SMALL rural property owners around the local region will gain knowledge and skills to apply best practice land management principles to their land with a program that kicks off on Sunday, July 24.
The HE Healthy Hectares North East program will explore fundamental principles and knowledge of sustainable, best–practice land management through face–to–face field days, online workshops and a booklet designed to provide information relevant to North East Victoria.
The project adapts the Healthy Hectares program previously developed by Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority and Euroa Arboretum to the North East region of Victoria with the delivery of a field days series for landholders.
Conservation and land management educator, Sue Brunskill will introduce key topics – property planning, soil, livestock, pest plants and animals, water and biodiversity as well as a Healthy Hectares North East program overview.
Project officer David Thorpe said a program feature will be the development of an entire farm plan for each of the participants' properties with professional guidance.
"This is a great opportunity for small rural property owners to learn best practice land management principles and get help from experts to apply them on their property,'' he said.
"Participants will have the chance to work with experts and create a whole farm plan which helps them build their property capacity while fulfilling their dreams and aspirations."
"Workshops and field days give people a great chance to network and see how others are managing their properties too."
Mr Thorpe said by attending information sessions, landholders will gain a good understanding of how the program works, what they will learn over the next 12 months and how new knowledge can be applied.
A collaboration between Wodonga Urban Landcare Network, Kiewa Catchment Landcare Groups, Ovens Landcare Network and the Mid Ovens Landcare Consortium, the program has been funded by the Australian Government's National Landcare Program.
The program takes off with information sessions to introduce topics explored in field days and workshops during the next 12 months.
A 10am session will be held on Sunday, July 24 at the Myrtleford RSL and then 3pm at the Chiltern Neighbourhood Centre.
To book visit https://www.trybooking.com/CACWF for Myrtleford, and https://www.trybooking.com/CACVY for Chiltern.
For more information contact project officer, David Thorpe, on mobile 0400 740 791 or email healthyhectaresne@wodongalandcare.org.au.