This group is concerned by the land degradation problems of reosion, loss of vegetation, dryland salinity, acidity, poor water quality and rabbit, fox and weed infestation.  To address the pest problem the group employs a part time coordinator, who organises coordinated control programs and is also a contact within and outside the group.

Springhurst Byawatha Hills area.

Fertile river flats, undulating hills and rocky granite outcrops are the main land types in the area. Throughout the nineteenth century, grazing (sheep & cattle) was the major landuse. There was mining on the eastern side of Barnawartha, the area was surveyed into a lot of small land titles which still exist. During the twentieth century, Springhurst became known in agricultural circles as a quality producer of wool, prime lamb and beef products. The richer flats supported a thriving dairy industry including a butter factory in Springhurst. The ground water was of excellent quality and used in the butter factory and for the town supply.

Water quality has now deteriorated to the point where it is unsuitable for drinking. Although the area was not originally heavily timbered on the flats and the slopes, a great deal of tree felling took place.

During the last half of the twentieth century concern about land degradation in the form of erosion, loss of vegetation, increasing dryland salinity, increasingly poor water quality and the inevitable rabbit & weed infestations increased.

Focus of Activities

Since 1988 the group has been invovled in many projects including Rabbit Buster, pasture trials, St John's Wort, Paterson's Curse district campaigns, revegetation trials, field days, slainity revegetation and perennial pasture sowings, tree planting and agro-forestry, Heartlands program, Sustainable Grazing Systems group, Prograze, Environmental Management Systems group, Fox and rabbit poisoning campaigns, Rural City of Wangaratta roadside weed strategy works, tree nursery, firewood plantations and the publication of 'Farm Management and Native Plant Guide.

Several families have been awarded regional and state awards, covering rabbit free status, primary production, weed busters and sustainable agricutlture.

The focus of the the group was defined and strengthened by the development of a Local Area Plan in 2002.  Current projects include ongoing rabbit, fox and weed control, perennial pasture and revegetation, maintaining and increasing membership, Self Drive Eco Tour, and participation in wide scale fox control projects.

The Future

A major concern to the group is the aging rural population and loss of younger peopls from membership.  We need to at least maintain membership to guarantee a well funded, enthusiastic and diverse group.  Also, of course, reduced funding for onground restoration work worries us.

A lot of effort has been put in by the community in the last 10 -20 years to address land degradation. Gully erosion is a challenge in the Byawatha Hills, our area is a high priority salinity area, and there is noticeable die back of eucalypt trees.

On one district property, a recent aerial photograph, compared to a photograph of the same area taken 30 years ago (1971), showed a 46% decline in single isolated trees in a paddock. Of the remaining trees, 50% are predicted to die within the next two decades. This generally holds true for the entire Byawatha area therefore without a major revegetation effort, it is clear that there will be few trees remaining on the majority of district properties in the very near future.

The group is made up of a good mix of larger and smaller land managers and all are most welcome to participate and share experience and knowledge. Meetings are held every 2-3 months, usually in the Springhurst hall.

We have some equipment available for hire to members including boom spray, ute pack spray, seeder and tree planting equipment.  We offier discounts to members for poisoning programs and on weed control programs.

To contact a group member, please contact the local Landcare Coordinator.