Ecoportal

North East Regional Sustainability Alliance (NERSA) Bi-monthly meeting
2023-06-05 10:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne)
The North East Regional Sustainability Alliance (NERSA) is a network of community sustainability groups which acts collaboratively with communities, agencies and organisations across the region. Meetings are held every two months. Anyone is welcome to attend.
This meeting will be held in the video-conference room at the GoTAFE/CSU campus in Wangaratta. You may join us face to face or zoom in. Please contact Jenny Davies for the zoom link. Email address: jdjbdavies@gmail.com

Renewable Electrification, Wangaratta.
2023-06-04 09:30 - 12:00
All welcome at our community forum to help you understand how to save money by electrifying your life with renewables.
Hear form speakers Hon Dr Helen Haines, MP for Indi, Kate Minter, Managing Director Rewiring Australia, John Naylor, Clean Energy Lead, WLS, followed by Q&A.
Business and Community displays include solar systems, heat pump hot water, electric ride on lawn mowers and garden equipment, electric cars, induction cooking, and reverse cycle airconditioning.
Coming? Please register by downloading the flyer and following the Eventbrite link, or use the QR code.

Friends of Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park
2023-06-04 09:00 - 14:00, 2023-05-06 09:00 - 14:00
Every month we meet to do some useful work in the Park (weeding, planting, infrastructure repair and installation etc). We often go for a wander after a short meeting where we consume the traditional Chiltern Bakery bun. Everyone is welcome. Call Mick Webster 0429017229 for more information. We always meet at Chiltern PO at 9am.

Border Bushwalking Club - Mount Buffalo short & sharp
2023-06-04 07:00 - 16:00
There are a number of very short walks on Mt Buffalo that give great views. We often pass them by in favour of bigger walks. Whilst they are all fairly steep, they are short and I’m in no rush. Participants can chose to do all or some of the walks on offer.

Lake View: 2km. Great views of Lake Catani. Mostly on footpad with a short Rocky bit at the top.
The Horn: 1km. 360degree views. A lot of steps with a Rocky part that includes a handrail.
The Monolith. 2km. Great views and some history. Narrow track and some steps near the top.
The Old Galleries. 1km. Walking through a rocky wonderland.
Cathedral/ Hump. 2km. Walking past spectacular rock formations and ending with a view. The top part is a s ramble but isn’t compulsory.
Rollasens Falls or Eurobin Falls. If people feel like a short walk on the way down we can add one or both of these.

I’m hoping for a sunny June day but if the weather isn’t good I’ll postpone until Spring.
I’ve graded it grade 3 but it all depends on what you opt in or out of.

Grade 3 Medium
Leader: Bernadette
Phone: 0419241687
Final booking date: Wed May 31st

Key risks & hazards: There are some rocky parts. The walk will only go ahead in fine weather.
For more information and updates about BBC activities, check www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au

Repair Cafe Albury-Wodonga Inc
2023-06-03 10:00 - 13:00, 2023-05-06 10:00 - 13:00
Do you have a broken household item you’d like fixed but need a hand to do so? Then this is your opportunity.
Our Repair Café is a free meeting place to bring along broken household items such as furniture, clothing, textiles and battery-operated appliances and learn how to fix them with the help of experienced, volunteer repairers. You can also bring along small, blunt garden tools like secateurs and we’ll show you how to sharpen them. Maximum three items per person per session. A donation is greatly appreciated for the repair of your items. This covers the cost of our insurance and supplies used for these repairs.
For more information see: https://www.facebook.com/repaircafeaw/
Repair Café Albury-Wodonga is proudly supported by Halve Waste, with morning yummies donated by Kooka Brotha’s patisserie.

Border Bushwalking Club - Beechworth Mayday Hills historical walk
2023-05-28 08:30 - 12:00
This is a repeat of a walk I did late last year as part of the Federation weekend. The walk will take us through the grounds of the former Beechworth Asylum/psychiatric hospital, Mayday Hills, where many of the buildings are virtually unchanged in over 100 years. As we go, I will outline the history of the site and of mental health care in Beechworth, and tell the stories of staff and patients in a respectful way. I have been researching the history of the site for five years with colleagues from Charles Sturt University. At the end of the walk, refreshments are available at the bistro in the grounds, or you can bring a Thermos and sit under the trees.
This will be a morning walk that will last about 2 hrs.

