Local MP, Bill Sykes has announced that the Victorian Coalition Government is offering a new service to residents in the Mansfield Shire to safely dispose of old cleaning products, left over paint, dead batteries and weedkiller stores around their home.
The Detox Your Home program provides a free service in partnership with the Mansfield Shire to collect potentially dangerous and unwanted household chemical products.
Residents in the Mansfield Shire can dispose of their unwanted household chemicals on:
Date: Saturday 16 June 2012
Time: 8.00am to 11.00am
Location: Council Operations Depot, Lakins Road
Dr Sykes said, “This is an important service funded by the Victorian Government through the Victorian landfill levy, which ensures collected material are treated and recycled, or disposed of safely by a specialist team.
“It provides families with the opportunity to get rid of potentially dangerous products which may be harmful to people, especially young children.”
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith said the Government was committed to protecting Victoria’s environment and ensuring communities are free from harmful chemicals.
“Over time we all develop a collection of old paints and chemicals that are no longer needed,” Mr Smith said.
“However it is important that these items are disposed of correctly to avoid contaminating the environment which we all share and enjoy.
“Detox Your Home recognises the value of a combined effort between government, households and local councils to act responsibly in disposing of potentially harmful and dangerous waste,” he said
Dr Sykes said he encourages residents to make the most of this opportunity and to participate in this collection.
For more information about the Detox Your Home program or how to safely dispose of chemical waste, residents can call 1800 35 32 33 (toll free) or visit www.resourcesmart.vic.gov.au. 

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes has announced the appointment of the new Winton Wetlands Committee of Management to continue the restoration of the wetlands reserve.
The committee was formally appointed by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith.
Dr Sykes said following an expression of interest process which commenced in January, the new committee has been selected and would meet in the near future to progress the project.
“The committee brings a wide range of skills and experience and will provide locally-based decision making,” he said.
“One of its key roles will be to provide a key link for sharing information and knowledge between government, stakeholders and the community.
“I am looking forward to working with the committee to ensure maximum community ownership, maximum benefits for our community, socially and economically, as well as maximising environmental benefits.
“I recently attended the fifth anniversary of the rehabilitation of Heart Morass near Sale. The strong sense of community ownership and massive input from many sectors of the community provides a great example for the Winton Wetlands project.”
Mr Dennis O’Brien has been appointed chair of the new committee along with members:
• Mr Douglas Bain
• Mr Robert Carolane
• Ms April Merrick
• Ms Rowena Ellis
• Mr Tony McIlroy
• Mr Brian McLennan
• Ms Suzanne Martin
• Mr Michael Reid
Dr Sykes thanked the outgoing committee, which was appointed following the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan in 2009, for their contribution to the management of the project.
The Winton Wetlands Reserve consists of 3000 hectares of wetlands surrounded by more than 5500 hectares of redgum and box grassy woodlands.
The project aims to create a major wetlands facility for nature based tourism, education and research.
The Winton Wetlands Committee of Management is an incorporated committee of management under the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978.
For further information about the project visit www.wintonwetlands.org.au

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes today announced that the Honeysuckle Recreational Environment project will receive $185,090 as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s $20 million Communities for Nature grants program.
The funding will be used to improve the quality of the creekline grassy woodland vegetation of the creek in Violet Town.
Dr Sykes said, “This is fantastic news and will help in increasing the habitat available for the squirrel glider and other fauna and flora species.
“As I said in Parliament this week when speaking on the Murray Darling Basin Plan, in regional Victoria we interact closely with nature every day and it is important that we protect and look after our natural environments.
Sue Paton, Chairperson of the Honeysuckle Recreational Environment Project said, “We are delighted to receive this funding and it enables the group to continue with the project and move onto Stage 2.
“Stage 2 will focus on further involving the local community with what we’re doing and restoring indigenous vegetation within the Violet Town recreational precinct. Stage 1 focused on the walking tracks and plantings.”
Dr Sykes said the project will also work to achieving a greater understanding of the outcomes the restoration work achieves through monitoring of the site.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith highlighted the important role Victorian communities’ play in protecting our environment and delivering on-the-ground environmental works.
“Communities for Nature delivers on the Coalition Government’s election commitment to provide practical assistance to local communities so that they can improve, protect and conserve our environment,” Mr Smith said.
A total of 117 projects will be supported in this funding round. This includes funding of up to $10,000 for 58 small projects and funding between $10,000 and $150,000 for 59 large projects across the state.

