Landcare Support Officer project

This project commenced in April 2013 with the employment of Alan Cole, a farmer and forester, as Landcare Support Officer. The project was supported by a Community Partnership grant through the Murrumbidgee CMA. Alan was employed for 3 days per week to support Landcare groups and networks across the Murrumbidgee Catchment.

Alan initially got to know the Landcare community by attending meetings across the catchment meeting Landcarers from Junee, Tarcutta, Kyeamba Valley, Riverina Highlands, Molonglo Catchment, Ginninderra, Upper Murrumbidgee, and the Yass area groups. He assisted in landowner surveys for the Cross Property Revegetation project in Humula, Kyeamba and Junee.

Together with conversations via email and telephone supported by meeting attendances the first Milestone report was prepared “Map the Landcare Groups (past, present and potential) in the catchment”.

A second Milestone report was finalised in August, this report “Landcare communications assessment and support”. This report also investigated Landcare networks and groups interests and needs in the Murrumbidgee catchment, and was produced after a broad consultation of a sample of Landcare representatives across the catchment, from Hay to Michelago, as well as ongoing attendance of Landcare meetings across the catchment.

The LSO has also assisted a number of groups in funding applications for the Caring for our Country community environmental projects scheme, the NSW Environmental Trust, the Bjarne K Dahl Trust, and The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).

He has attended a number of strategic forums on the future of Landcare both in the catchment and across NSW, as well as supporting the formation of the Bowning and Bookham Districts Landcare Group.