The federal budget means the almost certain demise of Landcare, writes Anne Davie,
and local MP and Environment Minister Greg Hunt should have known better.
and local MP and Environment Minister Greg Hunt should have known better.
AS MORE and more people become aware of the impact of the harsh Abbott/Hockey Budget, rural communities across Australia have been devastated by the announcement of the removal of nearly $500 million from the incredibly successful Landcare. This can only lead to its demise.
Landcare was established in Victoria in 1987 by the then Minister for the Environment, Joan Kirner, and the then president of the Victorian Farmers Federation, the late Heather Mitchell. Phillip Island Landcare was one of the first groups to be formed and within a decade, more and more farmers came together across Australia to form local, regional and eventually state networks to address land and water degradation. Landcare Australia is such a successful model that it was adopted by other countries and known as Landcare International .
Landcare, through the employment of co-ordinators, brought farming neighbours together, to talk and act on issues that would result in better production and environmental outcomes. The Landcare movement brought women around the farm table and they took on the role as land-carers. Communities became involved in tree planting on rural properties, creeks were fenced, weeds addressed and remnant vegetation protected. School children became involved with tree planting, waterways testing and learned how to care for and value the planet to ensure its sustainable future.
Our property Bimbadeen, in Ventnor, is just one of the thousands of examples of farms across Australia. We’ve been involved in Landcare since 1987. As a result of the early clearing of the melaleuca on farms, salinity problems became evident on the Island in the 1980s. With government-funded and corporate involvement, Landcare projects could be developed and a facilitator employed. More than 40,000 trees were planted over the next 15 years. Community and school planting days were of great assistance and within a decade our salinity problem was being addressed. Tree lines gave shelter for our stock and food for the bird-life, Salt Water Creek was fenced and vegetated, a wildlife corridor crossed the property, remnant vegetation was fenced and production increased. And the rural landscape was enhanced.
The Abbott government, with the support of local member Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, will take the promised Landcare funding, needed to maintain and sustain its work, and give it to the controversial, unproven Direct Action Plan. This will mean that probably one of the most successful government programs ever will cease to be able to deliver.
The wonderful young people employed in Landcare in the Bass Coast Landcare Network now find their jobs are threatened. They have come here, settled with their families, and are active members of the community. Their knowledge, their experience and their passion for a healthy environment have resulted in amazing outcomes for the rural communities in which they work.
Greg Hunt has frequently visited farms in the shire over many years, including Bimbadeen, and extolled the virtue of Landcare and its valuable outcomes.
The demise of Landcare in Australia, a model lauded globally, is on Minister Hunt’s shoulders.
All I can say is shame, Mr Hunt, shame.
Anne Davie and her husband Bob farm at Ventnor. They’ve been members of Landcare since 1987.
COMMENTS
June 6, 2014
With impending budget cuts to the Landcare Program, we need Landcare networks and groups across Australia to be more self-sufficient to be able to continue undertaking Landcare works into the future.
You can support the Bass Coast Landcare Network here. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
The Bass Coast Landcare Network Public Fund supports the Bass Coast Landcare Network’s core purposes and will focus on supporting essential environmental works that protect and enhance our region’s precious natural asserts.
The Public Fund’s project ‘Bass Coast Arc – community access to public space’ aims to support local community groups to undertake activities such as revegetation work to repair and restore landscapes, develop wildlife corridors linking areas of fragmented bushland and create environmental education opportunities.
You can also make a donation by calling the Bass Coast Landcare Network office on 5678 2335 between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
Sarah Van Stokrom, Bass Coast Landcare Network
June 3, 2014
This year’s budget delivers more than $2 billion over four years for key Coalition commitments in natural resource management and environmental initiatives across Australia.
The management of our natural resources will be delivered through the National Landcare Program, the Green Army, Reef 2050 Plan, Working on Country, the Land Sector Package and investments in the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
The National Landcare Program will consist of a national component and a regional component. The national component will deliver on key election commitments including the 20 Million Trees Program, Coastal River Recovery Initiatives, Cumberland Conservation Corridor, Whale and Dolphin Protection Plan, Kimberley Cane Toad Clean Up and Dandenong Ranges Wildlife Recovery.
Reforms to the National Landcare Program will put the Landcare community back at the centre of land management programs that will encourage partnerships with Green Army and Working on Country projects.
This is about merging Caring for Country and Landcare, as was set out prior to the election.
The Green Army represents enormous opportunity for local environment and Landcare groups. Green Army is not a work for the dole program; it is a voluntary program for young people 17-24 to gain training and experience in environmental and heritage conservation fields and explore careers in conservation management.
Greg Hunt, MP for Flinders and Minister for the Environment
May 29, 2014
I would like to applaud Anne Davie's article on the demise of Landcare. It would be a great pity to see the end to the community-driven care of the environment.
