Talyawalka PMG brings esteemed dog trainer to the West
Kicking environmental goals at Gol Gol Lake Gol Gol Community Reference Group
Parliamentary Friends of Landcare
Vanessa Anderson - Junior Landcare Coordinator represents Western in Sydney
CWe Torr
Message, Media & Contact
Message from Sonia Carey, Local Landcare Coordinator - Projects
Message from Melanie Gates, Regional Landcare Coordinator
Gol Gol Community Reference Group - New Flume Gate Install at Gol Gol Lake
Junior Landcare in the Spotlight
Talyawalka PMG hosted Gary White Working Dog Schools
Knowledge Broker’s Report x SNSW Drought & Innovation Hub
Natural Capital Workshops x Biodiversity
Conservation Trust
The team at Western Landcare NSW would like to wish all of our Landcare community, member groups, and volunteers, colleagues in the industry, as well as our friends and family
VERY AND BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR
Content: Western Landcare - All Staff
Editorial: Danielle Connolly, Melanie Gates
Design: Danielle Connolly
Cover Photo: Life and Light Entrant 2023; Desert Sunrise by Jacob Vlatko
Left Photo: Life and Light Entrant 2024; Framed by Nature by Erika Smart
Photos Throughout: Various
Do you have a story you’d like to share with the Western Landcare community, or perhaps you’re keen to contribute suggestions for our 2025 Event Calendar? If so, we warmly welcome your thoughts on how Western Landcare can best serve the Far West community, so please get in touch ..
rlc@westernlandcarensw com au
@westernlandcarensw
www.westernlandcarensw.com.au
MESSAGE
FROM outgoing Regional Landcare Coordinator, Sonia
Carey
IT has been a busy year for the Western Landcare team, with the roll out of the NSW Landcare Enabling Program. The team have done a great job adapting to the new structure, while continuing to support groups and deliver on a variety of projects throughout the region.
The NSW LEP saw an increase from three Local Landcare Coordinators to 1FTE Regional Landcare Coordinator, 6.5FTE Local Landcare Coordinators and 0 5FTE Regional Administration Support Officer Western Landcare also host positions as part of the Southern Drought Innovation Hub and Biodiversity Conservation Trust projects.
Since commencing with Western Landcare in 2018, I have held a variety of roles including Treasurer and Secretary, Finance/Administration Officer and Executive Officer, as well as some Project Management roles. For the majority of 2024, I have held the Regional Landcare Coordinator role Each role has been diverse and challenging but I have enjoyed them all. I have now taken a move from Regional Landcare Coordinator to Local Landcare Coordinator – Projects. Being a new role for Western Landcare I look forward to challenging myself to bring the best of myself and my skills to this role I will be working with our Landcare Coordinator team to identify Landcare member and member groups needs and source funding opportunities to support this on ground.
Stepping up into the Regional Landcare Coordinator role is Melanie Gates. Mel has been working as a Local Landcare Coordinator with the group ‘Landcare Broken Hill’, but is ready for the next move to support Western Landcare on a regional level.
We all welcome Mel and look forward to her enthusiasm and passion for Landcare that she will bring to this role
To all our Landcare community, wishing you a Merry Christmas season and we look forward to supporting you in 2025
SoniaCarey
LOCAL LANDCARE COORDINATOR - PROJECTS
FROM new Regional Landcare Coordinator,
Melanie Gates
STEPPING into the Landcare Broken Hill (LBH) Coordinator role eight months ago was an unexpected but welcome career change after working as a journalist for Broken Hill's 125yo Barrier Truth newspaper.
Covering stories about the epic Imperial Lakes Nature Park (ILNP) project, I soon became aware of the work Landcare groups were doing across Broken Hill and beyond. Impressed by the vision, direction, and drive of the local group, I embraced the opportunity to inspire new memberships through fun and informative events, activities, workshops, and community meetings throughout 2024
As I shift into the Regional Landcare Coordinator role with Western Landcare, I’d like to thank previous RLC, Louise Turner, for her dedication to important projects initiated over the past year, and to the outgoing RLC, Sonia, for the warm welcome and thorough handover after juggling several duties solo. With a friendly, talented team by my side, I look forward to meeting Landcare volunteers, partners, and stakeholders across the Far West in 2025
MelGates
REGIONAL LANDCARE COORDINATOR
GOL GOL COMMUNITY REFERENCE GROUP
MONUMENTAL OUTCOMES AT GOL GOL LAKE
By Danielle Connolly, Landcare Coordinator Southern
GOL GOL Community Reference Group (GGCRG) were one of the first groups I had the pleasure of meeting in my role as Local Landcare Coordinator.
