Project Hindmarsh 2005 fosters community spirit

Naomi Brick could boast that if you volunteer for the Hindmarsh ACE Radio Landcare tree planting weekends, you may well meet the partner of your dreams (while helping a very worthy cause). One couple met the first year they volunteered for the annual event, proposed the next year, then missed it the third year while their child was being born.

But the project has spawned even bigger successes: by the end of 2006 this included a staggering 1.6 million established plants, 293 kilometres of fencing, and more than 2,700 people who have attended planting events.

As the coordinator on Project Hindmarsh 2005, Naomi is involved in a story of true community spirit that began in 1998 when a group of individuals became concerned at the loss of birds, animals and biodiversity since the region's Big Desert was separated from the Little Desert 100 years ago.

Funding

They calculated if they replanted 100 kilometres of vegetation along roadsides, they would link up a wildlife corridor or 'biolink' totalling about 2,000 kilometres. At a rate of four kilometres a year, this would take about 25 years.

But with the help of $760,000 from the Australian Government together with support from the Victorian Government, the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and other sponsors, the 100 kilometres has been planted in just five years.

Activities and achievements

"In the beginning there was some criticism the replanted areas would shelter wild dogs and attract kangaroos, but as the project progressed there was a lot of support," Naomi said. "After a few years people were even asking whether the same thing could happen on their property."

Money from the Australian Government helped purchase trees and fund activities including seed collection, preparation, organising and ongoing monitoring of the sites.

From 2000, Project Hindmarsh together with major project partner Greening Australia expanded to private property, so now one in three landholders are involved in either fencing off remaining native vegetation, restoring degraded vegetation or planting new vegetation on their land.

Volunteers however continue to be the backbone of the project with up to 300 people participating in the tree planting weekend each August, many recruited by the Victoria National Parks Association.

"A lot of volunteers travel by bus from Melbourne because I think people in the city can feel a bit isolated from the country," Naomi said. "It's really important they get that connection again. So it's not just about getting trees in the ground, it's about people too."

And the couple who met and married through Project Hindmarsh? They still come every year - and now they also bring their two daughters.

More information

• Naomi Brick, Hindmarsh Landcare Coordinator: (03) 5391 2172 or lcc@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au
• Wimmera CMA: www.wcma.vic.gov.au
• Hindmarsh Shire Council: www.hindmarsh.vic.gov.au
• Greening Australia: www.greeningaustralia.org.au

Australian Government NRM Team
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
1800 552 008 (toll-free)

DEWHA  | DAFF  | australia.gov.au  | NAP  | NHT 
Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts