Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare

Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare group aims to improve biodiversity by protecting and enhancing the coastal environment through active community partnerships and group participation.

 

 

  • Many varied opportunities for members to contribute and get involved.


  • Revegetation and weed control of dunal, wetland and riparian zones.

  • Assisting in marine research projects.

  • Protection of habitat for native fauna.

  • Involve the community in partnerships with viable projects on public land.

  • Networking and providing sponsorship support for environmental groups.

  • Contribute to relevant agencies, draft management plans, strategies, seminars and workshops within catchment area.

  • Facilitation of positive environmental concerns from community members.

  • Encourage member development, education and skills.

  • Affiliation with the Warrnambool Whale Watch Group.

 

A Brief Background

In 1995 the Warrnambool City Landcare Group was formed after about 40 people attended a public forum to “express views and interest of various groups and individuals for the short and long term protection of the Merri River – including recreational, environmental, economic and cultural concerns”.

A committee of 12 were elected and the active group focused on a large number of issues including the Merri River health, South Warrnambool Wetlands, Russell’s Creek, Braithwait Street Tip and development of Industrial Park, Granny’s Grave, Levy Point and Kelly’s Swamp to mention a few.

 

The group was instrumental in enhancing Warrnambool’s coastal environment forming working relationships with City of Warrnambool, Dept of Conservation and Natural Resources, South West Water, Field Naturalists, Tarerer/Gunditjmara Co-op, South West Environmental Action Group, Deakin University, Warrnambool Stock Feeds, Merrivale Community Association and the general community.

After a very busy five to six years the group had some members move on, and those members left suffered from volunteer burnout by taking on too much. The group slowly became inactive and combined with a lack of membership, little was achieved.

 

A new push to rejuvenate the Group was held in June 2002 at Warrnambool Council Chambers where about 40 enthusiastic community members and representatives from Coast Action/ Coastcare, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, and government agencies attended.

A committee of 8 were elected and set to work evaluating assets, planning projects and seeking funding. The group’s regrowth encompassed a broader range of projects around the Coastal Reserve area between the Hopkins and Merri rivers and out to Middle Island in the Merri Marine Sanctuary. With this optimism and a need for broader funding opportunities is envisaged a name change. In 2005, coinciding with their 10th Anniversary, the Warrnambool City Landcare Group Inc formerly changed its name to Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group Inc.

 

During the past four years the Group has continued to grow in stature and draw respect from government agencies and community. It has won numerous awards with the reVeg the Flume project, including National Landcare Award Finalist, State winners with Keep Australia Beautiful’s - Clean Beach Challenge and Victorian Landcare Awards and State finalist over many agencies including Victorian Coastal Council’s Awards of Excellence, Glenelg Hopkins CMA Environmental Achievement Awards and a Tidy Towns Award. Other projects to receive awards were the Weed Warrior Program with the Weed Buster Education Award, Middle Island Penguin Protection Project with the Glenelg Hopkins CMA Coastcare Award and the Maremma Dog Project finalist with the Victorian Coastal Council’s Awards of Excellence.. There was an also an individual Environmental Good Practice Award from Rotary East, given to Ann Park for her coordinating role with the Harris on Merri Revegetation Project.

 

 

Today the group is still very active and has a wonderful mix of volunteers from all walks of life and ages. Our members include university and tafe students, researchers, teachers, environmentalists, and many community and family members passionate about our coastal environment. Our projects include Little Penguin monitoring on Middle Island and support for a world first Maremma dog trial to protect the penguins from fox predation. There are two revegetation sites and a weed warrior program for PS students. We participate in National Tree day, Clean Up Australia day, Summer by the Sea festival, National Coastcare, National Landcare and Volunteer weeks, and many other local events.

 

The Group is always ready to welcome new members and encourage their opinion and skills to enable the building of a balanced biodiversic environment around Warrnambool.