How we operate

Landcare groups

There are seven geographically based landcare groups in the Woady Yaloak Catchment (WYC). Most were active when the WYC project started in 1992.

The Misery Moonlight, Rokewood, Werneth and Pittong-Hoyles Creek Landcare founded the WYC Project. In 1994 the Grenville and Haddon Landcare Groups joined the Woady Catchment Project and in the late 90s a new landcare group formed in the Scarsdale/ Smythesdale area. The Dales Landcare Group became the seventh group in the WYC.

They remain autonomous, running their own local activities and projects when required, but with coordination for funding and reporting mainly through the WYC Group.

Executive committee

The executive committee of the WYC group has 14 members. Each Landcare Group is responsible for nominating one or two representatives — depending on the size of the group — to the executive committee to represent the interests of their local area.

A further three positions are available for representatives from the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, The Department of Primary Industries and the major sponsor, Alcoa World Alumina. The Chairman of the executive committee must be a landholder and is elected by the members on the executive committee.

The committee focuses on five portfolios, each with their own area of responsibility:

• Finance – monthly accounts, funding guidelines, progress and final reports to sponsors, funding proposals, Landcare group levies and tax requirements (GST/BAS).
• On ground works – assessing neighbourhood group funding proposals that projects are technically sound and that funding guidelines and priorities are met. This portfolio group also organise rabbit and fox control programs and any Good Neighbour proposals.
• Productivity – crop, pasture and livestock based programs that emphasise productivity and profitability improvements in the catchment. They organise farm discussion groups, field days, seminars, farm walks and information nights.
• Communication and publicity – website management, production of the quarterly newsletters, annual report and promotional materials, media liaison, catchment tours, talks at conferences and hosting dignitaries.
• Strategic partnerships and executive support – developing and maintaining partnerships with key stakeholders such as Alcoa of Australia, the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and the Department of Primary Industries. The group also initiates and reviews strategic directions for the catchment project as well as organising regular executive meetings.

Each portfolio has around four members, with a landholder as chairman of each group. The chairman is responsible for reporting back to the executive committee and making recommendations for full committee approval. The executive committee meets monthly reviewing portfolio areas on a needs basis.

Neighbourhood groups

Landholders in the Woady Yaloak catchment have been working together in neighbourhood groups (NHGs) since 1998. There are more than 30 NHGs throughout the WYC involving groups of between two and twelve landholders with common interests and concerns. In most cases landholders are on adjoining properties.

The NHG approach enables landholders to share information, conduct coordinated planning and approach funding sources as one group (through the executive committee) Neighbourhood Groups are about doing things that are important to the individual but in consideration of others.

The concept minimises paperwork, administration and funding processes to the individual landholder and streamlines management. It also improves progress monitoring and reporting outcomes to funding bodies.

NHGs develop and implement their own integrated five-year plan specific to their local landscape. Issues range from improved pasture trials, revegetation, erosion control to vermin and noxious weed eradication. Group plans are reviewed annually.