Bushfire BBQ Fundraiser (19 new photos)
CVA Volunteers (27 new photos)
Rainbow Lorikeet (5 new photos)
-tvb-23-3-09.jpg "Visit the new Toolern Bugs gallery")
Bugs by Nora Peters(17 new photos)
Other new bird images are Clamorous Reed Warbler, Red Capped Robin and Australian Darter.
FoTC Update: April 2009
This edition of FoTC Update contains the following articles:
- Melton Sustainable Living Group - Awareness Meeting
- Land Management Bus Tour - Free Event
- Training course in identification of rare Mymecia Sp 17 ant
- NAB Employee Volunteer Program
- Melbourne Legacy Widows walk
- Free Indigenous Seed Collection Workshop
- Melton and Wyndham Landcare and Friends Forum 2009
- Photopoint Monitoring Workshop
- "Revegetation and tree recruitment intemperate woodlands: means and ends" - Seminar by Dr. Peter Vesk
- Planting for Success in the West: Planting Technique Training Days
- 'Solar Suburbs' Solar Panel Bulk Purchase Opportunity
Melton Sustainable Living Group - Awareness Meeting
Thursday May 7th from 7.00pm - 9.00pm at Melton Community Hall, Meeting room 4.
Find out how you can change the world by thinking globally, but by acting locally to ensure a cleaner, greener and more resilient community for all.
Click to download the Flyer for more information.
Land Management Bus Tour - Free Event
Friday 29th May from 9:30am– 1:30pm (BBQ Lunch included)
Come and see first hand revegetation sites that have overcome adversity and become successful sites for landholders and groups. Meet landholders who face similar challenges to you. Talk with experts on the technical question you may have, meet other groups in your area and learn about innovative projects and ideas. This tour will visit three different properties in the Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Rowsley area. Morning tea, refreshments and lunch will be provided.
Click to download the Flyer for more information.
Training course in identification of rare Mymecia Sp 17 ant
Saturday June 13th from 10am to 2pm with a short break for lunch.
To be conducted in the field at Harkness Road Gilgai Woodland and another site (to be chosen).
John Wainer, an ant expert from the Department of Primary Industry, will be conducting a training course in identification of this rare ant.
There will be a maximum of 20 participants on the course. Melton Shire Council and the Werribee Catchment Management Authority are contributing over half of the course costs. If we have 10 participants the cost to participants will be no more than $30 each. Costs will decrease if there are more interested people. A deposit is required to be paid before the course.
NAB Employee Volunteer Program
Thursday 14 May 2009, 10.00am - 3.00pm
Employee Volunteers from National Australia Bank (NAB) will be assisting FoTC with planting, weeding and watering at Toolern Creek. Meet at Tamar Drive and Raymond Street, Melton South.
View the Events calendar for more details.
Melbourne Legacy Widows walk
Monday 26th October, 10:30am start
We are pleased to welcome 20 Legacy Widows who will join our walking group on Monday 26th October.
Free Indigenous Seed Collection Workshop
Friday 24th April, 10.00am - 4.00 pm
The session is designed to introduce participants to all aspects of collecting seed— identification, collection, extraction, cleaning and storage of indigenous species. The workshop will include a basic theory session and a practical session in the afternoon.
Click to download the Flyer
Melton and Wyndham Landcare and Friends Forum 2009
Wednesday April 29th, 5.30pm – 9.00pm at Melton Civic Centre, Melton.
The Port Phillip and Westernport CMA together with Wyndham and Melton Shire Councils would like to invite Landcare, ‘Friends of’ and other volunteer based groups to come together for a night of fun, food, networking and education. This event is being held to celebrate and acknowledge the contribution groups and individuals make in helping to protect, manage and enhance our natural resources within the Melton and Wyndham Shire area.
View the Events calendar for more details.
Photopoint Monitoring Workshop
Thursday 30th April, 10am – 4.00pm
Photographs provide an excellent record of environmental change. Photopoint Monitoring
is a standardized procedure used by environmental authorities worldwide for documenting both
spatial and temporal environmental change. The camera, in this instance, is recognised as an
important scientific tool.
Please call Tim Hatt (Western Water) on 9218 5502 to book a place.
Click to download the Flyer
"Revegetation and tree recruitment intemperate woodlands: means and ends" - Seminar by Dr. Peter Vesk
Friday 1st May 2009, 12.00 - 1.30pm at F301, Mt Helen Campus, University of Ballarat.
We take great pleasure in inviting you to the Centre for Environmental Management's 2009 Research Seminar Series, to be jointly conducted by
- University of Ballarat
- Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)
- Wimmera Glenelg Hopkins Sustainability Research Network (WGC)
- South West Integrated Flora and Fauna Team (SWIFFT)
The speaker at the seminar will be Dr. Peter Vesk. Peter will be speaking on "Revegetation and tree recruitment in temperate woodlands: means and ends"
A light lunch will be provided. For catering purposes please RSVP on or before Tuesday 28th April by email to Florry at s.florentine@ballarat.edu.au or phone 03 5327 9231.
View the Events calendar for more details.
Planting for Success in the West: Planting Technique Training Days
Saturday 2nd May at Sunbury and Sunday 3rd May at Darraweit Guim.
These training days are a unique opportunity to learn both planting techniques theory and the
practical steps required for a successful revegetation project. Participants will be provided
with some simple rules and techniques, which if followed, will ensure successful native tree
planting, including the achievement of good growth and survival rates. Designed for landholders
who want to improve their planting techniques and also for beginner planters who want to learn
how to plant native vegetation in the areas to the west and north of Melbourne.
You need to register your interest in attending this workshop by Tuesday 21st April.
View the Events calendar for more details of these events.
'Solar Suburbs' Solar Panel Bulk Purchase Opportunity
Melton Council is currently participating in a solar panel bulk purchasing scheme - The 'Solar Suburbs' scheme. This scheme has been led by Brimbank City Council and other participating western region councils include Hume, Moorabool, Wyndham and Moonee Valley. The scheme represents an opportunity for residents of Melton to take advantage of the $8000.00 Federal Government Solar Rebate (which finishes on June 30th), benefit from the reduced costs associated with bulk purchasing of products, save on future electricity bills and do something positive for the environment. Although the current solar rebate will be replaced with another subsidy scheme after June 30th, the new subsidy will likely be of lower value.
A commercial provider, Clear Solar, has been selected from a list of companies who responded to a call for expressions of interest. Selection was made by a panel of two independent experts.
Melton Council's participation in the scheme is limited to promotion and facilitation so further information should be sought from the provider, Clear Solar. All contracts are between Clear Solar and the purchaser.
Please visit the Clear Solar website for updated information about 2 planned information evenings in Melton and a 'signup' day.
Visit the Clear Solar website for more detailed information about the scheme, or contact Malcolm Bish by phone on 0402 413 564 or Matt Jones on 0425 236 600.
