Torquay and District Landcare Group

23/03/2026

16/03/2026

Upcoming events for 2026

Funds from our Surf Coast Shire Environment grant mean that we have Craig Castree return for two workshops,
Sunday 26th April and Saturday 16th May. Times and venue to be confirmed.
· Craig’s presentations will be on w**ds in general that are found in the paddock, and garden. We know that w**ds are 'indicator species’ and signal specific soil conditions ie fertility, pH, moisture levels, structure and compaction. Find out more, and also how we can control/manage them.
2
There will be a specific workshop focusing on Serrated Tussock, Chilian Needle Grass and other plants in the Nassella genus
3
Another will cover gorse and the strategies used by a local landowner, and information provided by the Victorian Gorse Task Force.

NOTE - These events are free and open to all so if you have a family member or friend who is experiencing a w**d problem or is seeking further information, please pass on the workshop details, once everything is confirmed.

4
Sunday 2nd May, TDLG will be operating the Torquay Bunnings BBQ and we will certainly be aiming for our best result.
If you can help for any part of the day we would love to hear from you. TDLG supplies all the food and equipment you only need to be wearing closed toed shoes and a smile!
Contact – [email protected] and please include your time preferences. Thank you

5
Alison Pouliot returns to Coastal Forest Lodge to inform us about fungi and what they tell us about soil and plant health.

Friday 12th June - “Reading the Fungal Landscape’

Saturday 13th June ‘ The Fungal Garden’

Sunday 14th June ‘ Mushroom Rendezvous’

Please note our Surf Coast Shire grant only covers part of our 2026 program so for the first time we are having to charge members for the Fungi workshops.
Priority until 31st March to TDLG members.
Numbers are restricted for these events so please reserve your place.

6
Re our 2026 plantings we have found ourselves in an interesting position. We have previously organised three (3) events. Two with local Primary Schools and another with Boardriders. At this point in time, it looks like we can schedule one planting, but to work with the Primary Schools we need for each, at least 700 seedlings. This figure is calculated on the schools involving a year level rather than individual classes.
We have reached the stage where there is no more public land within the Surf Coast Shire for such a number. If you are planning a large planting or know of someone who is considering one, TDLG would certainly be interested in being involved.

Other events for your calendar

1
Sunday 8th March SCEG Working Bee at Ashmore Arts 10am - 12 noon
55b Ashmore Road Torquay
RSVP: here
BYO hardy footwear, protective clothing, sunscreen, hat and a drink bottle of water

2
Saturday 11th April Australian Plant Sale 8.30am - 4.00pm

3
Tuesday 21st April, Wednesday 22nd April, Thursday 23rd April The Upper Barwon Landcare Network - The Grounded Festival 2026
Location Yan Yan Gurt West Farm
Talks & Panels Featuring over 40 international, national and local speakers, all curated by GROUNDED director, writer and farmer Matthew Evans.
On-Farm Demonstrations
Get hands-on in the field with demos, tours and workshops.
On-Farm Marketplace
Trade exhibitors alongside Landcare and community organisations.
Local food and beverages Celebrate local producers with great food stalls and GROUNDED's 'Lazy Springtail' Bar
Live Music & Camping On Site
Unwind with live music plus stay on-site.
GROUNDED Festival 2026 | 22-23 April 2026 | Yan Yan Gurt West Farm, VIC - GROUNDED Festival

16/03/2026

The next instalment of our soil series. Come along to this workshop to learn to read your soil with w**ds as indicator species for soil health.

14/10/2025

Saturday 18th October – TDLG Dung Beetle Workshop - RSVP please by 15th October
Find out about these ecologically significant insects that help in nutrient recycling, soil aeration, and in the reduction of parasites. Learn about their function and importance and then after lunch head out to delve into the dung to search for these elusive creatures.
Location - 485 Buckley Road South Buckley (look out for the TDLG Bali flags)
Time - 11.am to 12.30pm approx. all about Dung beetles
12.30- 1.30pm lunch (provided) please let us know any dietary requirements.
1.30pm paddock walk as we look for dung beetles TDLG to supply all equipment
Please note this event is open to anyone in the Community.


