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Local Groups

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.

 

Lavers to Lighthouse Landcare Group

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

 

Marengo Barham Landcare Group

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

 

Apollo Bay Landcare Group

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

 

Wye to Wongarra Landcare Group

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

 

Interest-groups

The Shrub Club Community Nursery

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.

Contact SCCN

 

The Southern Otways Beekeepers Club

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

Contact SOBee

 

Otway Ocean Care

Otway Ocean Care (OOC) is a group of volunteers committed to conserving our local marine environment, educating our community about the underwater world and monitoring underwater life to progress science. OOC intend to develop a community of friendly, knowledgeable and energetic people to teach members how to be involved in citizen science projects, conserve our oceans and appreciate their incredible beauty and diversity

Contact OOC

 

Otway Mushroom and Fungi Group

Otway Mushroom and Fungi Group (OMFG) is a newly formed group of beginner and experienced mycologists who hope to bring together a community of volunteers to share their love of foraging and fungi, learn and share their knowledge and contribute to conservation and citizen science. We also hope to track the establishment and spread of two worrying and introduced species; Favolascia calocera (orange pore fungus) and Amanita muscaria (fly agaric).

Contact OMFG

 

Edible Garden Group

The Edible Garden Group (EGG) is a newly amalgamated group of beginner and experienced permaculturalists who hope to bring together a community of volunteers to share their love of gardening and growing food, learn and share their knowledge and contribute to increasing community self sufficiency. We run workshops on things such as grafting as well as seasonal tours of accomplished vegetable gardens in the region.

Contact EGG

 

Otway Bird Observers

The Otway Bird Observers (OBO) welcome members from the Otway Ranges who are interested in learning how to identify and observe bird species found in our region. Our group aims to support local conservation and citizen science activities by fostering personal passion and strong community knowledge about our local feathered friends

Contact OBO

 

Current Projects

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