Yackandandah Landcare Group

Yackandandah Creek Landcare Group (YLC) encompasses the township of Yackandandah and its rural surrounds. YLC has been running for 35 years. We work with community groups, including local schools, Yackandandah Sports Park Committee, and Yackandandah Scouts, to improve local habitat.

Our work includes environmental education and practical actions such as removing invasive weed species, revegetation, monitoring native fauna, enhancing native vegetation to improve connectivity for wildlife, installing nest boxes, signage, and other activities that improve our local environment. Some of our recent projects have been a large restoration project for Rowdy Flat, restoration of the Yackandandah Sports Park wetland, and rehabilitation activities along Yackandandah Creek around parts of Yackandandah. 

Our group is inclusive, and we welcome new members at all times. Come along and join in! 

HISTORY

The group formed as a sub-group within the Kiewa Catchment Landcare Groups (KCLG) in the late 1980s to facilitate tree planting for erosion control and shelter on farms in the valley. In 1991 a native tree nursery was established at Maurie and Francis Smith’s property at Bruarong, which, at its peak, produced around 20,000 trees as tube stock a year. Maurie was a project officer and President of KCLG on and off during the 1990s. He organised most of the magnificent tree corridors that you see along Kinchington Creek and lower Yackandandah creek.

Perennial pasture improvement was another key focus of the Yackandandah Landcare Group. Many field days, farm walks and demonstrations were held leading to significant uptake by long term farmers and new landholders. Stalwarts who were involved include Neil Padbury, Jo Millar, Margrit Beemster, Brian Lane, John McIntyre, John and Jan Clements. Weed control in pastures and along waterways is always an issue and several grants allowed us to assist landholders. 

Two projects were undertaken at Osborne Flat. This involved planting trees in waterlogged gullies to help alleviate creek bank erosion further downstream. Theo Charles Jones was credited with the tree award for community Landcare groups in 1995 and 1998.

After 2000, the group changed focus to rehabilitation along Yackandandah Creek under the dedicated guidance of Jocelyn McAlistair and Mish Croker. The area from the sports park to the gorge on both sides of the creek underwent blackberry and gorse control. Shrubs were planted to bolster the understory and nestboxes were installed by Yackandandah Scouts. Many information sessions and walks were held on endangered species and bush regeneration techniques. Support was received from Indigo Shire, North East Catchment Management Authority, Department of Environment in their many guises, Victorian Landcare Grants and KCLG.

In the last few years, Yackandandah Landcare received a grant from the North-East Catchment Management Authority to rehabilitate large areas of bushland around Rowdy Flat through weed control and revegetation. Thanks to Gabrielle Bridge for spearheading this large project and to local volunteers supporting ongoing revegetation activities.

For further information on the Yackandandah Landcare Group, its projects or membership please contact the Kiewa Catchment Landcare Groups facilitator on facilitator@kclg.org.au / 0407 227 814.