Kickstart Your Reserve !!!

Basalt to Bay Landcare Network is now calling for expressions of interest from groups in the Hopkins Moyne Catchment, who have a natural reserve that they would like to revamp.

Groups might include Landcare Groups, School Groups, Community Groups and shires. The aim of this initiative is to restore native habitat in the Hopkins Moyne catchment, through revegetation, remnant protection and weed management. Reserves must have high biodiversity potential and the potential to become an assett to the wider community.

Reserves will not be eligible if they have access to other sources of funding, such as funds from the Department of Sustainability or that are being actively managed by a local shire. Reserves set up on private land will also be considered. Once a list of appropriate projects has been compiled, Basalt to Bay will seek corporate sponsorship to provide funding for individual projects.

Expressions should be no more than a page and include the name of the reserve, size, title of the project, location of the project, information about any current mangement plans or lack of plans, reasons for the project, community groups likely to be involved in works, community benefits &/or spinoffs and also costsings for plants/direct seeding, weed treatment, contracting and fencing and any known flora/fauna or threatened species. Seedlings would be subsidized at $1.50 per plant(including guards and sticks), while fencing would be subsidized at $4/m. Please also include a photo of the site and if possible an aerial or satellite image of the site (Google Earth will do an ok job).

Townships which fit under the Basalt to Bay umbrella include : Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Orford, Yambuk, Koroit, Allansford, Hawkesdale, Kirkstall, Mortlake, Caramut, Glenthompson, Penshurst, Dunkeld, Woolsthorpe, Bushfield, Panmure, Ellerslie, Emu Creek. Other areas within our boundary may also be included. Expressions for this year close on the 30th April, 2009. It is not expected that project funding will be availible until late this year. For further information please contact myself, Richard Hudson on 0458 268 119 (Thursday or Friday) or email me at richardb2b@gmail.com. Expressions of interest can be emailed or sent to me C/O Glenelg Hopkins CMA, 241 Lava Street, Warrnambool, 3280.