Thursday 13th November – TDLG - AGM
Location - Torquay Community House
Time - 6.30pm AGM
7.00pm Supper
7.30pm Speaker Times approximate
RSVP [email protected] (please detail any dietary requirements).
Our guest speaker is local Primary School Principal Ross Dullard.
Ross grew up with a deep love of nature- fascinated by the flora, fauna and the natural beauty that they bring to the world. From an early age he was curious about the environment and that has carried that passion for discovery with him, over the past decade, he’s dedicated 100’s of hours searching for prehistoric marine mammals, driven by a desire to uncover something different and remarkable. Alongside this, he has always been actively involved in education through a diverse range of experiences, sharing an enthusiasm for investigation, learning, and the natural world with students and the broader school community.
This will be a fascinating insight into a world we are still discovering.

15/08/2025

🌿🎨 Roll up your sleeves – the show’s back in town! 🦋🌸

The Wildflower & Arts Show is returning this September, celebrating and being inspired by nature! 🌏✨ This year marks the launch of Angair’s brand-new Butterflies & Moths brochure 🦋 – a beautiful addition to our local flora and fauna series. 🌼📖

It’s the perfect chance to:
💚 Be inspired by our unique district environment
🤝 Meet local environmental groups & agencies
🖼️ Admire (and maybe buy!) stunning artworks by talented resident artists, displayed in the Community House

But… the show can’t happen without you! 🙌
We need volunteers to help with:
📦 Set-up – Thurs 18 & Fri 19 Sept
🛠️ Pack-down – Sun 21 Sept (late arvo)
🌸 During the weekend – just a couple of hours makes a big difference!

📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Call: David Walmsley – 0419 690 985

Let’s make this year’s show one to remember! 💐✨

12/08/2025

Hello wonderful community!

We have been approached by Rosemary Rothwell from Mount Rothwell to ask if there are any TDLG members who would be able to assist them at their Saturday 16th August working bee.
TDLG was approached as we have a relationship with Mount Rothwell having organised night tours of the sanctuary. Mount Rothwell was also recently in the news for its conservation efforts with the critically endangered Southern Brush-tailed Rock-Wallabies.

If you are able to help please see the details below and contact Rosemary on [email protected] or phone 0400755829
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From the MT Rothwell team:

Would you like to help us?

Some of you might know about our amazing sanctuary, run by the not-for-profit foundation Odonata. This Saturday, August 16th, we’ve organised a working bee to assist Odonata with their rabbit eradication efforts.

We’ve been assigned to work in paddock number 21. All native species have been safely trapped and relocated.

The Odonata crew has asked that we work in an "SES line," walking along with shovels and garden hoes, destroying and caving in any rabbit holes or warrens we find. Don’t worry—the earth is quite soft at the moment.

I’ve been told that rabbit sightings at Mt Rothwell are currently low, which sounds fabulous… but also concerning, as this is the time of year when females are underground with their litters. That’s why we need as much people power as possible to help fill in the burrows.

WHEN: Saturday, August 16th at 9:00 AM
WHERE: We'll meet at the Mt Rothwell Office and then head out in some 4-wheel drives.

ADDRESS:
5 Mt Rothwell Road
Little River
(For directions, type “Mt Rothwell Biodiversity and Interpretation Centre” into Google Maps.)

Ben Olliff from Odonata will lead the working bee.
After lunch, Ben will also take those interested on a Native Vegetation Walk, where he’ll point out various endangered plant species on the property and explain what’s being done to ensure their survival.

Please RSVP—and feel free to bring along anyone who might be interested. The more, the merrier!

Also, let me know if you’d like some lunch and whether you’re interested in joining the walk with Ben afterward.

Kind regards,
Rosemary Etherton (and Ben)
📞 0400 755 829

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06/08/2025

Dear TDLG Member

It is at this time of the year when we start to think about our plans for Spring. Sometimes this can be daunting particularly after such an extended dry period. We might question what we are doing and whether we are making any progress. Perhaps consider this quote from Isabel Losada who writes in her book The Joyful Environmentalist: 'Don’t be discouraged by people saying your actions are just a drop in the ocean. What’s an ocean except millions upon millions of drops’

Events

Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August. SCEG Spring Creek Walking tours. (Free event) Part of the Surf Coast Arts Trail.
Time 11am and 2,30pm (both days)
Location Ashmore Arts, Ashmore Road, Off Grossmans Road, Torquay.
Food truck and coffee van on site

Join us for a tour of the beautiful landscape of the Spring Creek Valley.

