Timeline
A 10 year timeline of significant events in the catchment project
1992
January Bob Caraill from the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) contacts Cam Nicholson seeking a potential landcare catchment project.
March Five landholders from the catchment (Kevin Knight, Jim Boyle, Simon Caldwell, George McKenzie and Michael Collins) host the VFF and Greening Australia Victoria (GAV) and tour the catchment.
June Public meeting held and the Woady Yalaok Catchment Group is formed, comprising two members from the Werneth, Rokewood, Misery Moonlight and Pittong Landcare groups. Kevin Knight is elected chairman.
July VFF invites landholders to prepare a river catchment action plan.
August GAV provide the Woady Yaloak Group $7,000 to develop the action plan. Cam Nicholson from the Department of Agriculture is engaged to develop the plan.
1993
February National Landcare Program (NLP) application success, allowing employment of a part time project officer 2 days a week.
March After 27 meetings the action plan is completed and adopted by the community at a public meeting. The 10c/ha/yr levy is introduced.
April Cam Nicholson employed as project officer and Justin Liddy as Rabbit control facilitator.
Plan presented to Alcoa of Australia and initial support of $145,000 for on ground works is secured.
First meeting of the Woady Yaloak executive committee, with GAV managing the accounts, Grenville Shire employing the co-ordinator and Alcoa via Wade Hughes providing communication and management structure support.
June Woady Yaloak, Productive catchment management logo adopted .
July The first of 27 newsletters produced.
September John Collet from the Alcoa landcare program in Western Australia visits the catchment.
November Official launch of the Woady Yaloak Catchment Project in the Misery Moonlight catchment by Victorian Environment Minister, Geoff Coleman. The Minister said "This is the first time we have seen this type of treatment done on a whole of catchment basis and I hope it is the first of many". More than 400 people attended.
December First year targets for pastures, trees rabbits and erosion all exceeded. 62 landholders involved, who farm 36% of the land in the catchment.
1994
January Grenville and Haddon Landcare groups join the project. Woady Yaloak Catchment Group becomes incorporated through the VFF.
February Alcoa commit to a further 3 years support, with funding which amounts to a cash commitment of $375,000 for on ground works and communications.
March First annual report completed.
Three farms in the catchment feature in the ABC open farm scheme.
April Demand for catchment tours begins to increase.
July Direct tree seeding machine purchased after successful NLP grant application.
September Kevin Knight invited to present the Woady Yaloak story at the First National Landcare Conference in Hobart.
November Chemical spray unit purchased by the Rokewood landcare Group.
December Landholders involvement rises to 52% of freehold land in the catchment.
1995
February Woady Yaloak establishes own bank account and resume responsibility for employment before council amalgamations.
March LEAP (Lancare Environment Action Program) commences in the catchment
Two properties featured in the ABC Open farms scheme.
April A self guided tour booklet of the Woady Yaloak Catchment developed in partnership with Alcoa, the VFF and NLP.
May Scarsdale - Smythesdale landcare group forms and joins the catchment project.
June Concerted effort commences to attract other corporate sponsors.
July Apply for first National landcare awards - unsuccessful .
Catchment video produced with support from Alcoa.
Reception hosted by Golden Plains Shire to thank Alcoa for their contribution to the area.
October Paul Crock replaces Kathy Junor as VFF / Alcoa landcare officer, Fleur Maidment replaces Ian Dreher as DCNR representative and Tim Offor replaces Steve Burke from GAV.
December 65% of landholders in the catchment actively involved in the project, a rise of 25% from 1994.
A 1995 survey reveals works undertaken with the assistance of grants were accounting for less than half all the landcare type works occurring in the catchment.
1996
February Rabbit poisioning program moves to full cost recovery for supply of baits.
April Planning for Woady Yaloak Catchment project beyond 1996 commences.
May Application for Banksia Environment Awards unsuccessful.
September The Woady Yaloak Catchment Project features strongly at the State Landcare conference in Ballarat.
Agreement with the Agriculture faculty fn the University of Melbourne to conduct a series of final year case studies in the catchment on an annual basis.
October NLP funded tour guides program commences.
Rabbit Calicivirus released at Rokewood .
December Five year targets in catchment plan are reached 12 months ahead of schedule.
1997
January Alcoa commit to a further three year sponsorship of the Project, including $75,000 for on ground works and $25,000 for co-ordination and communications support.
February River Management Program commences.
Wesfarmers Dalgety provide $13,000 support the Better Pastures program.
March New five year plan released and seven State and Federal funding applications prepared.
April The management of Alcoa funds for the Woady Yaloak Catchment Project by Greening Australia ends.
April The Pittong-Hoyles Creek Landcare in conjunction with Rick Pope and Ballarat University commence a pilot GIS project in the catchment.
June Rokewood landcare Group release their landcare handbook.
July Kevin Knight steps down after 5 years as chairman. Alice Knight elected new chairman.
August Ted Rowley, as representative of Alcoa Landcare makes his first visit to the Woady Yaloak Catchment.
September Peter Hirth make a presentation on the Woady Yaloak project at the Second National Landcare Conference in Adelaide.
October Woady Yaloak members visit Western Australia to explore the accelerated catchments approach.
December NHT funding for many aspects of the five year plan and co-ordinator funding not supported or reduced to 12 months only. Monies only available for works on waterways and targeted rabbit and weed work. The ongoing future of the Woady Yaloak Catchment Project under serious threat.
Landholder participation remains at 65% and activity with on ground works meet expectations.
1998
February Executive committee agree to become more 'political' in their seeking resources for the project.
March With help from Ted Rowley, the neighbourhood group concept is introduced, starting with a pilot project involving three farmers on the Lower Naringhil Creek.