Grade 1 Easy
Leader: Eileen Clark
Phone: 0412 042 195
Participant numbers:12
Final booking date: Thursday 25 May
Key risks & hazards: Cold weather, slippery footpaths, traffic.
For more information and updates about BBC activities, check www.borderbushwalkingclub.com.au

Lockhart's Gap and Mitta Mitta with Albury Wodonga Field Naturalists
2023-05-27 09:00 - 15:00
Albury Wodonga Field Naturalists outing. Members please meet at Lockhart’s Gap, Victoria and then the group will proceed to Mitta Mitta.
BYO everything.
Leader for the day is David and he can be contacted on 0409 954 475.

Park Volunteer morning
2023-05-25 09:00 - 11:00
Join Parklands Rangers undertaking a variety of practical park stewardship tasks in this beautiful reserve.
This is an opportunity to work alongside our Rangers experiencing the ‘how to’ of caring for our local bush. Tasks will vary month to month and according to the season and your capacity. You may be doing a flora survey, removing redundant fences, replacing barbed wire with wildlife friendly plain wire, weeding, checking nestboxes, removing tree guards and more. No experience necessary.
Take in the fresh air, get close to nature and learn about the local environment and how Albury City and community groups are working to protect threatened species, improve habitat and link habitat corridors across the region.
When: 9.00 to 11.00am (2 hrs)
Where: Red Light Hill. Meet at the Fenchurch Rd playground (102 Fenchurch Rd), Springdale Heights.
What is supplied: All tools and any specific safety equipment needed.
What to bring: BYO drinking water. For your safety, please wear covered shoes (preferably boots), long pants, long sleeves and a hat.
Please register! Sometimes things change at the last minute and we need to be able to contact volunteers. REGISTER HERE
Thank you to Albury City Council for financial support for this program.

Whistle Stop High Tea
2023-05-21 12:00 - 17:00
Back by popular demand is this gourmet bike ride on the High Country Rail Trail, with spectacular views of Lake Hume and the hills beyond.
The ride is 24 km from Huon Reserve, over the Sandy Creek Bridge, along the shoreline of Lake Hume to Tallangatta and return.
Bike riders leave Huon Reserve, off the Murray Valley Highway, at 1.30pm. Registration from 1pm.
Traditional 1950’s style high tea served at Sandy Creek Bridge and Tallangatta.
Tickets $30/adult, $10/youth, children under 12 free. Family group $60 (2 adults, 2 youth over 12)
Bookings are essential! Please REGISTER HERE

Registrations close Wednesday 17th May to allow event catering.

Brought to you by the volunteers of the High Country Rail Trail Action Groups (Bonegilla and Tallangatta), all funds raised go towards improvements on the rail trail.

Local legends – best indigenous plants for gardens - FULLY BOOKED
2023-05-21 09:00 - 11:30
This event is FULLY BOOKED – please add your name to our TryBooking waiting list (link below) if you’d like to be notified of a vacancy.
Join Our Native Garden Nursery volunteers as they share their top plant recommendations during a tour of an exclusively indigenous East Albury garden on Sunday 21 May 2023.
Choice of two tour times, 9.00-10.00am OR 10.30-11.30am. Ticket-holders will be advised of address on or before Friday 19 May.
Tickets $5, with bookings essential by 5pm on Thu 18 May: https://www.trybooking.com/CGZSO
This event is brought to you by WULN’s Gardens 4 Wildlife Albury-Wodonga and Our Native Garden Nursery, with generous support from AlburyCity.
Tickets non-refundable.

