If you are a resident or property owner in the Southern Otways, we invite you to consider joining one of the four local Landcare groups that together comprise the Southern Otway Landcare Network. Membership of Landcare has many benefits, including access to funding sources to support environmental land management projects and interest groups, such as the Shrub Club Community Nursery. Many people join Landcare to meet other property owners and share knowledge and skills. Others are simply passionate about the land and environment. Membership fees are only $25.00 a year. You can read more about each group below and view group locations on the map here. Contacts for each group can also be found on our resources page.
The Lavers to Lighthouse Landcare Group (formerly Hordern Vale Glenaire LG) extends from Yuulong up to Wait-a-While Rd and down to Cape Otway. It includes the fertile plains and environmentally significant estuary system of the Aire River and is a mosaic of productive agricultural land and National Park. The Lavers to Lighthouse Landcare Group is also the home of the Conservation Ecology Centre (CEC) who have been undertaking important research into Tiger Quolls, the die-back of Eucalyptus viminalis and other important environmental issues.
Contact Lavers to Lighthouse Landcare Group
Lavers to Lighthouse Landcare Group Membership Form
The Marengo Barham Landcare Group (formerly Otway Barham Catchment LG) includes the settlement of Marengo through to the edge of Apollo Bay (Anderson Creek and Tuxion Rd). Bordered to the west by the Great Otway National Park, the group encompasses the beautiful catchment of the Barham River. The Barham River is a declared Water Supply Catchment and is the domestic water supply catchment for the local community. One of the aims of the Otway Barham Catchment Landcare Group is to rehabilitate the river “from source to sea”.
Contact Marengo Barham Landcare Group
Marengo Barham Landcare Membership
The Apollo Bay Landcare Group includes the township of Apollo Bay and the valleys of Skenes Creek and Wild Dog Creek. Landcare in the Southern Otways was born in this area, primarily out of a concern to control Ragwort and fight logging of old growth forests. The Apollo Bay Landcare Group remains a key force in local Landcare with many members having made significant contributions to environmental rehabilitation on their properties. Whilst continuing concern for weed and pest management, the group also has a strong focus on local environmental issues such as monitoring the nests of the endangered Hooded Plover.
Contact Apollo Bay Landcare Group
Apollo Bay Landcare Membership Form
The Wye to Wongarra Landcare Group is the most easterly of the 4 groups, encompassing the coastal hamlets of Wye River & Separation Creek, Kennett River, Grey River and Wongarra. They are an enthusiastic, friendly group who have recently re-established after some challenges and are currently working on a weed control and revegetation project. The group is a diverse mix of permanents, weekenders and part time residents. They encourage anyone who is interested in joining our group to get in touch.
Contact Wye to Wongarra Landcare Group
Wye to Wongarra Landcare Membership Form
The Shrub Club Community Nursery (SCCN) is a community of beginner and experienced volunteers who collect and propagate plants native to the southern Otway region. It is run by a group of volunteers who meet at 9am every Wednesday at the SOLN support centre down Piggery Lane (off 125 Montrose Ave). Seedlings are sold to the local community onsite and through market stalls and used for revegetation projects and provide an environmentally friendly alternative to exotic garden plants. Any profits made go back into landcare to support their work in the community and environment. We run weekly plant walks on Tuesday afternoons from November through to April to collect seed and cuttings and share our knowledge.
The southern Otway Beekeepers Club (SOBee) are a community support network to promote small scale, domestic bee keeping in the Southern Otway region. SOBee provide a learning and networking environment for beekeepers of all levels including beeginers on how to keep bees, how to be an apiarist and how to harvest honey
African weed orchid
Alison Pouliot Fungi
Barham River restoration
Barwon Water
Ben Hoodless Creek Restoration
Benches SC (Bendigo Bank) (COS) (FRRR) (Stronger Communities) (SW Community Fund)
Children's Week
Coast care 2022
Colin Jevons
Hut Refurishment
Ian Clarke/Carisbrook
Junior landcare 2022
Kennett River
Marengo Cultural Centre
Marine National Parks
National Science Week
National Tree Day
Otway Mushroom and Fungi Group
Pig and Deer
SOBee
Volunteer Growth Fund
Working Bees
Workshops
Southern Otway Landcare Network is supported by Landcare Victoria, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, Colac Otway Shire and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.