Established in the 1990s, this group work tirelessly to maintain and improve the 494 hectare Gol Gol wetlands, which comprise the 8km Gol Gol creek, swamp and Gol Gol Lake, by managing flows and monitoring outcomes
The group have recently installed an impressive piece of infrastructure at the regulator to Gol Gol lake; a Flume Gate, see above image This incredible piece of engineering is set to enhance connectivity between Gol Gol Creek and the lake, providing a mechanism to control flows with the aim to secure future environmental water during regulated times
Ian ‘Curly’ Roberts, Chair of GGCRG, is a local and lifelong advocate for this He, alongside his dedicated group of volunteers, are committed to achieving these environmental outcomes
Photos: Danielle Connolly, LLC
Securing environmental flows between unregulated events would enable the group to improve the habitat quality of the wetlands and support local wildlife during drier times
Support for this comes from Mark Henderson, DPE Water, who was involved with the monitoring of wetland and woodland birds at Gol Gol Lake during the recent 22-23 flood. During this time, the Wetlands encountered its most significant wetting event since regulation in the 1950's, with the lake reaching an impressive 98% capacity and the swamp at 90%
A filling of this magnitude, saw an influx of migratory birds and frogs. Some 50 species were detected but most notably, it was the nesting colonies of white ibis and straw-necked ibis that garnered much attention
A successful Ibis breeding programme was established, with Mark at the helm, who as a result, helped to secure additional flows into the lake to enable maximum breeding numbers.
The GGCRG hope to see more programmes of this kind, and water remain in the lake to enable wildlife to flourish as it was recorded during the 2022-23 flood
It’s been wonderful getting to know this group and learn about the great work they are doing.
The GGCRG look forward to celebrating World Wetlands Day, on 2nd February 2025, with the rest of the community and fellow wetlands management group, Bottle Bend Reserve Land Managers Group For more information reach out to the group or myself at danielle@westernlandcarensw.com.au.
Photo: Mark Henderson, DPE Water
PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDS OF LANDCARE
AN HONOUR FOR VANESSA & JUNIOR LANDCARE
By Vanessa Anderson, Junior Landcare Coordinator
LAST month I was invited to speak at the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Landcare; “Trees in the House” event held at Parliament House in Sydney.
Five guest speakers from around the state were asked to talk about projects they are working on
Sophie Blair, Local Landcare Coordinator in Sydney works with young adults aged 18-35, through environmental restoration and conservation through ‘Wild Venture’ Michael Kennedy, Grafton, Aboriginal Landcare Officer, working with young people through various environmental activities Ryan Lungu, NSW Coast Program Manager with OzFish, works collaboratively with Landcare groups to improve waterways and habitats not only in our creeks and rivers but also in the ocean Dr Oliver Knox is a soil champion and enthusiast, he won the Landcare General Jeffery Soil Health Award in 2022 through his work with Soil your Undies
As Junior Landcare Coordinator, I travel to Primary Schools in Far West NSW, delivering environmentally orientated activities including ‘Soil ya Undies’. So much of our everyday living, relies on healthy soil, directly or indirectly.
It was a privilege to meet Costa Georgiadis, host of Gardening Australia and Junior Landcare Ambassador, who was amongst the guests at Parliament House.
- Vanessa Anderson
Photos: Vanessa Anderson,
FAR WEST RANGELAND REHYDRATION ALLIANCE SEED NURSERIES COMMENDED
By Tracey Lauritsen, Local Landcare Coordinator Broken Hill
THE seed nurseries were one of the projects developed by land managers with the support and guidance of Western Landcare.
There are an incredible 20 sites on 16 properties around Broken Hill in the White Cliffs, Wilcannia, Packsaddle and Milparinka areas The seed nurseries were set up in 2022 and have been monitored yearly for improvements in ground cover and desirable plant species
In many landscapes where restoration and rehydration is being undertaken, soil moisture is being restored but the varieties of plants after many years of historic overgrazing are not present.
The nurseries are exclusion fenced zones that aim to encourage revegetation through seedlings and reseeding of plant types that once thrived in the adjacent repairing landscapes.
This project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust We recently received some fantastic feedback from the on the project Well done to all involved!!
Western Landcare is to be commended for establishing these valuable land management reference sites, for western landholders, and the community generally. The project warrants further promotion and publicity and the video is excellent.
Thank you for your contribution to the restoration and rehabilitation of the ecosystems of NSW.
- Helen Knowles
Project Officer, Grants Branch Office of the Secretary Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Photos: Tracey Lauritsen, LLC
TALYAWALKA PMG
WORKING DOG SCHOOLS WITH GARY WHITE
By Sonia Carey, Talyawalka PMG Secretary
WE were very fortunate to secure renowned dog trainer, Gary White of White’s Kelpie Stud, to facilitate two, 2-day working dog schools hosted at Big Ampi Stn, Menindee.
The groups Local Landcare Coordinator, Tracey Lauritsen, helped me with the coordination of the two schools A greatly valued $1000 of funding was sought by Tracey, from the Salvation Army for catering
The feedback from both schools participants and fence sitters was fantastic Both were very successful with everyone taking away effective training exercises they can put to practice at home with their dogs A huge thank you to Gary for making the trip over. We hope to collaborate again in the future.
