Current Projects

Understanding landscape and water to manage for drought conditions

The Ovens Landcare Network is currently undertaking a project to increase education and the accessibility of regenerative agriculture within our catchment. The aim of this project is to give producers tools to increase the resilience of their properties in the face of a changing climate through improving soil health.

We have hosted a webinar with Graeme Hand of Stipa Native Grasses who is a specialist in farm business viability and the recording of this is available here.

Upcoming event Life Underground: Improving Soil Health. For more information click through here.

Managing Pastures For Increased Soil Carbon

We have hosted a webinar with Graeme Hand of Stipa Native Grasses who is a specialist in farm business viability and the recording of this is available here.

Upcoming event Life Underground: Improving Soil Health. For more information click through here.

European Wasps

European Wasps are a significant threat to our local biodiversity, urban amenity, and agricultural activities. With the support of grant funds the OLN will distribute information and subsided wasp traps throughout our Network. We will sell European Wasp species-specific traps for individuals, businesses, and community groups to utilise. These traps will reduce queen numbers in spring before they begin new nests, and to reduce the numbers of workers throughout summer that provision nests and can diminish nest strength enough that they collapse.

Keep an out on our upcoming events as we plan on holding multiple information sessions to provide the community with educational resources to effectively manage European Wasps.

Spring Active Dung Beetles

One of the major gaps in the seasonal distribution of introduced dung beetles in our area is the absence of species that are active in spring. As a consequence, unburied spring dung locks up nutrients that could benefit pasture production and the environment (e.g. water quality) and allows spring breeding of the pestilent bush fly.

Through this project the Ovens Landcare Network is working to establish two starter colonies of two spring active dung beetle species in the Ovens Valley.

Indigo Roadside Connections - People and Biodiversity

The Ovens Landcare Network is working to support four member groups (Chiltern, Indigo Valley, Rutherglen, and Wooragee) to work with the Indigo Shire and other roadside managers to improve the biodiversity values of four roadsides in their communities. In conjunction with undertaking on-ground works such as weed control and revegetation, we are working to improve local understanding on the values of roadsides as habitat and linkages for our local biodiversity.

Queensland Fruit Fly

This invasive species affects local industry and community members who grow their own produce. Over the past two years the network worked with Landcare groups across the network to successfully run multiple information sessions to educate our local community on Queensland Fruit Fly and the many options available to control and reduce their numbers. We have also been able to distribute species-specific traps and netting products at subsidised prices to our community.

The Ovens Landcare Network has worked closely with local Farmers and Community Markets to further educate our community and distribute these products. We have also developed fantastic relationships with our Visitor Information Centres to provide another avenue for the local community to access local control information and these subsided products.

Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change

The Burgoigee Creek, Hodgson & Horseshoe Creeks, and Springhurst & Byawatha Landcare Groups are working to raise awareness and implement on-ground management to protect their waterways, reduce soil erosion, and increase the health and number of paddock trees in their farming landscape.

A series of workshops will provide information and help develop community understanding of best practice management. Recordings of our webinars can be viewed here. Project support will be provided to develop site plans for up to 10 landholders from each of the three Landcare Groups. Fencing and re-vegetation incentives will be offered to landholders to protect waterways and scattered paddock trees.