Guided walk to Mt Wills
2023-05-20 09:00 - 15:00
Victoria’s highest mountain, Bogong (Warkwoolowler in the Waywurru and Dhudhuroa languages) is protected in the Alpine National Park.
Bogong connects on the eastern side with Mt Wills. This is all high elevation woodland and forests, and is the route by which the famous Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) leaves Bogong as it heads towards the Snowy Mountains. The 700 km long AAWT crosses the Alps from Walhalla to the outskirts of Canberra, and descends Long Spur from the summit of Bogong to Mt Wills before turning south and dropping into the valley of the Mitta Mitta River.
Mt Wills itself is a magical ‘island in the sky’ of isolated snow gum woodland, largely dominated by older trees. While it is connected by the long and high ridge back to Bogong, mostly the land around the mountain falls away to deep river valleys and forests that are initially dominated by Alpine Ash.
A new threat to these mountains
The higher mountain areas are largely intact, although significant areas have been burnt, often several times in close succession, in recent years. And now there is a threat posed by logging in the area where the AAWT/ Long Spur track starts the climb up to Mt Wills, which would create a large clear cut area of more than 100 hectares.
There are four coupes in total planned for the Long Spur area: three where the AAWT starts the climb up into the intact snow gum woodlands of Mt Wills and one closer to Bogong itself. This last one is a worry because it is in the headwater area of the Big (Mitta Mitta) River, which flows from a valley between Mt Bogong and the Bogong High Plains. The Mitta is one of the most important rivers in the state and feeds the Dartmouth Dam, and then the Murray River.
The coupes are listed in the Victorian government’s Timber Release Plan, and scheduled for logging any time between now and 2026.
These coupes contain ‘modeled old growth’ according to VicForests surveys.
In recent years there has been substantial logging to the north and north west of Mt Wills, along the edge of the Omeo Highway. These new coupes will push further into the wilder country of the higher mountains and will directly impact on the AAWT. The old forests of Mt Wills are of incredibly high ecological value, and having fire prone regrowth forests down hill on the north western side of the mountain poses a significant long term threat to these forests.
Public walk to Mt Wills and the proposed coupes
Saturday May 20
If this concerns you, please join us for a walk to Mt Wills on Saturday May 20. It is about a 90 minute walk up a good 4WD track to reach the summit, where we will explore the old growth snow gum woodlands.
We will then lead interested people to visit some of the forests along the AAWT that are listed to be logged.
Please arrive by 9am for a 9.30am sharp start. The walk will finish by 3pm.
Note that this is an isolated area, roughly a 6 hour drive from Melbourne, so plan to arrive in the area on Friday night.
This is a free event. Please RSVP. We will then send you all the details on what gear you will need, local accommodation options, and the meet point for the walk.

Book launch - Underground Lovers, Encounters with Fungi
2023-05-19 18:00 - 19:30
BOOK LAUNCH – Underground Lovers – Encounters with Fungi
Alison Pouliot will be giving a talk and launching her new book, Underground Lovers. Come along to hear some stories from Alison’s adventures during the writing of the book and take a close look at the great line up of fungi on display.
Once overlooked, fungi are the exhilarating new poster organisms reconfiguring our understanding of the natural word and capturing the public imagination.
Alison’s new book, Underground Lovers presents compelling questions and insights about fungi but is also an intimate celebration of their astonishing beauty and complexity.
It melds science and personal reflection to explore overlooked themes, among them – fungi and fire, fungi and climate change, fungi and aesthetics, fungi in ecosystem restoration, and fungi and indigenous wisdom. The book explores fungi through first-hand stories – from the Australian desert to Iceland’s glaciers to America’s Cascade Mountains. We’ll dwell with fungal allies and aliens, discover how fungi hold forests together, and why humans are deeply entwined with these unruly renegades of the subterrain.
What can we learn from the lives of fungi? Underground Lovers brings us to our knees, magnifier in hand, to find out.
Drinks and nibbles provided. Stay and catch up with friends and new acquaintances, and take a close look at the fungi on display.
While this is a free event please register and let us know if you subsequently can’t attend.
More information 0427 287 285.