“I congratulate community groups and land managers across Victoria for participating in this funding round and for their ongoing hard work in protecting our environment and delivering on-the-ground environmental works.
“We received more than 300 applications for this first round of grants and the high quality of those applications is yet another demonstration of the significant environmental works that are being carried out by community groups across Victoria,” Mr Smith said.
For more information about the program, please visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/communitiesfornature.

 Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes today announced that the Strathbogie Ranges Conservation Management Network Inc will receive $137,355 as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s $20 million Communities for Nature grants program.
The funding for the network will be used for a specific project titled ‘Strathbogie Ranges: Farm Wetlands for threatened woodlands’.
Dr Sykes said, “This is fantastic news for the area covered by the network which includes Warrenbayne, Samaria, Lima, Toorour, Boho, Balmattum and Euroa. As I said in Parliament this week when speaking on the Murray Darling Basin Plan, in regional Victoria we interact closely with nature every day and it is important that we protect and nurture our natural environments.
Facilitator of the Strathbogie Ranges Conservation Management Network, Bertram Lobert said, “The ‘Farm Wetlands for Threatened Woodlands’ project will enhance and protect biodiversity hotspots in farming landscapes within the ‘woodland zone’ around the northern Strathbogie Ranges.
“Stock-proof, revegetated farm dams with both shallow and deep water are critical to the conservation of wetland biodiversity in this region.
“The project will demonstrate multiple benefits for landholders, downstream water quality, wildlife and the broader landscape.”
Dr Sykes said the project will include determination of the species distribution of all local frog species, including two threatened species, engaging local communities through a variety of community activities and best practice demonstration sites of farm-dam-to-wetland transformation and follow up cost share funding for at least 12 other landholders.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith highlighted the important role Victorian communities’ play in protecting our environment and delivering on-the-ground environmental works.
“Communities for Nature delivers on the Coalition Government’s election commitment to provide practical assistance to local communities so that they can improve, protect and conserve our environment,” Mr Smith said.
A total of 117 projects will be supported in this funding round. This includes funding of up to $10,000 for 58 small projects and funding between $10,000 and $150,000 for 59 large projects across the state.

“I congratulate community groups and land managers across Victoria for participating in this funding round and for their ongoing hard work in protecting our environment and delivering on-the-ground environmental works.
“We received more than 300 applications for this first round of grants and the high quality of those applications is yet another demonstration of the significant environmental works that are being carried out by community groups across Victoria,” Mr Smith said.
For more information about the program, please visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/communitiesfornature.

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes today announced that community and Landcare groups throughout the Benalla Electorate will receive funding as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s $20 million Communities for Nature grants program.
Some of the local projects include $10,000 to the Broken River Environment Group Inc, $59,615 to the Greta Valley Landcare Group and $30,000 to the Regent Honeyeater Project Inc.
Dr Sykes said, “The Broken River Environment Group Inc will focus on the Goomalibee Pilot Macrofauna Baseline Survey. The survey aims to establish a regular monitoring of macrofauna in the Goomalibee area and make contributions to the Victorian Wildlife Atlas. The project will also continue ongoing roadside regeneration.
“The Greta Valley Landcare Group will use the funding to increase native vegetation and habitation within the Greta Valley, increase community awareness about native habitat and native fauna requirements and to complement other programs in the Greta Valley such as DSE’s Biolink Project and waterway protection sites.
“The Regent Honeyeater Project will continue their successful and ongoing work to boost populations of several threatened species through protecting remnant vegetation and restoring ecosystem functions. Activities include fencing, planting, direct seeding, mistletoe pruning, environmental weeding and feral animal control.”
Dr Sykes said, “The Regent Honeyeater Project, led by the passionate Ray Thomas, has resulted in the planting of over half a million trees over more than 13 hundred hectares, recreating a habitat for the endangered species such as the Regent Honeyeater, the squirrel glider and many other native animals.”
Regent Honeyeater Project co-ordinator Ray Thomas said, “This is the first large scale program on a State level we have been able to apply for funding. It is a marvellous initiative run at a very high calibre and I congratulate the State Government of the Communities for Nature system.”
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith highlighted the important role Victorian communities’ play in protecting our environment and delivering on-the-ground environmental works.
“Communities for Nature delivers on the Coalition Government’s election commitment to provide practical assistance to local communities so that they can improve, protect and conserve our environment,” Mr Smith said.
A total of 117 projects will be supported in this funding round. This includes funding of up to $10,000 for 58 small projects and funding between $10,000 and $150,000 for 59 large projects across the state.

