary organisation and was endorsed as a Landcare Catchment Group in 1999.

Bundaberg Rum Bush Fund - Murray River Revival Tour

ISSUES: Education/awareness raising, Streambank erosion, Water quality
LOCATION: Albury - Renmark
SPONSOR: Bundaberg Rum

In 2004 one of the country’s most important waterways, the Murray River, was thrown a lifeline by Australia’s number one spirit, Bundaberg Rum.

The Bundaberg Rum Bush Fund, a joint venture between Bundaberg Rum and Landcare Australia, staged the Murray River Revival Tour - a ten day extravaganza in September and October to highlight the issues affecting the river and to donate $150,000 in grants to local Landcare groups working to restore it.

Burgoigee Creek Landcare Group

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Soil erosion by water, Water quality, Wind erosion
LOCATION: North East Victoria

The Burgoigee Creek Landcare Group area is in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in north east Victoria, bordered by the steep Murmungee escarpment on three sides and the Ovens River forming the southern boundary. Erosion represents the major land management problem in an area with extremely steep hillsides that have been extensively cleared of vegetation.

Bush Friendly Nursery Scheme

ISSUES: Community development, Weed management
LOCATION: ACT

The ACT Department of Urban Services was 2004 ACT Local Government Award Finalist for taking up the challenge to reduce weeds in the Shire, following the release of an environmental weed survey of the ACT.

It identified that one of the causes was retail nurseries inadvertently selling environment weeds to the public. The first step in the Council’s “Bush Friendly Nursery Scheme” was to distribute a brochure that listed environmental pest plants of horticultural origin to local retail nurseries.

Bush tucker on a commercial scale

ISSUES: Community development
LOCATION: Ceduna, SA

2006 Alcan Landcare Indigenous Award Finalists

Dinahline Inc, SA

In mid 2003, 10 kilometres north of Ceduna, Reedy Creek Nursery was helping Dinahline Community establish a bush food garden. The nursery, widely acknowledged as a leader in bush tucker plot establishment and plant production, had been approached by the Aboriginal Lands Trust to look at the feasibility of establishing bush food gardens on indigenous communities in the Ceduna area. Mike and Gayle Quarmby from the nursery noticed that the Dinahline team seemed especially dedicated, committed and ingenious.

Buttles Creek Willow Removal

ISSUES: Threatened species
LOCATION: ACT

2004 ACT Rivercare Finalist
Buttles Creek Willow Removal and Revegetation Project

Buttles Creek is a tributary of the Queenbeyan River, part of the Murrumbidgee River catchment area. The creek was severely infested with willows and other woody weeds, badly effecting water flow and water quality in the area.

Caring for Cottesloe

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation
LOCATION: Cottesloe, Perth, WA

Since its inception, Cottesloe Coastcare Association has grown to more than 150 volunteer members, received $150,000 in government grants and expanded their operations to protect and restore the entire coastline within the town of Cottesloe.

Caring for Green Turtles on Christmas Island

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Community development, Threatened species
LOCATION: Christmas Island, WA

2004 Western Australia Landcare Education Award Finalist, Christmas Island District High School, has worked to ensure Greta Beach is a safer place for the nesting Green Turtles and a more pleasant recreational area for the residents of Christmas Island.

Caring for the Coast

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Education/awareness raising
LOCATION: Sydney''s northern beaches
SPONSORS: Hanson, Zodiac

As two of Australia’s most popular volunteer organisations, a fitting partnership has evolved between Coastcare and Surf Life Saving Northern Beaches, Sydney.

Carpentaria Ghost Nets Programme

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Building community involvement/skills, Coastal land degradation
LOCATION: Gulf of Carpentaria
SPONSOR: Zodiac

Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been lost accidentally or abandoned at sea and incredibly, in the past 20 months alone, over 60,000 metres of discarded nets have been collected in Australian seas. The United Nations General Assembly has now identified ghost nets (and marine debris) as an issue of international concern.

The nets travel through the ocean with the currents and tides, capturing endangered sea turtles, crocodiles, sharks and other marine animals in a lethal process called ghost fishing.

Cell Grazing Increases Stocking Rate by 190%

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Dryland salinity and waterlogging, Pest animals - terrestial or aquatic, Remnant vegetation, Revegetation, Stock management, Weed management
LOCATION: Broadford, Victoria

Allan and Sheila Stute carry 800 head of cross-bred ewes and prime lambs and 200 merino wethers on their 350 acre ‘Redhill’ near Broadford in Victoria, and in the last 10 years have increased their annual stocking rate by 190% largely due to the introduction of cell grazing.