Park Volunteer morning
2023-05-18 09:00 - 11:00
Join Parklands Rangers undertaking a variety of practical park stewardship tasks in this beautiful reserve.
This is an opportunity to work alongside our Rangers experiencing the ‘how to’ of caring for our local bush. Tasks will vary month to month and according to the season and your capacity. You may be doing a flora survey, removing redundant fences, replacing barbed wire with wildlife friendly plain wire, weeding, checking nestboxes, removing tree guards and more. No experience necessary.
Take in the fresh air, get close to nature and learn about the local environment and how Albury City and community groups are working to protect threatened species, improve habitat and link habitat corridors across the region.
When: 9.00 to 11.00am (2 hrs)
Where: Meet on Weelands Rd, Glenroy
What is supplied: All tools and any specific safety equipment needed.
What to bring: BYO drinking water. For your safety, please wear covered shoes (preferably boots), long pants, long sleeves and a hat.
Please register! Sometimes things change at the last minute and we need to be able to contact volunteers. REGISTER HERE.
Thank you to Albury City Council for financial support for this program.

Youth Participation 101 - workshop for volunteer managers
2023-05-17 09:00 - 12:00
Are you a volunteer manager hoping to involve more young people in your environmental projects? Do you need guidance to boost how your project or group engages young people effectively?
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has partnered with Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) to deliver two free interactive online workshops.
Spaces are limited to 30 participants so please only register for attendance if you’re confident in your availability to participate.
Youth participation 101 – Wednesday 17 May, 9 am – 12 pm
This interactive session will engage your passion and fill up your group’s toolbox for effective youth participation.
For more information and to register: Youth Participation 101 for Environmental Volunteer Managers, Hosted online, Wed 17th May 2023, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm AEST | Humanitix
Please email fstirling@YACVic.org.au if you have any questions about workshop content or you have a specific access request.
Interested to learn more but can’t attend the workshops? You can read up on what ten young Victorians had to say about volunteering for nature or have a look at the environmental volunteer youth ready assessment and guide.

Webinar - Tackling invasive pests at the Public/Private interface
2023-05-16 19:00 - 20:00
Landholders are invited to attend a webinar that will discuss how a coordinated and prioritised approach can treat invasive weeds and pest animals on public land, where it adjoins private land.
Mel Birleson – Good Neighbour Project Officer, DEECA, will present on how the Good Neighbour Program complements your weed and pest control efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species, protect your property, and sustain our natural environmental assets.
Andrew Griffiths – Natural Resources Co-Ordinator from Wodonga Council will outline how to determine land tenure, the weeds and pests of concern to Council, how to contact your Council and what assistance may be available for pest and weed control on council land.

Leneva Enviro Hub working bee
2023-05-16 11:00 - 12:00
Join Parklands Rangers and Leneva residents to revamp the old Leneva School and Hall sites and bring this environmental hub back to life.
A series of working bees are enhancing this 10 hectare remnant Box Gum Grassy woodlands site and improve environmental education opportunities for local schools and community. All are welcome.

When: On the third Tuesday morning of every month, 11am to midday, then stay for a sausage and a yarn with us.
Where: Park on the Leneva Hall service track and meet outside the old school gates.
What: Bush restoration and facilities improvements including planning and creating interactive visitor activities, removing woody weeds and other invasives such as Watsonia bulbs and Bridal creeper, cleaning up the site and removing old fences, monitoring of nest boxes, installing new fencing..
What is provided: All tools, materials and personal protective equipment is provided as is Ranger induction and session leadership.
What to bring: Participants must wear covered shoes (boots) and long pants at all sessions, preferably long sleeves as well, bring your own hat and water bottle and dress for the weather. Current Covid safety measures must also be followed.

Please book in for each session you intend to join (so we have enough sausages!). REGISTER HERE

Bright Area with Albury Wodonga Field Naturalists
2023-05-13 09:30 - 15:00
Field Naturalists Albury Wodonga outing. Meet near the Toilet Block/Picnic area located in the Porepunkah Park on the left hand side next to the bridge over the Ovens River at 9.30am.
Leader for the day is Bernie and he can be contacted on 0490 497 032

Regent Honeyeater / Swift Parrot Survey - Chiltern Nat. Park
2023-05-13 08:30 - 15:30
Everyone is invited to help survey for Regents & Swift Parrots in the Chiltern section of Chiltern Mt. Pilot National Park as part of the annual National May Survey for these critically endangered species.
We’re keen to record Swift Parrots and ex captive-released (& wild) Regents that may have already returned to the Park.
Download the Flyer for more details.
RSVP essential to Glen.Johnson@delwp.vic.gov.au ASAP (before 10th May) to assist event planning & catering (lunch provided); and enable provision of essential further information to participants ahead of the event.

