Hi Landcarers

Thanks to those of you who have participated in our community survey. There is still time to be involved!

To ensure that our planning is heading in the right direction and to make the most of opportunities in 2016-17 and beyond, CWLL have opened up a survey to community members to encourage feedback on Landcare related activities, including workshops, on-ground works, training and other opportunities for funding that we can pursue to make a positive difference in our communities.

The questions cover a broad range of options including, but not limited to organics, feral animal control, health, recycling, cropping. It has been encouraging to see the variety of responses that we have already received. Go to our website and click on the link to have your say.

Thanks for your feedback regarding the Looking at Landcare column each week from both Forbes and Parkes papers. It has been reassuring to also have positive feedback on the radio report each week. Thanks everyone!

We have the opportunity during 2016-17 to make a difference on the ground and we want you to be part of it. It is just a quick click and go. Please leave your details if you would like to know the results. If you don’t want to, that is fine. We appreciate the feedback. The survey will close on Tuesday afternoon (16/2). If you don’t have access to the link via the web, just give me a call and I would be happy to take your survey over the phone.

Our first meeting for the year will be held on Wednesday, 17 February at the Forbes RFS headquarters. Mike Futturo, from the RFS will be talking about Rural Fire Safety Plans, so if you are interested in joining us, please RSVP to 6862 4914 or pdlsc@bigpond.com

During the week our Chairperson, Margot Jolly, and myself attended a meeting with the Central West Natural Resource Management Group and the Central West Local Land Services to work towards developing a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organisations.

Even though it might just seem like another piece of paper, the intention is that this MOU will provide a basis to move forward with and set a standard to work from for both organisations in our working together. We found the meeting very positive and look forward to finalising this document as a positive step in moving forward to expand natural resource management in our area.

Don’t forget that the Round Three of the Commonwealth Government’s $1 billion National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF) is now open for applications and will close on 15 March 2016.

Not-for-profit organisations and local governments are eligible to apply for dollar-for-dollar grants of between $20,000 and $10 million. Funding must be matched in cash on at least a dollar for dollar basis, so it’s not for everyone, but this scheme provides a lot of opportunities for amazing progress to be made in our communities.

For more information on anything mentioned in this article, please go to our website at http://www.parkeslandcare.org.au or ring 02 6862 4914.

Until next week, happy Landcaring!