Clear vision and planning brings sustainable farming success

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Pasture and crop management, Pest animals - terrestial or aquatic, Remnant vegetation, Revegetation, Stock management
LOCATION: East Gippsland, Victoria

Allan, Helen and Andrew Sheridan run two sheep properties in East Gippsland Victoria, one near Loy Yang in the Latrobe Valley, and ‘Garoogong’ a 700 hectare property at Bengworden south west of Bairnsdale.

In just two and a half years they have implemented a number of Landcare farming techniques to improve the farm and been awarded the Department of Primary Industries Sustainable Farming Award at the 2005 Victoria Landcare Awards.

CoastKeepers

ISSUES: Education/awareness raising, Technical advice and support, Weed management, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Bondi Beach, NSW
SPONSOR: Hanson

Hanson—Australia’s leading supplier of construction materials - has continued its commitment to Coastcare by funding the National Parks Association of NSW’s groundbreaking “CoastKeepers” program.

Coffee Bush Corner, Ludmilla

ISSUES: Community development, Revegetation, Streambank erosion, Urban land degradation, Weed management
LOCATION: NT

A 2004 Northern Territory Nature Conservation Finalist, Ludmilla Creek Landcare Group Inc, is an urban community landcare group at the forefront of integrated catchment management in the Northern Territory. Their 1998 “Draft Ludmilla Creek Catchment Management Plan” covered all catchment ecosystems and included a resource inventory, issues analysis and action plan.

Coles Helps Brisbane's Precious Wetlands

ISSUES: Education/awareness raising, Threatened species, Water quality, Weed management, Wetland management, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Bulimba Creek, Brisbane
SPONSOR: Coles Group Limited

With some of Brisbane’s most precious wetlands and floodplains being threatened by urban development, the Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C), with help from Coles Myer, is working hard to rehabilitate these areas and prevent them from collapsing under the pressures of large population growth.

Combining new and traditional practices on 4000 square kilometres

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Education/awareness raising, Indigenous heritage
LOCATION: Daly, NT

2006 Alcan Landcare Indigenous Award Winner

Wagiman-Guwardagun Rangers, NT

For many years the Wagiman people fought to get title to their traditional lands in the Upper Daly region of the Northern Territory. Eventually they were successful, and they now hold title to 4,000 square kilometres of land which is vitally important for its cultural, social, environmental and economic values. In 2003 the Wagiman people established the Wagiman-Guwardagun rangers, a full time group of rangers who are training in natural resource management to look after the land and develop enterprises for the future.

Coorong District Council, Local Government Award winner

ISSUES: Community development, Dryland salinity and waterlogging
LOCATION: Coorong, South Australia

In 2004, Coorong District Council, South Australia won the Landcare Australia Local Government Award.

The Coorong District Council was one of the first in Australia to show the foresight to fully incorporate the environment into its strategic and development planning.

This award will be made to a local government organisation for excellence in preserving and managing its local environment and encouraging a landcare ethic and action in the local community, and co-operating on landcare issues with neighbouring organisations/councils/landowners.

Corridors Across NEWROC – Local Government working together on NRM

ISSUES: Community development
LOCATION: WA
SPONSOR: OneSteel Waratah

NEWROC sees sustainable management of natural resources as the key issue for a better future where participants will work together in partnership to be strong advocates for their region with its diversity and value.

Creating social harmony along with sustainability

ISSUES: Education/awareness raising, Indigenous heritage
LOCATION: Warby Range, Vic

2006 Alcan Landcare Indigenous Award Finalists

Bangarang People, VIC

Members of the Bangarang community are the traditional custodians of the natural resources of land and water in the Warby Range area. Community elders have worked in partnership with the Warby Range Landcare Group to develop mutual respect between cultures, enhance social harmony and balance the needs of landholders and the Bangarang people.

Dairy farmers turn effluent into a valuable resource

ISSUES: Pasture and crop management, Stock management, Water quality
LOCATION: Timboon, Victoria

The CAS Dairy Effluent Project in Victoria’s south west must be doing something right – since it began in 2003, farmers in the district are eight times more willing to invest in new effluent management systems. Dairy farmers Martin and Andrea Van de Wouw from Timboon have led the way, showing how they can use every drop of effluent for productive irrigation.