“I congratulate community groups and land managers across Victoria for participating in this funding round and for their ongoing hard work in protecting our environment and delivering on-the-ground environmental works.
“We received more than 300 applications for this first round of grants and the high quality of those applications is yet another demonstration of the significant environmental works that are being carried out by community groups across Victoria,” Mr Smith said.
For more information about the program, please visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/communitiesfornature.

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes today announced that the Euroa Environment Group Inc will receive $385,000 as part of the Victorian Coalition Government’s $20 million Communities for Nature grants program.
The funding will be used for the Sevens Creeks Restoration project which aims to increase the long term viability of the Sevens Creek land and water habitat values.
Dr Sykes said, “This is fantastic news and will enable the Euroa Environment Group to implement a strategic plan over four years to protect the environment, aid revegetation and take into consideration community desires. This is particularly important as the creek is viewed as a major town asset.
“As I said in Parliament this week when speaking on the Murray Darling Basin Plan, in regional Victoria we interact closely with nature every day and it is important that we protect and nurture our natural environments.
Shirley Saywell from the Euroa Environment Group said, “This funding gives us a brilliant opportunity to implement the Sevens Creek Management Plan. The works program will allow the community to re-connect to the local landscape and restore habitat values to the Creek Reserve.”
Dr Sykes said the project will also include increasing the viability of the threatened species that inhabit the Sevens Creek and involving the local community through local action.
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith highlighted the important role Victorian communities’ play in protecting our environment and delivering on-the-ground environmental works.
“Communities for Nature delivers on the Coalition Government’s election commitment to provide practical assistance to local communities so that they can improve, protect and conserve our environment,” Mr Smith said.
A total of 117 projects will be supported in this funding round. This includes funding of up to $10,000 for 58 small projects and funding between $10,000 and $150,000 for 59 large projects across the state.

“I congratulate community groups and land managers across Victoria for participating in this funding round and for their ongoing hard work in protecting our environment and delivering on-the-ground environmental works.
“We received more than 300 applications for this first round of grants and the high quality of those applications is yet another demonstration of the significant environmental works that are being carried out by community groups across Victoria,” Mr Smith said.
For more information about the program, please visit www.dse.vic.gov.au/communitiesfornature.

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes welcomes the removal of understory and dead timber from 10 cross over points on the Hume Freeway near Longwood.
“This work is being done in response to local CFA brigade requests to improve safety of the cross overs for when they are attending fires and motor vehicle accidents.”
Dr Sykes said VicRoads have undertaken these works in consultation with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Strathbogie Shire and are ensuring the protection of endangered flora whilst removing the understory which presents an unacceptable risk to emergency service and other vehicles.
Longwood CFA captain, Graeme Seach said, “I am extremely pleased that VicRoads have undertaken this work as the local CFA are often called to attend accidents on the freeway and bushfires.
“The removal of the understorey will allow CFA and other emergency service vehicles to safely cross the north and south bound lanes of the freeway during emergencies.”
Dr Sykes said that it is anticipated that the vegetation clearance will also make it safer for other heavy vehicles to use the cross overs in the event of Hume Freeway closures due to accidents or fires.
Regional Manager VicRoads, Graham Freestone said, “The work involves the removing the middle shrub layer, fallen timber, stumps and lower branches on mature eucalypts, while still retaining the ground cover and trees.
“The ten crossings will undergo fuel reduction for 60 metres either side of the crossing. Significant ground cover exists on all uncleared areas which requires the removal of vegetation by hand to minimise disturbance to the area.
“Environmental field assessments have been carried out and DSE has granted approval to remove some native vegetation for the purpose of bushfire risk mitigation.
“The works are supervised by a VicRoads environmental officer to ensure areas with protected flora and fauna are identified and preserved. Areas where protected species are located will be permanently defined to protect against any inadvertent slashing in future.”
Mr Freestone said that a number of flora and fauna have been identified for protection, including the Euroa Guinea Flower, Black-anther Flax-Lily, Acacia penninervis and Mitchell's Wattle.”

The Heart Morass Committee of Governors is celebrating the five year anniversary of the Heart Morass wetland restoration project.

