Champions of the Catchment ~ Foxground Landcare (Cooperative Landcare Group Award )

Champions of the Catchment 2011 ~ Landcare Illawarra

Every even year, at a prestigious gathering in Canberra, the National Landcare Awards are judged from all the state and territory Landcare winners. This means that every odd year, the State/Territory Landcare Awards need to be judged as the lead up to the National awards.

While there are 12 state Landcare award categories, there are always some Landcare people, who despite the work they do, do not meet the strict criteria of the awards.

For this reason South East Landcare, partnering with Southern Rivers CMA, decided to promote separate awards in each of the 7 District Landcare Associations (DLAs) that make up South East Landcare in the Southern Rivers catchment. The purpose of these awards is to recognise the many Landcare enthusiasts we have, who, because what they do does not meet the strict criteria of the 12 state awards, will not receive recognition for the contributions they make, and without which, their local environment and their local community would be much poorer.

For this reason, Landcare Illawarra nominated a number of community groups and individuals as a local "Champions".

Foxground Landcare -- Cooperative Landcare Group Award

Established in 2001, Foxground Landcare now boasts more than 28 members ranging in age from 18 years to 81. Every month the team carries out on-ground works on a different property located in the Foxground area. The work load is now shared amongst 14 properties and the team carries out all sorts of tasks ranging from weed removal, to farm infrastructure maintenance, to tree planting and creek restoration works. The group meet based on a labour exchange program on the third Saturday of every month at 9.30am. A different property is worked on each month and any new members must attend five working bees with the Landcare group before their property can be included in the work plan. To date the group has been successful in obtaining a number of grants for a range of environmental projects, most recently being the World Wildlife Funds Threatened Species Network Community Grant which has awarded the Landcare group funding to carry out the project entitled "Surveying and monitoring Spotted Quolls in Foxground NSW". The project will use remote cameras strategically placed throughout Foxground to survey the presence of Spotted Quolls around the area. Past projects include Environmental Trust projects aiming to reduce the occurrence of threatening environmental weeds such as Madeira vine, and regenerate the rainforest and eucalypt communities around the Foxground area. Foxground Landcare ensures that the wider community are kept informed of their activities to invite comments, suggestions and new memberships in the region. Letter box drops, Media coverage, invitations to workshops and annual events are all an integral part of extending their efforts to the wider community. Foxground Landcare has established some strong relationship with local government and other community organisations. Landcare Illawarra has been a key partner in achieving group targets and objectives, Kiama Municipal Council and the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority have also been essential partners in achieving environmental outcomes. Members of the group agree that it is a wonderful system which has not only strengthened relationships within the small farming community, but with the wider NRM community.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• awards
• Foxground
• Landcare Illawarra
• Champions