Border Bushwalking Club - Mother’s Day walk, Mountain Creek, Tawonga
2023-05-13 07:00 - 14:00
This is a morning walk followed by lunch to get us in the mood for Mother’s Day. There are a number of short walks from the Mountain Creek picnic ground at the base of Mt Bogong. We’ll walk through lush forest vegetation beside gurgling streams then head back to the cars through different, dryer vegetation. There may be an abundance of fungi, and maybe a few fun guys! Walks are designated as easy, on rough foot tracks, with a couple of short steep pinches. Total distance about 10 km. We’ll have lunch beside the river and share stories of our mothers or other significant women in our lives.
Please call me to book on this walk, email and SMS bookings not accepted.

Grade 2 Easy-Medium
Leader: Eileen Clark
Phone: 0412 042 195
Participant numbers:12
Final booking date: 11 May 2023
Snakes, rough or slippery tracks, adverse weather, vehicles, water.
Grade 2 Easy-Medium
Leader: Eileen Clark
Phone: 0412 042 195

Participant numbers:12
Final booking date: 11 May 2023
Snakes, rough or slippery tracks, adverse weather, vehicles, water

Grassy Woodlands research forum
2023-05-12 09:00 - 20:30
Grassy Woodlands Conservation & Research Forum
Friday 12 May, 2023
The North East CMA, together with project Partners are delighted to announce the full-day Forum, that will take place at the Quality Gateway Hotel, Wangaratta.
Hear from a range of industry-leading speakers bringing together the scientific and
farming learnings for the conservation and restoration of the Grassy Woodlands of North East Victoria.
Registrations are now open! https://events.humanitix.com/grassy-woodlands-forum

A Slow Autumn Nature walk with Sue Brunskill & Karen Retra
2023-05-12 09:00 - 11:00
Join passionate naturalists Sue Brunskill and Karen Retra for a slow nature walk in the Baranduda environmental lands.
Come exploring with Sue and Karen and be inspired by their knowledge and enthusiasm for nature from wildflowers, insects and fungi to trees, birds and wildlife.
Where: Meet at the Baranduda Link Access point on Boyes Rd
Google Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/F5yXJnBNBV…
What to expect: You are in for a treat, with many autumn flowering natives, fungi and frogs to be found. Expect to focus on the ‘slow’ and ‘nature’ rather than the walk – exercise is not the priority! Please be aware that we will be walking on slopes, on a natural, unpaved and possibly wet surface.
What to bring: Please wear covered shoes and long pants, bring mozzie protection and sunscreen and dress for the weather. Welcome to bring your camera, binoculars etc.
Registration prior to the event is essential for communication, safety and insurance purposes. REGISTER HERE

Park Volunteer morning
2023-05-11 09:00 - 11:00
Join Parklands Rangers undertaking a variety of practical park stewardship tasks in this beautiful reserve.
This is an opportunity to work alongside our Rangers experiencing the ‘how to’ of caring for our local bush. Tasks will vary month to month and according to the season and your capacity. You may be doing a flora survey, removing redundant fences, replacing barbed wire with wildlife friendly plain wire, weeding, checking nestboxes, removing tree guards and more. No experience necessary.
Take in the fresh air, get close to nature and learn about the local environment and how Albury City and community groups are working to protect threatened species, improve habitat and link habitat corridors across the region.
When: 9.00 to 11.00am (2 hrs)
Where: Norris Ridge. Meet at cnr of Union Rd and Jupiter St, Glenroy
What is supplied: All tools and any specific safety equipment needed.
What to bring: BYO drinking water. For your safety, please wear covered shoes (preferably boots), long pants, long sleeves and a hat.
Please register! Sometimes things change at the last minute and we need to be able to contact volunteers. Register HERE
Thank you to Albury City Council for financial support for this program.