Member for Benalla and Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Industries Bill Sykes attended the launch today on behalf of the Minister for Water, Peter Walsh and toured the transformed wetlands.

“The five year anniversary provides an opportunity to commend the realisation of a 10 year vision for the local community and its many partners,” Dr Sykes said.

“This project is a great example of a diverse partnership that is working towards a common vision – to develop the wetland as an icon within Australia and the rest of the world.”

The restoration project began in 2007 when Field and Game Australia’s Wetland Environmental Taskforce public fund (WET Trust) invested more than $1.1 million to purchase a property which covered 750 hectares of the Heart Morass wetland.

This was followed by the purchase of an additional property in 2009. The entire property is now 1050 hectares in size and features wetlands, red-gum woodlands and over 8 kilometres of the lower Latrobe River.

“Over the past five years the Heart Morass wetland has undergone a remarkable transformation from a barren, saline landscape into a flourishing and ecologically diverse wetland system,” Dr Sykes said.

The success of the restoration project is the result of a partnership between Field and Game Australia, BugBlitz Trust, Hugh DT Williamson Foundation, Watermark Inc. and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA).

WGCMA chief executive officer Martin Fuller said the project was one of the largest ecological restoration projects on private land in Australia.

“The restoration process has helped to enhance the environmental, cultural, social and economic values of the Heart Morass, which ultimately contributes to the health of the Gippsland Lakes system,” Mr Fuller said.

“Ideal seasonal conditions throughout last year have helped to speed up the rehabilitation process, contributing to the best ecological conditions seen within the wetland in decades.”

Member for Benalla and Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Industries, Bill Sykes said today that the Victorian Coalition Government has increased its enforcement of established weeds and pest animals on private property.
Dr Sykes said improved programs of enforcement of regionally controlled weeds and pest animals have been established throughout north east Victoria and include the control of blackberry, serrated tussock, gorse, ragwort and rabbits.
He said, “State wide the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has more than doubled property inspections in a bid to target land owners who fail to control weeds which present a threat to agriculture.
“As a result of this crackdown around 564 properties in the North East catchment area have been inspected over an area of approximately 28,549 hectares with over 100 properties being issued with Land Management Notices or Directions Notices. In several cases infringement notices have been issued.
“In the Goulburn Broken catchment area over 232 properties have been inspected covering an area of approximately 23,083 hectares. Over 54 properties have been issued with Land Management Notices or Directions Notices, three with infringement notices and one prosecution is pending.”
Dr Sykes said, “In an electorate like Benalla, where such a variety of weeds are threats in different areas, a higher level of enforcement is required and this will continue to be the case.”
Minister for Agriculture, Peter Walsh said, “This government allocated an additional $21.2 million in the State Budget to boost the fight against weeds and pests and this investment is paying off.”
Mr Walsh said that during July to December 2011 DPI officers have inspected 2,768 properties across the state compared to just 1,290 for the same period in 2010.
He said, “This government is committed to taking action on those landholders who allow their properties to become a haven for weeds and pests.”
Mr Walsh said the former Labor Government had walked away from controlling widespread weeds such as gorse and blackberry.
“The fact that more than one in five properties inspected required an improvement notice is proof the state wend backwards under Labor’s lax approach.”
Mr Walsh said DPI inspectors would target weed enforcement actions to support communities where landholders were working together to coordinate pest control action, for example through Landcare groups or weed taskforces.
The department is implementing 90 weed enforcement projects across Victoria to support community-led action on weeds.

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes advises Landcare groups, networks and related NRM groups that Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for 2012-2013 Landcare Grants.
Dr Sykes said, “Landcare groups and networks throughout north east Victoria make a valuable contribution to the conservation of our landscape and these grants provide an opportunity for the continuation of this important work.
“The Victorian Landcare Grants will fund small maintenance and start up grants for new groups or networks to ensure the continuation of a strong Landcare base throughout north east Victoria.
“Larger project grants will also be funded which could include education, training, community development and on ground works.”
Small grants will be funded up to $1,000 with project grants of up to $10,000 available for small projects. Larger projects of more than $10,000 must have a minimum of 50 per cent on ground works and show at least equivalent in-kind contribution.
Expressions of Interest will be considered by North East Catchment Management Authority and must be received by 9am, Friday 24 February 2012.
Further information and EOI forms are available from the NECMA website at www.necma.vic.gov.au/Funding&Grants.