A bureaucratic managed model is likely to cost much more with the least desirable results. And it will probably exclude the people who care most.
Heather Murray Tobias, Wonthaggi
Landcare was established in Victoria in 1987 by the then Minister for the Environment, Joan Kirner, and the then president of the Victorian Farmers Federation, the late Heather Mitchell. Phillip Island Landcare was one of the first groups to be formed and within a decade, more and more farmers came together across Australia to form local, regional and eventually state networks to address land and water degradation. Landcare Australia is such a successful model that it was adopted by other countries and known as Landcare International .
Landcare, through the employment of co-ordinators, brought farming neighbours together, to talk and act on issues that would result in better production and environmental outcomes. The Landcare movement brought women around the farm table and they took on the role as land-carers. Communities became involved in tree planting on rural properties, creeks were fenced, weeds addressed and remnant vegetation protected. School children became involved with tree planting, waterways testing and learned how to care for and value the planet to ensure its sustainable future.
Our property Bimbadeen, in Ventnor, is just one of the thousands of examples of farms across Australia. We’ve been involved in Landcare since 1987. As a result of the early clearing of the melaleuca on farms, salinity problems became evident on the Island in the 1980s. With government-funded and corporate involvement, Landcare projects could be developed and a facilitator employed. More than 40,000 trees were planted over the next 15 years. Community and school planting days were of great assistance and within a decade our salinity problem was being addressed. Tree lines gave shelter for our stock and food for the bird-life, Salt Water Creek was fenced and vegetated, a wildlife corridor crossed the property, remnant vegetation was fenced and production increased. And the rural landscape was enhanced.
The Abbott government, with the support of local member Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, will take the promised Landcare funding, needed to maintain and sustain its work, and give it to the controversial, unproven Direct Action Plan. This will mean that probably one of the most successful government programs ever will cease to be able to deliver.
The wonderful young people employed in Landcare in the Bass Coast Landcare Network now find their jobs are threatened. They have come here, settled with their families, and are active members of the community. Their knowledge, their experience and their passion for a healthy environment have resulted in amazing outcomes for the rural communities in which they work.
Greg Hunt has frequently visited farms in the shire over many years, including Bimbadeen, and extolled the virtue of Landcare and its valuable outcomes.
The demise of Landcare in Australia, a model lauded globally, is on Minister Hunt’s shoulders.
All I can say is shame, Mr Hunt, shame.
Anne Davie and her husband Bob farm at Ventnor. They’ve been members of Landcare since 1987.
COMMENTS
June 6, 2014
With impending budget cuts to the Landcare Program, we need Landcare networks and groups across Australia to be more self-sufficient to be able to continue undertaking Landcare works into the future.
You can support the Bass Coast Landcare Network here. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
The Bass Coast Landcare Network Public Fund supports the Bass Coast Landcare Network’s core purposes and will focus on supporting essential environmental works that protect and enhance our region’s precious natural asserts.
The Public Fund’s project ‘Bass Coast Arc – community access to public space’ aims to support local community groups to undertake activities such as revegetation work to repair and restore landscapes, develop wildlife corridors linking areas of fragmented bushland and create environmental education opportunities.
You can also make a donation by calling the Bass Coast Landcare Network office on 5678 2335 between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
Sarah Van Stokrom, Bass Coast Landcare Network
June 3, 2014
This year’s budget delivers more than $2 billion over four years for key Coalition commitments in natural resource management and environmental initiatives across Australia.
The management of our natural resources will be delivered through the National Landcare Program, the Green Army, Reef 2050 Plan, Working on Country, the Land Sector Package and investments in the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
The National Landcare Program will consist of a national component and a regional component. The national component will deliver on key election commitments including the 20 Million Trees Program, Coastal River Recovery Initiatives, Cumberland Conservation Corridor, Whale and Dolphin Protection Plan, Kimberley Cane Toad Clean Up and Dandenong Ranges Wildlife Recovery.
Reforms to the National Landcare Program will put the Landcare community back at the centre of land management programs that will encourage partnerships with Green Army and Working on Country projects.
This is about merging Caring for Country and Landcare, as was set out prior to the election.
The Green Army represents enormous opportunity for local environment and Landcare groups. Green Army is not a work for the dole program; it is a voluntary program for young people 17-24 to gain training and experience in environmental and heritage conservation fields and explore careers in conservation management.
Greg Hunt, MP for Flinders and Minister for the Environment
May 29, 2014
I would like to applaud Anne Davie's article on the demise of Landcare. It would be a great pity to see the end to the community-driven care of the environment.
A bureaucratic managed model is likely to cost much more with the least desirable results. And it will probably exclude the people who care most.
Heather Murray Tobias, Wonthaggi