May 16th, 2024Local landholders invited to Healthy Landscapes evening
Landowners with a passion for improving land management practices are invited to join in a special evening to learn more about the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s award-winning Healthy Landscapes program.
The council will host ‘Healthy Landscapes – Growing the Community’ at the Kyneton Town Hall on 24 May, with a panel of local farmers and land managers sharing stories of their journey through the program.
Since its launch in 2018, the Healthy Landscapes program has delivered webinars to more than 2,000 participants, field days to over 500 participants and has enabled positive environmental change to about 4,000 hectares across the shire.
Through the program, landowners are guided on how to implement sustainable land management practices and make their land healthier and productive by using fewer inputs and creating healthier soils and waterways.
The program won the Premier’s Choice Regional Recognition Award at the Premier’s Sustainability Awards in 2021, and more recently was shortlisted as a finalist – and received a High Commendation – in the Sustainability Initiative category of the 2024 LGPro Awards for Excellence.
It is funded by Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council and City of Greater Bendigo, the North Central Catchment Management Authority, Coliban Water, Melbourne Water and the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network. Mount Alexander Shire Council will also join the program in July 2024.
The council’s Director Planning and Environment, Rebecca Stockfeld, said the evening was an opportunity to celebrate the program’s successes and connect with other locals with similar land aspirations, share knowledge and foster collaboration.
“We have heard inspiring stories of positive changes resulting from the Healthy Landscapes program since its implementation, so we’re delighted that the program is truly assisting rural landholders in creating a sustainable future,” she said.
The evening will begin at 6:30pm with registrations essential and more information available through the council.
