Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Monumental landscape change near the Grampians
Private landholders in southwest Victoria have transformed eroded land near the Grampians National Park by planting hundreds of thousands of native trees.
In the wool-growing and cropping region south of Ararat near the small town of Glenthompson, past land practices had fragmented native bushland, causing serious erosion and salinity. Biodiversity had also suffered along with water quality in the Hopkins River.
Funding
Since 2002 the Glenthompson Catchment Group has received funding from the Australian and State Governments, through the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority (CMA).
The funding has been used to reconnect patches of native bush from the Grampians National Park to Scrubby Hill and the Hopkins River.
Activities and Achievements
The project has helped create native vegetation corridors across 73 farms covering 54,000 hectares. The group has reconnected and revived an astonishing 450 hectares of bush by planting 285,000 trees, direct seeding 760 kilometres of bare land and erecting more than 500 kilometres of fencing.
The group's Project Officer Russell Mitchell said since Landcare began in the Glenthompson district 20 years ago, volunteers had made a colossal impact on the environment.
"Comparing aerial photos is probably the best way to appreciate the transformation that's taken place," Russell said.
"Although if you take a short stroll over the gentle hills you'll see many more trees and birds."
Activities such as fencing have repaired erosion gullies, where fast downhill water flows had left holes up to 40 feet deep. The planting of salt-tolerant species such as Tall Wheat Grass has also alleviated salinity-affected areas north of Glenthompson.
Since 1986 the group has led a range of conservation activities, including whole farm planning, seed collecting, direct seeding demonstrations, farm tours, tree planting, establishing salt-tolerant pastures and pest animal and plant control programs.
The group has also shared its knowledge with the community and encouraged participation through field days, bus trips to other Landcare areas, junior landcare plantings, Saltwatch, Frogwatch and farm walks.
Activities have attracted interest from a broad range of groups such as local country fire authorities, Glenthompson Primary School, Lake Bolac Secondary College, Hamilton Bird Watching Group, Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the RMIT International Community Exchange program.
More information
- Russell Mitchell, Project Officer, Glenthompson Catchment Group: (03) 5577 4227 or rfmitchell@datafast.net.au
- Glenelg Hopkins CMA
See also
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