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 Hordern Vale Glenaire Landcare Group extends from Johanna 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 Hordern Vale Glenaire 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 Hordern Vale Glenaire Landcare Group
Hordern Vale Glenaire Landcare Group Membership Form
The Otway Barham Catchment Landcare Group includes the settlement of Marengo and half of the township of Apollo Bay. 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 Otway Barham Catchment Landcare Group
Otway Barham Landcare Membership
The Apollo Bay Landcare Group includes the valleys of Skenes Creek and the steep and spectacular Wild Dog. Landcare in the Southern Otways was born in this area, primarily out of a concern to control Ragwort. 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 5 groups, encompassing the coastal hamlets of Wye River & Separation Creek, Kennett River, Grey River and Wongarra.
We are an enthusiastic, friendly group who have recently re-established after some challenges. We are currently working on a weed control and revegetation project.
The group is a diverse mix of permanents, weekenders and part time residents. We 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
Interest-groups
The Shrub Club was created to build a community of beginner and experienced volunteers who can 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 grown for volunteers’ use, sold to the local community to raise money for nursery overheads, SOLN projects and provide an environmentally friendly alternative to exotic garden plants or used in large scale revegetation projects on Landcare properties.
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
Contact Southern Otway Beekeepers
Southern Otway Landcare Network Supported by the
Department of Environment,
Land, Water and Planning