We will meet at Ashmore Arts and then make our way through the vegetation restoration areas, showcasing the important revegetation efforts of SCEG & community volunteers, winding our way down to Spring Creek.

We might just spot a Sacred Kingfisher or Yellow-footed antechinus if we're lucky!

Please express your interest via this event and arrive 5 minutes before the tour is scheduled to depart.

Wear suitable footwear and enjoy a Winter day in the valley. Please book and more info in Facebook link below.
Please book and read event information

Tuesday 5th August. Better Beef, Best Wool Best Lamb workshop.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a meeting with 2 of the most respected livestock market analysts going around. With record red meat prices at the moment and our (hopefully) soon to be recovery from drought, now is the perfect time to hear the insights of these analysts, and have any questions answered.
Even better- RaboBank will supply a few drinks to enjoy at the end (we deserve it!)
This is a great opportunity, not to be missed
Date Tuesday 5th August
Time 2.30 pm - 5 pm
Venue Modewarre Memorial Hall, 910 Cape Otway Rd, Modewarre.
Please RSVP to Murray by 4th August.

Hear from:
Angus Gidley Baird – Senior Analyst, Rabobank Research
Angus covers agri commodities including beef, sheep meat, pork, poultry and seafood. Angus sifts through data to provide market info and insights to Rabo clients.
Ash Fenwick – Director, Rabobank Global Markets
Ash assists Australian and Kiwi Rabo clients with managing their market risks, specialising in interest risks. Ash has 12 years’ experience working in global markets

Plenty of opportunity for Questions! Murray Johns E: [email protected] P: 0419 315 468

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Tuesday 19th August. Bellarine/Surfcoast Beef Producers Group - 'The A to Z of livestock health during drought and beyond Dr Xavier McKinnon BVSc'
Time 10am - 2.30pm
Location Freshwater Creek Community Hall, 445 Dickens Rd, Freshwater Creek.
An in depth presentation covering all aspect of livestock health (both cattle and sheep) during drought and in the recovery from drought.

Wednesday 27th August. Moriac PS, SCS, Community members and TDLG will be out at Lake Modewarre for the penultimate planting at the SCS Off set site
Time 9.30am to 1.30pm approximately
Location End of Waltons Road, Lake Modewarre. The Surf Coast Shire off-set site.
We will have a TDLG Bali flag at the Princess Highway/Waltons Road junction.
Tasks Planting, guarding and mulching 500 seedlings.
Please let us know if are planning on joining us for the event, so we can cater for you.

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Thursday 28th August. Bellbrae PS, SCS, Community members and TDLG will be out at Lake Modewarre for the final planting at the SCS Off set site
Time 9.30am to 1.30pm approximately
Location End of Waltons Road, Lake Modewarre. The Surf Coast Shire off-set site.
We will have a TDLG Bali flag at the Princess Highway/Waltons Road junction.
Tasks Planting, guarding and mulching 500 seedlings.
Please let us know if are planning on joining us for the event, so we can cater for you.

Thursday 4th September Bunnings Fathers Day Family Night.
Time - 5pm - 7pm
Location - The Timber Yard
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For your information
Landcare Victoria have webinar and information sheets on various topics. The latest Fox Facts is now on their website
and includes a Fox Fact Sheet that outlines fox control methods, as well as information about fox habits. It also contains some useful links to help you find out more about fox management.

Download Fox Facts now from https://www.landcarevictoria.org.au (under 'Fact Sheets’).

Best wishes from
your TDLG Committee

We are an influential voice for the Victorian landcare movement, supporting landcare communities to achieve integrated sustainable agriculture and environmental outcomes.

13/06/2025

Upcoming events!

Tuesday 17 June, 9.30-1.00pm Southern Farming Systems : Water Wise Workshop Rokewood
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Water Planning and Management is key to a resilient farming business, having water you need, where and when you need it.