David Pannell

ISSUES: Dryland salinity and waterlogging
LOCATION: WA

2004 Western Australia Research Award Finalist, David Pannell, has conducted research on the economic and social aspects of landcare, which has had a major influence on conservation-minded farmers throughout Western Australia.

Developing Catchment Plans, Upper Murray

LOCATION: NSW

In 2000, the Upper Murray Landcare Groups (UMLG) Board, a network of six landcare groups in the Albury and Upper Murray region, devised a unique model for developing cachment plans.

Direct Seeding Landcare Farming Success

ISSUES: Pest animals - terrestial or aquatic, Revegetation, Stock management, Streambank erosion, Water quality, Wetland management
LOCATION: Woodside, West Gippsland

Rosemary and Fergus Irving operate a 1,464 hectare merino wool production property, ‘Tramore’, at Woodside in West Gippsland, Victoria. Having farmed in the area all their lives, the Irving’s have achieved great success implementing Landcare farming practices creating both production based and environmental benefits.

Diversification and Planning Delivers ''Green Eggs''

ISSUES: Dryland salinity and waterlogging, Soil erosion by water, Pasture and crop management, Pest animals - terrestial or aquatic, Revegetation, Weed management
LOCATION: Ararat, Victoria

When Alan and Shelly Green first purchased their 480 hectare farm ‘Pine Ridge’ in 1984 the property was basically unviable with a stocking rate of just 2.3 sheep per hectare, meaning that Alan and Shelley needed to work off farm.

Now, 20 years later and having implemented a number of Landcare farming activities on the property, the Greens have increased the property’s stocking rate to 5.1 sheep per hectare and diversified into a successful free range egg business.

Dr Splutter Grunt and the Poo-ologist

ISSUES: Education/awareness raising
LOCATION: Tasmania
SPONSORS: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

When he’s not entertaining primary school children as Dr Splutter Grunt, Dr Graeme Stevenson can be found hanging around paddocks in the dark with a bucket of fresh horse dung catching blue bomber dung beetles, which he then sells to farmers in Tasmania.

Dung Beetles for Landcare Farming

ISSUES: Irrigation Management, Pasture and crop management, Soil health, Stock management
SPONSOR: Orica Community Foundation

As more and more Australian farmers embrace the virtues of sustainable agriculture - or “Landcare Farming” - no longer is an environmental conscience dismissed as a threat to productivity. Rather, restoring the ecological balance of a property will actually improve its productivity - a theory epitomised by the dung beetle.

EMS help achieve catchment strategies

ISSUES: Drought management, Pasture and crop management, Technical advice and support
LOCATION: North East Victoria

Although Gary and Linda Nankervis had been committed to environmental improvements on their farm since they first got married, it wasn’t till after a tough period in 2003 that they decided to formalise their activities by becoming involved in a pilot program for a Environmental Management System (EMS) on their beef cattle farm in north east Victoria. The outcomes have included on farm benefits, plus contributing to the wider catchment management strategy for the North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA).

Evolution of a Catchment Group - Woady Yaloak

ISSUES: Soil erosion by water, Pest animals - terrestial or aquatic, Revegetation, Water quality, Wind erosion
LOCATION: Victoria

Over a 10 year period, the Woady Yaloak Catchment Group has moved from a collection of landholders tackling rabbits, erosion, revegetation and pasture improvement to a sophisticated catchment-wide grouping that constructs holistic projects for the benefit of business and the environment.

The Group won the 2004 Sensis Landcare Catchment Award. This award is made to a landcare group/s, catchment committee or other organisation, for excellence and innovation in creating and carrying out a Catchment Plan.

Farmers Restoring Their Catchment, Fitzgerald River

LOCATION: Western Australia

During the last five years, 34 farmers in the Fitzgerald River Catchment, 30 km east of Jerramungup in WA''s south west, have conducted numerous natural resource management projects.
Revegetation, planting of deep rooted perennials and fencing of sensitive sites have protected the corridor between the Fitzgerald River National Park and the Lake Magenta Nature Reserve.

Friends Rally for Randalls Bay

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation
LOCATION: Randalls Bay, Tasmania

Since the Friends of Randalls Bay Coastcare Group formed in 1997, there has been a significant reversal in the degradation and destabilisation of the coastal dune vegetation at Randalls Bay.

Getting Gorse on the Back Foot

ISSUES: Weed management
LOCATION: Victoria

Eight years after the establishment of Victoria’s Gorse Task Force, it seems that this successful community government partnership is making headway against the gorse problem in the state. According to Jock Leishman, farmer and task force participant, the key to success is an approach called ‘targeted areas’ which combines both encouragement and coercion to involve farmers in clearing gorse from farming land.

Gluepot Reserve

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Threatened species, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Murray Riverlands, SA

2004 South Australia Nature Conservation Award Finalist, Birds Australia Gluepot Reserve, is Australia’s largest community owned and managed conservation reserve, located 64km from the Murray River in South Australia’s Riverland. The reserve is managed and operated entirely by volunteers and covers an area of 54,000 hectares.

Gympie Landcare Gives Back to the Mary River

ISSUES: Revegetation, River corridor management, Streambank erosion, Urban land degradation
LOCATION: Gympie, Queensland
SPONSOR: Australia Post

While many Queenslanders may be aware of the good fortune the Mary River provided to Gympie and Queensland during the gold rush days around 1867, they may not be aware of the trouble it is currently facing.

Harsh, immense and with few human resources

ISSUES: Biodiversity
LOCATION: Tennant Creek
SPONSOR: Alcoa

2006 Alcoa Landcare Community Group Award Finalists

Barkly Landcare and Conservation Assoc, NT

Members of the Northern Territory’s Barkly Landcare Group describe their local environment in two words: harsh and immense. Located in the Tennant Creek region of the territory, this remote district lies on a boundary between the tropical and desert areas of northern Australia, containing species which are typical of both environments. From a biodiversity point of view it is a very distinctive region, containing about 60 plant species and 15 animal species which are habitat specialists to the black soil grasslands. A recent study on clay soils in the Barkly Tableland found more than 100 species of ants – and about a quarter of them were new to science.

Helping Landcarers through troubled times

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Building community involvement/skills
LOCATION: Deepwater, north of Glenn Innes, NSW
SPONSORS: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

2006 NLP Individual Landcarer Award Finalist

Judith Cox, NSW

When the Deepwater Landcare Group wound down and became inactive, Judith Cox stepped in and brought it back to life – showing by example what it took to be a committed Landcarer and inspiring others to become involved in Landcare again. When Landcare went through fundamental changes in how it was managed and funded during the formation of new catchment management authorities, Judith kept the Granite Borders Landcare Committee going with her positive attitude through a most difficult time – and saw it emerge at the other end as a committed and successful organisation.

Heritage Protection and Environment Programme

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Indigenous heritage
LOCATION: Tasmania

The South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation (SETAC) is a non-profit, non-political, community based organisation. SETAC was given the opportunity through Coastcare to begin a Stabilisation and Rehabilitation Project on a degraded coastal midden site.

Indigo Shire Council Roadside Management

ISSUES: Revegetation, Weed management
LOCATION: North Eastern Victoria

2004 Victoria Local Government Award Finalist,
Indigo Shire Council, covers an area of 2,016 square kilometres in north eastern Victoria. It encompasses the towns of Rutherglen, Chiltern, Beechworth and Yackandandah. With a diversity of landscapes from forested hilly terrain to broad agricultural river valleys and red gum floodplains, the Council has been a trailblazer in the area of roadside management.

Innovative technology propels sustainable strawberry production system

ISSUES: Irrigation Management, Irrigation salinity and waterlogging, Pasture and crop management, Soil health
LOCATION: Caboolture, Queensland
SPONSOR: Elders Ltd

Jason Brown

ISSUES: Indigenous heritage, Remnant vegetation
LOCATION: Bundaberg, Qld

Jason Brown is an elder of the Taribelang Bunda people in the Bundaberg region and has a long history of sound land management practices on Paddy’s Island. Jason Brown is the 2004 Queensland Landcare Indigenous Award Finalist.

Jim Viner

ISSUES: Revegetation
LOCATION: Upper Glastonbury Creek, Qld

A 2004 Queensland Primary Producer Finalist, Jim Viner, runs “Tressa Vale”. He purchased the intensive cattle-grazing property on Upper Glastonbury Creek, a tributary of the Mary River, west of Gympie in Queensland in 1995.

It was dominated by blady grass, degraded creek bank vegetation and a paddock identified as having an organochloride residue problem.

John and Diana Pickford

ISSUES: Dryland salinity and waterlogging, Revegetation, Threatened species
LOCATION: Woodanilling, WA

2004 Western Australia Landcare Primary Producer Finalists, John and Diana Pickford own “Beckwith”, near Woodanilling in Western Australia, an area with considerable waterlogging and a big salinity problem.