Seed Savers Albury Wodonga Seed Bank Opening
2023-05-06 10:00 - 11:30
Our seed bank will be opening again to give you a final opportunity to get seeds for autumn/winter planting or even for later in the year.
There will also be a discussion about garden insect pests and what to do about them. This is your opportunity to lament those destructive insect pests that invaded your plants (particularly prevalent this summer) and to share methods of controlling them.
If you have seed that you have saved, bring it along to deposit in the seed bank.
If you have excess seedlings or produce, bring them along too.

Growling in the Grass - Taskforce Growler roadshow
2023-05-05 16:00 - 18:00
A family friendly, frog themed event, supporting Taskforce Growler and the return of Growling Grass Frogs to Winton Wetlands.
4-6pm, Friday 5th May
At Mullinmur Billabong, 2 Cambridge Drive, Wangaratta
Register your attendance via: https://www.trybooking.com/CGUOH
Taskforce Growler is a for the conservation and restoration of Growling Grass Frog populations, particularly within Northern Victoria. This Taskforce will participate in a range of activities to assist in rewilding and learning about the species.

Park Volunteer morning
2023-05-04 09:00 - 11:00
Join Parklands Rangers and our Park Stewardship volunteers in Albury’s best bush parks, every Thursday as the seasons unfold.
Every week we will spend 2 hours in Albury’s environmental lands doing practical park tasks.
You will work alongside our Rangers experiencing the ‘how to’ of caring for our bush parks and reserves; undertaking a variety of park maintenance/improvement tasks like removing redundant fences, replacing barbed wire with wildlife friendly plain wire, weeding, checking nestboxes and removing tree guards.
At the same time, you will learn about the local environment and how Albury City and community groups are working to protect threatened species, improve habitat and link habitat corridors across the region.
When: 9.00 to 11.00am (2 hrs)
Where: Albury’s environmental lands including Thurgoona, Red Light Hill, Norris Park, Eastern Hill and others.
Please note that meeting places will change over time as various priority works are completed, so please register online so you can be updated of any changes.

What is supplied: All tools and any specific safety equipment needed.
What to bring: BYO drinking water. For your safety, please wear covered shoes (preferably boots), long pants, long sleeves and a hat.
Please register! Sometimes things change at the last minute and we need to be able to contact volunteers. Please register for the sessions you will attend. REGISTER HERE
Thank you to Albury City Council for financial support for this program.

Greening Albury’s Hotspots at Riverside Vibes, Albury
2023-04-30 13:00 - 13:30
AlburyCity Urban Forest Officer, Leah Warburton will speak about heat Island developing in Albury’s suburbs and ways to address this serious issue through an Urban Forest Strategy.
For more information about Riverside Vibes visit:
alburycity.nsw.gov.au/leisure/arts-and-culture/annual-events/riversidevibes/map-and-event-info

Design a Solar Passive Home or Improving One You've Got at Riverside Vibes, Albury
2023-04-30 12:00 - 12:30
We know that north-facing homes are ‘best’ but is it that simple?
Based on a decade of working closely with building scientists and builders, architect Sarah Lebner will walk you through solar-passive design, addressing questions like ‘How much glass is too much?’, ‘What if I have a west-facing view?’, and ‘What if I want a big wrap-around verandah?’ Sarah will share insight from the perspective of new designs on ideal blocks, new designs on tricky blocks, and renovating/retrofitting existing homes. You are invited to bring along your current home’s floor plan, or your ideas for a renovation/new build as you will be prompted to relate the information presented to your own home during the workshop.
For more information about Riverside Vibes visit:
alburycity.nsw.gov.au/leisure/arts-and-culture/annual-events/riversidevibes/map-and-event-info

Save Birds, Save Life at Riverside Vibes, Albury
2023-04-30 10:30 - 11:00
Rhonda Vile will provide a Bird Walk to families and children (it is advised that all children be accompanied by an adult), and share information on attracting birds to your garden, bird identification tips, and how to get involved in BirdLife Australia programs to Save Birds, Save Life.

For more information about Riverside Vibes visit:
alburycity.nsw.gov.au/leisure/arts-and-culture/annual-events/riversidevibes/map-and-event-info