April Tim Archer employed on a part time basis to co-ordinate the gorse and serrated tussock control in the Corindhap / Misery Moonlight areas.
May Forty landholders seek funding through the DNRE Land Protection Incentive Scheme, as the Woady Yaloak Catchment Project was unable to directly support their projects.
JuneA series of think tanks held to re-invent the catchment project.
July Meetings commence with DNRE Melbourne to develop an agreement where DNRE pays Woady Yaloak directly and the catchment group purchase technical services from the most appropriate suppliers.
August Alcoa agree to re-direct a small portion of their sponsorship to ensure some co-ordinator continuity is maintained whilst other funds are sought.
December Level of activity drops significantly for individual landholders, with targeted resource allocation making many landholders ineligible. Four pilot neighbourhood groups and 3 rabbit co-operation groups are established with activity supported through Alcoa funding.
1999
March Success with State Greenhouse initiative Replanting Victoria 2020 ($200,000 over 3 years) provides opportunity for large scale revegetation projects away from waterways.
April Rabbit Action Plan developed in partnership with DNRE.
May State Greenhouse initiative Replanting Victoria 2020 launched by Environment Minister Marie Tehan at Pittong.
Sustainable Grazing Systems supports two neighbourhood groups with productivity work on lime and increasing winter feed production.
June Application submitted for third national landcare awards which was unsuccessful.
July Cam Nicholson's role as project officer changed to project manager and Jen Clarke and Phil Holding employed on a part time basis to support neighbourhood group projects.
October Document stating the outcomes and performance indicators of the service agreement with DNRE prepared but not executed because of a change in State Government.
October NHT proposal for neighbourhood group facilitation supported.
November GIS development work piloted with the Pittong landcare group to be expanded to the whole catchment.
December A total of 14 neighbourhood groups were in existence, developing integrated 5 year plans.
2000
January Annual report for 1999 is produced, after a three year absence. Chairman Alice Knight wrote "It has been a challenge to re-design the Woady Yaloak Catchment Project to meet the rapidly changing needs of our community, the DNRE, private sponsors and the CCMA .... and .... I believe the Project has taken the first steps in making this change".
February Woady Yaloak initiates own rabbit baiting program after DNRE withdraw support for bait distribution and cost of carrots and re-directs these resources to harbour removal.
March Alice Knight presents at International landcare Conference in Melbourne.
April Project database established to track neighbourhood group projects are contributions to projects by multiple funding sources.
May Executive committee restructured into portfolio areas.
June Introduction of GST forces the Catchment Group to employ Pam Oddie as part time book keeper.
July Alcoa provides $24,000 to assist in information exchange activities in the catchment.
Application submitted for fourth national landcare awards - receive highly commended in the research category for the GIS development.
August Commence production of neighbourhood fact sheets, highlighting success of different projects.
GIS project enters final stage of development and is extended catchment wide. Golden Plains Shire provide office space to set up equipment.
Large roadside signs erected.
September Phil Holding moves from district, is replaced by Ross Hadler. Troy Missen and Suzie Ellis employed on a part time basis to get the GIS operational catchment wide.
December Production of 2000 annual report, indicating there are 18 neighbourhood groups involving 104 individuals or farming partnerships .
2001
March Neighbourhood group gatherings were initiated, where a number of neighbourhood groups host other members of the catchment and present what work they have been doing.
April Alcoa commits a further $127,000 over 3 years to support on ground works and communication and information sharing activities.
August Woady Yalaok hosts other catchment and network groups in the region at a one day workshop to share ideas and explore common issues.
September Alice Knight speaks at the Alcoa 10 year landcare celebration in Western Australia.
October 10 year audit of practice change in the catchment undertaken with support from the Corangamite CMA. Results confirm a significant change in productivity and adoption of more sustainable natural resource management practices during the past decade.
December Neighbourhood gathering at Clarkesdales Bird Sanctuary attracts over 100 people .
Twenty eight neighbourhood groups were active in the catchment at the end of 2001 with more than $280,000 worth of on ground works committed to in 2002.
2002
March The Governor of Victoria, John Landy, launches the GIS package called Landscapes for the Future at Linton.
April Committee agrees to create an independent not-for-profit company to promote the Landscapes for the Future GIS package in Victoria. The Corangamite CMA support this development with a $40,000 grant.
August A joint program between the CCMA, DNRE and the Woady Yaloak group targets gorse in the upper waterways of the catchment.
October Telstra Countrywide tree planting day at Mt Mercer.
November Three Bestwool 2010 discussion groups formed in the catchment.
Partnership with the Corangamite CMA to pilot the development of biodiversity action plans.
December More than 130 people actively involved in neighbourhood groups at the end of 2002. The 10th neighbourhood group gathering attracts more than 120 people. Total investment through the neighbourhood group process since 1999 exceeded $830,000.
2003
February New five year plan developed to integrate with Corangamite Regional Catchment Strategy.
March Woady Yaloak help host Groundworks field day at Rokewood.
April Woady Yaloak invited to present the results of 10 years activity at the third National Landcare conference in Darwin.
May Concerns about highly targeted funding programs threatens to undermine the 'whole of catchment' approach taken by the Woady Yaloak Catchment Project. Executive committee commence campaign to raise these issues.
June Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary a national finalist in the Banksia Environment Awards.
August Woady Yaloak win Sensis Victorian Landcare Award on the fourth attempt.
October After 10 years the Woady Yaloak Catchment Group had hosted 74 tours, held 48 information sessions, been involved in 10 university projects, appeared in the print and electronic media 66 times and were invited to speak at 17 conferences and workshops.
December 10 year anniversary celebration and launch of next five year program.