A NEW landholders’ association, Pappinbarra Valley Landcare Group, has been formed to provide all residents with the practical know-how to tackle many of the land management problems facing the rural communities.
Whether you are most concerned with managing weeds on your property, if and how to use fire as a control tool, what trees are best for you and the environment, or what renewable energy technologies might be an answer to your power supply or pumping needs, Pappinbarra Valley Landcare Group aims to access the best information and relevant experts to meet the requirements of all valley residents.
For those of us who have not had much to with the organisation in the past, Landcare refers to the National Landcare Program (NLP), a longstanding government funded program which supports the landcare movement and the sustainable use and management of natural resources.
The NLP “encourages landholders to undertake landcare and related conservation works by supporting collective action by communities to sustainably manage the environment and natural resources.”
Whilst still under the auspices of Landcare, the Pappinbarra Valley Landcare Group will take an approach that is slightly different to previous (and some existing) Landcare groups – and which responds directly to the needs communicated by valley residents.
Big, funded, ‘special’ projects will not be the core activity of the Group; rather we will pursue practical measures, shared experiences and be an information resource that all landholders can benefit from.
A typical example is the ‘Weed Walk’ that was held on a Pappinbarra property on May 10th. 20 valley residents benefited from a hands-on, practically oriented weed identification and management session, expertly guided by the Hastings Council’s weed control officer, Grant Taylor.
The opportunity to ask all those ‘silly’ questions and to benefit from everybody else’s successes and failures made for a valuable afternoon’s wandering through the paddocks.
The Pappinbarra Valley Landcare Group is developing its list of activities that it will be holding over coming months, and is keen for your input.
While the Landcare Group is keen to develop a sustainable approach to land management issues in the Pappinbarra Valley as a long term aim, in reality it is the day-to-day land management needs of each of us that must be met – practically, sensibly and sensitively.
We encourage you to come to our meetings, held at Hollisdale Hall (1493 Pappinbarra Road) on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6.30pm to contribute, or contact the Pappinbarra Valley Landcare Group President (Andrew Hearne 6587 6004) if you have any ideas or questions.
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