Meet The Finalists: 2022 Australian Government Partnerships For Landcare Award
4 AUGUST 2022: Finalists were announced today for the prestigious Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award, which recognises the significant impact a partnership between individuals, groups, networks or organisations in landcare-related activities has made as a result of working together.
The Award will be presented to one of eight finalists at the National Landcare Awards to be held in Sydney this August.
According to Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish, with the impact of a changing climate and natural disasters like drought, bushfires and flood, joining forces for landcare has never been as important.
“The finalists for this Award exemplify the power of partnership. By joining forces they have achieved significant outcomes when it comes to restoring, protecting or enhancing their local environment. Their joint efforts are to be commended and will no doubt serve as inspiration for others to work together to share knowledge and amplify their impact.”
The Award showcases the many forms that effective partnership can take, with partners ranging from conservation groups, councils and NGOs, to businesses, state government agencies and First Nations.
Minister for Agriculture, Sen the Hon Murray Watt, said the Australian Government was thrilled to see the fantastic outcomes achieved by landcare-led partnerships across Australia.
“Partnerships are critical, not only for improving agricultural sustainability and environmental health, but for bettering our personal and collective wellbeing,” said Minister Watt.
“I applaud the accomplishments of each of the award finalists. Their incredible work highlights why working together to improve agricultural, environmental and community outcomes is the keystone for securing Australia’s sustainable future.”
The full list of finalists includes:
ACT: The ACT Healthy Waterways partnership between the Southern ACT Catchment Group, Ginninderra Catchment Group, Molonglo Conservation Group and ACT Government
The ACT Healthy Waterways partnership is a joint initiative between the Southern ACT Catchment Group, Molonglo Conservation Group, Ginninderra Catchment Group and the ACT Government to improve the quality of water entering our lakes and waterways and flowing downstream into the Murrumbidgee River. The initiative provides community education about causes of stormwater pollution, how recently built water quality assets including wetlands, ponds and rain gardens filter pollution, and why the actions of residents are critical to improving water quality. The partnership supports ten new groups that have been formed to care for the new water quality assets and surrounding public land. The partnership aims to engage more Canberrans in urban Landcare, increase stormwater literacy, contribute to reduced stormwater pollution, and improve the amenity and ecological health of our waterways. Through this coordinated approach, residents living near a number of water quality assets have been provided an opportunity to learn about their purpose, structure and function, and many have become personally involved in their care.
NSW: Australian Association of Bush Regenerators
Many ecosystems across Australia were severely impacted from the 2019-20 bushfires due to the effects of prolonged drought. While extensive areas of vegetation are recovering well, others remain in trouble. Despite being challenged by COVID, the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators (AABR) successfully managed to develop partnerships to support volunteers who were undertaking restoration works, by helping them assess the impact their activities may have on the bushland. Through their First Aid for Burned Bushland (FABB) initiative and supported by a range of sponsors, AABR developed resources, including videos and webinars, to provide best practice guidance for assisting in the recovery of bushland and matched experienced bush regenerators to sites in need.
QLD: World Environment Day 2021
World Environment Day Festival is run by the Sunshine Coast Environment Council, the peak environmental advocacy body working to protect the Sunshine Coast environment. Reimagined in 2021 as a month-long program of events and activities, the festival comprised 22 event partners and 43 events showcasing ecosystem restoration projects throughout the region.
VIC: Northern Yarra Landcare Network in partnership with VicRoads
Northern Yarra Landcare Network and VicRoads worked together to achieve the treatment of 190 sites of invasive weeds along 14 kilometres of Melba Highway roadside in the Yarra Valley, to mitigate the ongoing threat to private properties and waterways. The sites ranged from small outbreaks to large infestations of up to 1,000 square metres.
TAS: Derwent Estuary Program
The Derwent Estuary Program is a partnership between state and local government and industry to make the Derwent a world class asset by sharing science for the benefit of nature, the economy and the community. The progam coordinates a range of projects aimed at restoring and promoting the Derwent estuary, and focus on four central themes: managing human pressures, protecting ecosystems, enhancing human uses, and promoting understanding, awareness and participation.
SA: Barossa Bushgardens
The Barossa Bushgardens aims to produce local provenance seed (i.e. seed bank) for use in revegetation projects and to provide a sanctuary for locally threatened species. Running since 2001, Barossa Bushgardens continues to demonstrate the successful partnerships between The Barossa Council, First Nations (Ngadjuri, Peramangk, Kaurna), the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, local businesses, community organisations, NGOs, schools, tertiary institutions, Landcare groups and State Government agencies.
WA: Moore Catchment Council and Yued Community of Moora
The Moore Catchment Council (MCC) is a community led not-for profit organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving the health of the Moore River environment by communicating natural resource management and encouraging maximum sustainable use of resources. One of MCC’s key priorities has been to share Aboriginal knowledge and provide Working on Country opportunities with the local Yued community. This has led to a meaningful partnership between Moore Catchment Council and the local Yued community that has provided good outcomes for the local Shires (such as revegetation, rubbish removal, weed removal and education), local schools (learning opportunities such as traditional language learning, bush foods exploring, bush walks and stories), and tourism learning opportunities.
NT: Anindilyakwa Land Council Land and Sea Rangers and South32 GEMCO
The Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC), the ALC Land and Sea Rangers of Groote Eylandt and South32 have partnered to protect the local environment from biosecurity risks. Groote Eylandt, where South32’s Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) is based, is an island approximately 50 kilometres from the Northern Territory (NT) coastline that is recognised nationally and internationally for its outstanding ecological and conservation values. The partnership includes a Quarantine and Biosecurity Officer who manages a professionally trained sniffer dog, Edna, who inspects high-risk freight, vehicles and materials entering Groote Eylandt, as well as community freight delivery and sea transport services.
