What is Landcare?

Landcare is a volunteer based Australia-wide movement which has grown considerably since its inception in 1989. The Landcare movement is now almost 5000 groups strong across Australia with over 156 groups in the Hunter Region alone. The Landcare ethic is straightforward and practical - working together as a community to help create a healthy environment now and for the future.

Landcare is supported by all levels of government, from federal through to local. Maitland City Council has demonstrated strong support for co-operative Landcare initiatives across the Local Government Area for many years.

Passionate people addressing local urban and rural environmental issues from Landcare groups. Landcare projects focus on improving environmental health in natural systems including bushland, rivers and wetlands, both on farms and in urban areas. Landcare projects aim to address local environmental issues by:

• Establishing native trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges and rushes;
• creating food, shelter and habitat for our local wildlife;
• cleaning our air of pollution and creating oxygen;
• stopping soil erosion;
• improving the health of the soil;
• creating places where people can relax, and come in contact with wildlife;
• Monitoring water quality through the WaterWatch Program.

Local Landcare

Landcare in Maitland began in 1991 as just one group. Today Landcare across the Maitland region encompasses several Landcare groups and projects under the banner of the Hunter Region Landcare Network (HRLN). These groups undertake a variety of activities, including bush regeneration, wetland rehabilitation, urban stream management, rehabilitation of the Hunter River, revegetation of cleared land, community education, native seed collection, plant propagation, nest box construction, weed control and water quality monitoring.

Join a Local Landcare Group

Getting involved in a Landcare project is easy, all you need to do is contact Hunter Region Landcare Network on 4934 8110.

Maitland Region Landcare is a sub-group of the Hunter Region Landcare Network and oversees the undertaking of a number of Landcare projects throughout the Maitland local government area. Recent projects undertaken by Landcare participants by suburb include:

• Bolwarra Landcare are involved in rehabilitating Bolwarra Wetland located on Victoria Road near the Tennis Courts. The Bolwarra Landcare project aims to improve bird habitat and protect a patch of remnant rainforest adjacent to the wetland.
• Maitland Region Landcare group have been working on the Hunter River Rehabilitation project since 1996, this is a joint project with Maitland City Council which involves removing weeds and establishing native vegetation on the banks of the river. The group currently undertake revegetation and weed control at Melville Ford Bridge, Aberglasslyn Road. Maitland Region Landcare also organise local Landcare tours, environmental training, construction of nest boxes and community events.
• East Maitland: work on the management and rehabilitation of One Mile Creek, in Greenhills Gardens located on Garnett Road and Mitchell Drive. This project involves revegetation, bush regeneration, removal of willows and other weeds, and improvement of habitat quality.
• Maitland Environmental Youth Council focus on educational projects and on-ground projects. The group assists in the organization of the annual Youth Forum.
• Largs: ongoing revegetation of a creekline running through the Dunmore Road Community Reserve.
• Metford Public School - Melaleuca Ponds, Metford have established a sensory pathway through bushland on the school grounds, monitoring water quality at Melaleuca Ponds, breeding frogs and growing fresh fruit and vegetables in their permaculture garden.
• Morpeth Common: developing bird habitat and improving water quality at the common.
• Earthcare Park and Education Centre Incorporated: the group has established a bushfood garden, nutrient & sediment control ponds and regenerated degraded bushland at Tenambit.  Further information on this group can be obtained by contacting the Hunter Region Landcare Network.
• Nest Box Project: this activity has seen the construction of over 1,500 nest boxes for local birds and small mammals. Local businesses donate materials and Landcare members construct the boxes which are sold along the Eastern sea board for use in environmental projects. 
  
  In addition to their onground works the Maitland Region Landcare has also produced an education tool titled A Sense of Place in Maitland- Resource Kit for Schools. The kit has been developed to assist schools and the community to broaden their knowledge and understanding of local (Maitland area) natural and cultural heritage, environmental issues and other management and excursion opportunities. A copy of the kit can be accessed from the Landcare Information links below.
• South Maitland Landcare Group participate in the reforestation of the valley between Bishops Bridge and Buchanan to deal with dryland salinity and acid-sulfate soils.
• Oakhampton Landcare focus on the continued rehabilitation of the Hunter River banks including removal of environmental weeds and revegetation of riverbanks, the group also undertake conservation works at Oakhampton Cemetry.
• Rathluba Lagoon Management Committee undertake revegetation around the lagoon, plantings along pathways and have developed a riparian rehabilitation demonstration site on the banks of Wallis Creek.
• Old Wallis Creek, Maitland: revegetation, with a focus on bushfood plants and the management and control of invasive weeds.
• Walka Water Works, Oakhampton: reestablishment of native vegetation, habitat creation and environmental education.
• Ashtonfield Bush Regeneration site is located near Four Mile Creek. The group undertakes weed removal and control, revegetation, litter collection and drain stencilling.
• Millers Forest Progress Association Inc is involved in the Millers Forest Roadside Biodiversity Project. This project aims to re-establish native vegetation in the local area with the provision of habitat for local bird species.

Contact Details:

There is an unlimited amount of work to be done to repair our local environment. The Hunter Region Landcare Network is always keen to hear from people who are interested in lending a hand and getting involved in Landcare activities.  To register you interest phone 4934 8110 or email hrln@hunterlink.net.au. 

Download Landcare Information Below:

• Maitland Region Landcare (PDF - 348kb)
• How To Attract Birds To Your Own Backyard (PDF - 531kb)

A Sense Of Place In Maitland – Resource Kit for Schools has been produced as part of an environmental education pilot project by Maitland Region Landcare, through the New South Wales Government’s Environmental Trust. The resource kit has been the most important material output of the pilot project. It has been developed to assist schools’ and communities’ knowledge and understanding of local (Maitland area) natural and cultural heritage, environmental issues and their management and excursion opportunities. Providing access to and encouraging the use of local information, people and places reflects an important aspect in the development of a local sense of place.