Photos: Sonia Carey, Talyawalka PMG
KNOWLEDGE BROKERS HUB UPDATE
By Kelly Eglinton-Lewis, Knowledge Broker
IT’S been a busy few months since our last update, we have travelled thousands of kilometres, spoken to hundreds of people and learnt so much!
Danielle and I focused on identifying the drought preparedness priorities of our region and the culmination of this work resulted in the SNSW Drought Hub adopting The Western NSW – Regional Drought Preparedness Priorities To view this document, see here
We are grateful to the many of you who shared your time and insight and feel these priorities represent the diverse people and communities of western NSW
Mary-Anne Watson joined the Knowledge Broker team in September and has wasted no time finding her feet
Mary-Anne and I drove to Wagga Wagga in September for Jeanette Long’s workshop – Facilitating Learning and Change It was amazing training and gave us the added opportunity to meet with our counterparts from SNSW Drought Hub It was definitely worth the 20 hours in the car and Mary-Anne and I now know each other very well indeed!
While we are working with the SNSW Drought Hub on several potential projects, the recruitment and retention of a skilled workforce has been repeatedly highlighted as a challenge affecting the people and communities of our region.
We are busy working to co-design new and innovative solutions to this problem and would love to hear from anyone with insight or ideas. kelly@westernlandcarensw.com.au or mary-anne@westernlandcarensw.com.au
LANDCARE BROKEN HILL
2024: WHAT A YEAR
By Melanie Gates, Outgoing Landcare Broken Hill Coordinator
IN an effort to raise awareness and funding to develop the nature park into the major tourist attraction it's set to become for the Far West, and recruit more volunteers to help with the epic ILNP project, LBH opened the gates to politicians, civic leaders and the community, hosting large scale events such as Clean Up Australia Day, National Tree Planting Day and Nature Conservation Council's Picnic for Nature
LBH participated in the Broken Heel Festival offering space for the LGBTIQA+ community to create a special garden at ILNP, and organised Clean Up Pro Hart Way Day to bring attention to the ongoing issue of fly-in visitors being welcomed by a trail of take-away wrappers along their way into town.
This years LBH Garden Awards was a huge hit with the community, with Helen Murray from Silverton taking out the Best Garden prize. LBH proudly participated in the popular performance by the Australian Welsh Male Choir, and took a coach full of fun nature enthusiasts on a tour to Mutawintji National Park with LBH board member and First Nations tour guide, Mark Sutton
Photos: Melanie Gates, RLC
This very active local Landcare group now has over 100 partners committed to supporting the ILNP project in various ways, but one of the most exciting partnerships has to be the collaboration with our local Correctional Services team that offer free labour in exchange for inmates learning new skills on site, demonstrating that Landcare is indeed a community of landcarers, equally committed to rehabilitating land and people through programs and projects across the country
LBH Members are invited to attend this year ' s AGM at 1pm on Saturday 14th December at the Forest Yarning Circle (Forest Walk) at ILNP - 19276 Barrier Hwy, Broken Hill. A light lunch and drinks will be served to acknowledge accomplishments and celebrate the start of the festive season
BCT NATURAL CAPITAL WORKSHOPS ROADSHOW DELIVERS AT WENTWORTH
By Danielle Connolly, Landcare Coordinator Southern
THE second of three Exploring Natural Capital Workshops took place in Wentworth last month, thanks to the collaboration between Western Landcare and The Biodiversity Conservation Trust.
On behalf of Western Landcare and BCT Projects Coordinator, Louise Turner, we would like to thank all of those that came along It was a great turnout, with representation from local landholders and agencies, who all came armed with some really insightful questions
We would also like to thank Western Local Land Services Natural Capital Advisor, Paris Capell and Glenn Harpley from NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust
Both Paris and Glenn presented some valuable information to the group on what natural capital opportunities exist for landholders in the region and how these opportunities can benefit the environment while enhancing farm production
The team will be on the road again in the new year, heading to Bourke for the final Exploring Natural Capital Workshop Landholders in the area, be sure to keep an eye out for the date and RSVP for free when registrations open
This event was facilitated by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust in partnership with Western Landcare NSW and Western LLS.
Photos: Louise Turner, Projects
THE Natural Capital Workshops recently run by Western Landcare NSW and the Biodiversity Conservation Trust were fantastic.
The days brought together landholders and community members to hear directly about what the BCT has to offer and what practical next steps they can take next At a time where interest in natural capital is increasing, these workshops are a fantastic opportunity to cut though the noise and have direct conversations
From wildlife refuges to biodiversity credits, Glenn Harpley covered what you need to know about the BCT while leaving space for important questions and discussion.
Thank you to all those who attended in Cobar and Wentworth. Western NSW Landcare and the BCT are committed to continuing these important conversations and supporting other communities in our region, so keep an eye out for Natural Capital Workshop dates near you in 2025.
