Strathewen Landcare Group
Strathewen Landcare Board
President - Steve Pascoe
Vice President - John Smoljko Treasurer - Russell Maughan
Secretary - Tory Woolley
Communications - Kerry Smoljko
Contact us: enquiries@strathewenlandcare.org.au
Location
The group covers the area bounded by the Kinglake National Park, Bald Spur Rd, Jacksons Rd, Hildebrand Rd, Shaws Rd, Strathewen Rd, Eagles Nest Rd, and Harrys Rd. This area groups together properties whose land is part of the Arthurs Creek catchment above the Eagles Nest Road bridge at Arthurs Creek.
History
Strathewen Landcare Group began in 1992 and was incorporated as an association on the 9th August 1995. The idea of a Landcare group initiated by the (then) Shire of Eltham to engage Strathewen land owners in the control of Blackberry.
How we work
Our energies and resources are directed toward privately owned land. We work closely with public landowners, advocating for public lands to be managed sustainably, mitigating threats to private land.
The main focus of our work is to support landowners to manage their own land.
The common impediments for property owners managing their own land are:
o access knowledge,
o access to physical resources, and
o access to grant funding.
Our philosophy is ‘Neighbours Working with Neighbours’. What happens on your land affects what happens on my land. If we work together, we will be more successful than if we work alone.
What we do
Strathewen Landcare provides a variety of educational workshops, including:
Identifying and controlling invasive weeds
Maintaining healthy waterways
Understanding nocturnal wildlife and local bird populations
Preventing erosion
Managing pests
We offer personalized advice to landowners through our experienced members, and we connect landowners with experts from Council and other relevant agencies.
Our resources include:
A detailed Weed Calendar outlining descriptions, potential hazards, and control methods.
A modern, trailer-mounted weed spray unit (requires an Agricultural Users Permit (ACUP) or supervision by a permit holder).
A tool trailer equipped with hand tools and backpack weed sprayers.
A wood splitter available for use by local residents
What we have achieved
Management and control of invasive environmental weeds, including Blackberry, Serrated Tussock, Chilean Needle Grass, Broom species, Patterson's Curse, Queen Anne's Lace, Angled Onion, St. John's Wort, South African Weed Orchid, Pittosporum, and Japanese Honeysuckle.
Workshops on erosion control, waterway health, property management, bushfire preparedness, weed identification, weed control, ACUP certification, and Birds On Farms.
Invasive weed mapping across 30+ properties.
Spotlight walks to promote awareness of nocturnal animals among adults and children.
Acquisition and maintenance of trailer-mounted weed spray units for property owner use.
Community support following the 2009 Black Saturday fires, including:
Purchase of BBQ, tables, and chairs for community gatherings.
Leadership in the shire-wide Natural Environment Working Group.
Property walks.
Annual community dinners.
Promotion of land stewardship.
Procurement and disbursement of over $200,000 in grants.
Leadership in the Nillumbik Landcare Network.
Our Statement of Purpose
The Strathewen Landcare Association's core purposes are:
Environmental Improvement: To actively support and improve the environment within the Strathewen catchment area.
Land Management Promotion: To encourage and maintain sound land management practices among local landowners.
To achieve these goals, the Association engages in:
Education: Providing ongoing education on land management for both conservation and agriculture.
Conservation: Protecting and enhancing native flora and fauna through planting and conservation efforts.
Pest Control: Actively managing and controlling invasive plants and animals.
Public Awareness: Promoting the Association's activities to the wider community.
Resource Distribution: Ensuring fair distribution of available funding and resources