Opportunity for local landholders to map their future

LOCAL Landcare members can have their properties professionally mapped for free, as part of an initiative of the Ovens Landcare Network (OLN). The OLN has received funding from the Australian Government under the Smart Farms, Small Grants Program to assist 220 landholders to develop property maps across the Ovens Catchment (from Bright, Beechworth, the King Basin through to Rutherglen) and to run a series of six workshops providing targeted technical support and advice to landholders around the improvement of natural assets on their properties. The workshops will be held throughout May, with property maps being developed from now until the end of May. Project officer Sally Day said she will work with Landcare members to develop an A1 sized colour laminated property map, plus a digital copy, so that additional maps can be printed in the future. She said the map will detail the location of property boundaries, fencing, waterways and roads, and if additional time permits during the consultation, other features such as water points, paddock names and areas may be added. "The map is designed to be used as a tool for planning works and activities on-farm," she said. "It benchmarks the current arrangement of fencing and allows an aerial view of the property to assess needs for shade, shelter, improvements to farm watering systems, grazing systems and protection of natural assets and so on. "Landholders are encouraged to display their maps on a wall in their sheds or house and to use wipe-board markers to sketch ideas and record important information on their map, like dates paddocks are sown, or spray rates." Ms Day said each Landcare group (with 22 in the OLN network) can have maps developed for 10 members, but the first step is to register. A draft map will then be developed by Ms Day and forwarded for review, with members able to book in for a 90-minute consultation to finalise it and explore opportunities for improving natural resource management and/or productivity on the property. A range of resources will be available to support the discussion including information on weed control, management of farm dams, designing revegetation sites, fencing and managing erosion. Ms Day said she wanted to thank the Rural City of Wangaratta who had been very supportive of the project, allowing the use of their meeting room when needed, as had many local small businesses who had also accommodated her meetings with landholders. "This is a project with benefits for the whole landscape and we are trying to support as many landholders as possible to take advantage of this opportunity," she said. "Funding is hard to get and we would like to see this project help support landholders in a practical way right across the Ovens catchment. "You must be a Landcare member of your local group to participate in the project, and we encourage new members to join up with their local group to take advantage of this offer. "The project is running until mid-May and we encourage anyone who is interested to register their interest whilst places are available." Register now at https://tinyurl.com/OLNpropertyplans or contact Sally Day on 0437 136 162 for more information.

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