The Pickfords have gained notoriety for their battle against salinity using a variety of techniques revolving around the use of perennial pastures and water management strategies.

John Ive

LOCATION: Murrumbateman, ACT

John Ive and his family have managed their 250 hectare, mixed grazing property “Talaheni” with a long term commitment to understanding their landscape and the way vegetation influences water flow and use.

The Ives are the 2004 NSW Landcare Research Award Finalist.

Keep Koalas in Our Community

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Threatened species, Urban land degradation
LOCATION: Brisbane, Qld

The 2004 Queensland Landcare Education Award Finalist, Chatswood Hills State School,has a strong history of success and commitment in the area of environmental education.

Kemps Creek revegetation

ISSUES: Revegetation, Streambank erosion, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Kemps Creek, NSW
SPONSOR: Sita Environmental Solutions

In one of the largest tree planting projects in the area, SITA Environmental Solutions and Landcare Australia have joined forces with Penrith Mayor, Cr David Bradbury, and Conservation Volunteers Australia to regenerate a stretch of natural bushland at Kemps Creek, in Western Sydney.

Kowree Biolink

ISSUES: Remnant vegetation, Revegetation
LOCATION: Victoria

The 2004 Victoria Nature Conservation Award Finalist was Kowree Farm Tree Group.

Kowree Biolink was a four year project funded by the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), that has protected significant areas of remnant vegetation and included a massive revegetation programme.

Lake Cathie Landcare Group

ISSUES: Building community involvement/skills, Coastal land degradation, Revegetation, Weed management
LOCATION: Lake Cathie, NSW

Landcare Groups adopts mechanical removal of Bitou Bush

Landcare farmers: the Conways

ISSUES: Revegetation, Soil acidity
LOCATION: Ballandry, Tarcutta, NSW

The 2004 Landcare Awards New South Wales Primary Producer Finalists, Bernard and Margaret Conway, have owned their property “Ballandry” for 43 years, a mixed farming and grazing enterprise located near Tarcutta on the south west slopes of NSW.

The Conways first began implementing landcare practices on their property over 20 years ago, well before any landcare groups had been established in their area.

Landcare Team Effort Eliminates Rabbits

ISSUES: Pest animals - terrestial or aquatic
LOCATION: North East Victoria

One year on after participating in an intensive rabbit eradication program, a group of Landcare farmers in the Ovens region of North East Victoria is enjoying what many farmers dream of – rabbit-free properties.

Lanyon High School environmental studies

ISSUES: Revegetation
LOCATION: ACT

Lanyon High School, ACT was a 2004 ACT Landcare Education Award Finalist.The school has a history of an evolving, on-going environmental studies programme, which has included landcare activities since 1997.

Leigh Catchment Group Improves Environment and Production

ISSUES: Soil erosion by water, Pasture and crop management, Remnant vegetation, Soil health, Stock management, Water quality, Weed management
LOCATION: Leigh River, South West Victoria

Landowners in Victoria’s South West are getting set to achieve a win – win outcome for the environment and agricultural profitability as part of a sustainable grazing management project being run by the Leigh Catchment Group.

Local flood prompts group to tackle the big issues

ISSUES: Weed management
LOCATION: Wynyard, Tasmania
SPONSOR: Alcoa

2006 Alcoa Landcare Community Group Award Finalists

Wynyard Landcare Group, TAS

The flooding of Peggie Bernard’s house by the rising waters of Wynyard’s Big Creek in the late 1980s was more than just a personal disaster. It dramatically showed the dangers of allowing one of Tasmania’s worst weeds – the crack willow – to continue infesting its waterways. Big Creek was choked with the willows and the flood was attributed to their impact on water flows.

Longford's Sustainably Managed Waterway

ISSUES: Streambank erosion
LOCATION: Tasmania

For a decade the 2004 Tasmania Rivercare Award Finalist, Longford Landcare Group Inc, have been working towards their vision of a sustainably managed waterway which provides economic returns in agriculture and environmental outcomes.

Marks Park "Recreation"

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Revegetation, Weed management
LOCATION: Tamarama, Sydney
SPONSOR: Spicers Paper

One of Sydney’s most dramatic and iconic coastal vistas is being returned to its original state, thanks to the Spicers Paper “Recreate” Program. The revegetation of Marks Park, in Sydney’s Tamarama, forms a vital component of Spicers’ partnership with Landcare Australia, which is dedicated to rehabilitating former landfill sites.

