Sutton Landcare Meeting : Landscape Rehydration Means Improved Landscape Function

The next meeting of Sutton Landcare will be held on Tuesday April 12 at Sutton School. The meeting will commence at 7.30pm with our AGM and the election of Office Bearers for the next 12 months.

At 8.00pm our guest speaker, Mr Peter Hazell, will address us on the importance of Landscape Rehydration to improve the resilience and function of the landscape.

In 2006, Peter Andrews and Tony Coote  agreed to work together to repair an eroding 3km section of Mulloon Creek flowing through Tony’s property near Bungendore. Such was the success of this joint venture, called the Mulloon Creek Natural Sequence Farming demonstration, that now all of Tony’s neighbours are participating in a major expansion of the original project.

Called the Mulloon Community Landscape Rehydration Project (MCLRP), it now covers an area of 23,000ha over 40 km of creek and is seeking to dramatically improve the environment and the agricultural output of the whole Mulloon catchment.

Former Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Coordinator and Australian Government NRM Facilitator, Peter Hazell, has been contracted by The Mulloon Institute, a non-profit research, education and advocacy group founded by Tony Coote, to work with the Mulloon landowners in rolling out the MCLRP.

The Mulloon Institute is also working with the NSW Government, ANU, University of Canberra and University of Wollongong to set comprehensive biophysical, economic and social benchmarks so that system level changes can be measured.

At our meeting, Peter will share some key insights that are making these projects work. These insights can be applied anywhere, and the Yass Valley is no exception.

This promises to be a fascinating  presentation and all interested persons are welcome to attend.  The Mulloon  Institute is regarded as a leader in large-scale landscape regeneration. It has been selected by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network as one of five global contributors  to tackle the challenges of sustaining  global agricultural systems.

Further details can be obtained from Sutton Landcare Secretary Tony Redman on ph 6230 3266.