We invite all producers and industry stakeholders to participate in a free workshop with Clem Sturmfels, Adam Buzza from Agriculture Victoria, Southern Rural Water & Michelle McClure, Southern Farming Systems.
Exploring your water options:
• On farm water self assessment
• Water Planning
• Small Farm Dams Project
• Inspecting Small Farm Dams Project Site
When: Tuesday 17 June, 9.30-1.00pm
Where: “The Meadows” 705 Meadows Rd, Rokewood

This project is supported with funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund

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Drought Resilience Conference 2025
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As climates warm and become more variable, the frequency and severity of droughts and other climatic events are increasing. In this context, increasing the ability of economies, ecosystems and communities to become more resilient to droughts has never been more important. Whilst traditional and novel approaches are being adopted to prepare for, predict, respond to and recover from droughts when they do occur, sharing insights and approaches across disciplines has the potential to result in innovative, high-quality research leading to practical and effective outcomes with real-world impact.
Drought Resilience 2025 will bring together experts from across the sciences, health, law, business, technology, humanities, arts disciplines as well as Traditional Knowledge to share knowledge and approaches and explore collaborative approaches to support drought resilience. The conference, hosted by the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, will also launch the Drought Resilience Interdisciplinary Network, DRI-Net and will explore key, intersecting themes to encourage collaboration among research disciplines. https://www.droughtresilience.info/
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Wednesday 27th August - Moriac Primary School planting out at the SCS Lake Modewarre off set site. 500 seedlings to go into the ground. Details to follow
Thursday 28th August - Bellbrae Primary School planting out at the SCS Lake Modewarre off set site.500 seedlings to go into the ground. Details to follow.

These two events will mean the revegetation work at the site is completed.
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Friday 3rd October - Boarders planting - location to be confirmed. Details to follow
Saturday 18th October - TDLG Dung Beetle workshop - details to be confirmed
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With the year progressing TDLG will be looking towards 2026 and potential grants. If you have any area/s of interest please let us know so we can organise events that cater to our members needs.

Best wishes from
your TDLG Committee

Drought Resilience 2025 is an interdisciplinary conference being held in Geelong from 9-11 July 2025 that brings together researchers from a range of disciplines focused on supporting increased resilience to drought. Drought Resilience 2025 is an initiative of the Victoria Drought Resilience Adoptio...

30/05/2025

Buckley Village Developmentnt Proposal

TDLG has as part of its philosophy the following:

The Torquay and District Landcare Group is committed to sustainable management of local natural resource assets.
We have an emphasis on protecting catchments, streams and remnant vegetation to ensure the associated wildlife corridors maintain a diverse and healthy environment.

Over the years TDLG has been involved in numerous revegetation projects along Spring Creek , Jan Juc Creek and at Lake Modewarre (the Surf Coast Shire’s off set site, which is on the north side of the lake)

There is currently a proposal by Ample Investments to develop a village out at Buckley (situated to the northwest of Lake Modewarre) even though it is at odds with the Surf Coast Shire’s Urban Future and Hinterland strategies.

The Friends of Lake Modewarre are leading the arguments against this development and your TDLG Committee supports their concerns and others over this proposal.

More information on the proposed development can be found on the following website https://buckleyvillage.com.au

Many passionate locals cherish the ecological, social and cultural significance of the lake and a petition against this proposal has been organised by Winchelsea Community Facebook at https://chng.it/fXCYt5drGk

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Stop Buckley Village Development in Surf Coast Shire

28/05/2025

🦉 Native Fauna Suffers from SGARs – A Wake-Up Call for Wildlife! 🚫🐭

A shocking new study of tested liver samples of dead Powerful Owls by BirdLife Australia has found that 60% had dangerous levels of rat poisons known as Second-generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) in their systems – enough to cause serious harm or death 💔. But these silent killers go much broader than that!
🦘 Over the past five years, SGARs have been detected in:

57 native birds 🐦

30 non-target mammals (including Tasmanian Devils and Eastern Quolls) 🐾

16 species of reptiles and amphibians 🐸🦎

Despite these alarming findings, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has yet to release the results of its review into SGARs 📄⏳.

📢 BirdLife Australia has launched an online campaign calling on all of us to take action:
✅ Contact your local candidates
✅ Ask your elected reps to support strong protections for our native wildlife
✅ Demand regulation of these deadly poisons

Let’s speak up for the Powerful Owl and all our precious creatures 💬🦜
Image by Margaret Lacey.

👉 Visit BirdLife Australia to take action on this and other issues at https://birdlife.org.au/news/birdlife-australia-in-the-media-february-2025/

Read more about this important research at https://theconversation.com/lethal-second-generation-rat-poisons-are-killing-endangered-quolls-and-tasmanian-devils-250035

16/05/2025

Upcoming events!