Mary River Catchment Plan

LOCATION: Queensland

In just five years, the Mary River Catchment Plan has resulted in more than 300 projects to restore riverbanks and 60 water quality improvement projects involving 250 private landholders.

The Group won the 2004 Murray Darling Basin Commission Rivercare Award. This award is made to a community organisation, person or group which has made a significant contribution to the sustainable management, conservation and rehabilitation of a waterway.

McMinns Reserve

ISSUES: Community development, Revegetation
LOCATION: NT

The McMinns Reserve Association has transformed a badly degraded 42 hectare reserve into a thriving area that is now used by the community for recreation east of Darwin. McMinns Reserve Association was a 2004 Northern Territory Landcare Community Group Award Finalist.

Meander Valley Council Strategic Plan

ISSUES: Community development, Dryland salinity and waterlogging
LOCATION: Tasmania,community

A 2004 Tasmania Landcare Local Government Award Finalist,
Meander Valley Council, in partnership with the local community, has created a unique and integrated framework for the sustainable protection of natural resources within the region.

The Council’s Strategic Plan recognises Natural Resource Management (NRM) as one of five key areas and includes a comprehensive salinity study and a dedicated NRM unit.

Merri Creek "Recreation"

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Remnant vegetation, Revegetation, Weed management, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Fawkner, VIC
SPONSOR: Spicers Paper

Rising into the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and flowing south through the northern suburbs of Melbourne before joining the Yarra River at Clifton Hill, Merri Creek is a wildlife corridor of major significance, home to a variety of rare and threatened species of flora and fauna.

Native trees provide life-giving shelter for sheep

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Remnant vegetation, Threatened species
LOCATION: Corowa, NSW
SPONSORS: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

In February 2005, Alastair Robb was shearing on his 830 hectare property ‘Buraja Station’ near Corowa when the weather took a sudden turn for the worse. The temperature dropped dramatically and heavy rain started falling. It was a fatal combination for the freshly shorn sheep and Alastair knew that he stood to lose many of them to the sudden cold.

New life for an old landscape

ISSUES: Biodiversity, Threatened species, Wildlife habitat loss or decline
LOCATION: Manypeaks, WA

Doug and Eva Russell have demonstrated that nature conservation can enhance a property through their own actions and by inspiring others.

Northern Tablelands Dung Beetle Express

ISSUES: Water quality
LOCATION: Northern Tablelands, NSW

Several NSW Northern Tablelands Landcare groups joined forces in 2001 to monitor dung beetle activity over a number of sites and redistribute introduced species where necessary to extend the benefits of dung burial. A number of innovative harvest and release protocols have been developed to increase successful establishment of dung beetle colonies.

Northern United Forestry Group

ISSUES: Community development, Dryland salinity and waterlogging, Mine rehabilitation, Remnant vegetation, Threatened species
LOCATION: Victoria

The Northern United Forestry Group, Victoria is the 2004 Telstra Country Wide Landcare Research Award winner.

This award is made to an individual, community group or research organisation for excellence in land and/or water conservation or sustainability research or developing innovative landcare technology.

Order of Underwater Heroes (OUCH)

ISSUES: Coastal land degradation, Water quality
LOCATION: Great Barrier Reef, Qld

The Order of Underwater Heroes, or OUCH, is a group of internationally recognised volunteers dedicated to the protection of coral reefs in the Whitsunday Islands.

Paisley Creek Wetland Complex

LOCATION: Murray River, opposite Blanchetown, South Australia
SPONSOR: Banrock Station

Paisley Creek Wetland is being regenerated to improve its health and redesigned to allow native fish to bypass the weir during small floods.

Patience and Commitment After the Bushfire

ISSUES: Greenhouse emissions/carbon credits, Revegetation, Weed management
LOCATION: ACT
SPONSOR: Rural Press

2006 Rural Press Landcare Primary Producer Award Finalist

Michael Shanahan, ACT

Several years of drought early this century were taking their toll on Michael Shanahan’s 1,400 hectare property ‘Tidbinbilla Station’ in the ACT. But it wasn’t until the January 2003 fires that Michael’s patience and commitment were really tested to their limits. The bushfires destroyed a significant part of the property including many of the areas Michael had painstakingly revegetated in previous years. The severe drought conditions leading up to the fire only made the damage worse.