Group history:

• The Upper Williamson's Creek Landcare Group covers approximately 10,000 hectares. The group's area includes rich volcanic soils around Mt. Buninyong and Scotsburn and areas of Durham Lead and Clarendon.
• Part of the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and catchment.
• We are represented on the committees of the Leigh Catchment Group, the Ballarat Region Gorse Task Force, and the Mt. Buninyong Management Committee.
• Spans Ballarat City and Moorabool Shire Council municipalities.
• Approx. 30 members with over 150 landholders having had direct contact with us.
• Approx. 500 landholders within the area.
• The Upper Williamson's Creek Landcare Group Inc. has a Weed Management Strategy for the control of Gorse, Blackberry, Cape Broom, and Hemlock which was developed in 1995.
• We wish to increase public awareness and on-ground works for weed control as there are very large infestations of Gorse and Blackberry in all these areas.
• The Upper Williamson's Creek Landcare Group Inc. Catchment Strategy was developed in 1998.
• The Catchment Strategy addresses water quality issues for the whole area and in particular the Williamson's Creek and Back Creek.
• Work on fencing streamsides, protecting remnant vegetation and revegetation is a priority
• There are many roadsides with significant remnant vegetation within our area which have now been sign-posted to help protect them from grazing and timber removal.
• The Young Landcare Project at the Scotsburn site of the Buninyong Primary School is a direct initiative of the group. The children from both Scotsburn and Buninyong use the facilities to grow indigenous trees and shrubs, plant at local revegetation sites, build nesting boxes and participate in many other environmental activities.
• The group is also involved with pest animal control such as rabbits and foxes.
• As an on-going commitment to landholder education the group also tries to get interesting guest speakers to promote many other Landcare issues including sustainable land management, pasture quality, fertilisers, plant identification etc.
• The group's guide to indigenous trees and shrubs suitable for planting under powerlines in the City of Ballarat.

Projects and achievements:

Yuulong Rd, Scotsburn

Indigenous planting under powerlines. Important corridor between Mt Buninyong and the Scotsburn bush.

1999

2004

Bobby Bath Plantation

An important corridor on the Midland Highway, Buninyong, linking Mount Buninyong and Napoleons. In partnership with Mt Helen/Buninyong Lions Club and VicRoads. Part of the Olympic Landcare Project, 2000.

Mt Buninyong Reserve

In partnership with Mt Buninyong Conservation Group and City of Ballarat.

Scotsburn School Young Landcare Project

More information:

Upper Williamson's Creek Landcare Group on BIRD.

Upper Williamson's Creek Landcare Group entry on the Victorian Landcare Gateway.

Contacts: