The Tilba Tilba and South Narooma Land Care Group has decided to broaden its local activities affecting the district’s local environment.
Members attending the recent 2020 annual general meeting unanimously agreed to work
collaboratively with other local groups to improve the natural landscape, waters and ecology in the district.
President of the group Geoff Pryor said that while the group would continue to target measures to control and reduce fireweed, the time had come to broaden its focus to cover other significant local environmental issues. These included:
· controlling or eradicating invasive species of both fauna and flora, especially weeds;
· maintaining and building healthier soils and waters;
· sustaining a viable local climate-resilient ecology; and
· work collaboratively with all relevant stakeholders to achieve positive long term sustainable outcomes for, and to protect, the region’s landscape, waters and general ecology.
Mr Pryor said, “This is an important step for our group and for the district. There are many active and hardworking groups in our area which focus on particular aspects of the environment or perhaps just one single issue. We see our group’s role as working together long term with all stakeholders to protect the beautiful environment of our area.”
“We have outstanding natural and cultural assets in our district with tremendous potential. However they need to be recognized and protected if they are to continue to flourish. Owning or leasing land in the district is a vital economic activity but it also brings with it an obligation to enhance and protect the area.”
“We don’t want to look back and wish that we had done more to retain our magnificent area.”
The group has prepared a detailed strategy document to focus on its expanded plans. This includes organising in the near future a community forum and other events to identify key issues. It is also interested in attracting like minded locals to become group members. Membership enquiries can be made to Mark Stubbings on stubbingsmark@gmail.com or 0414 223 925.
In the interim, Mr Pryor said that the group remained concerned with fireweed, about which it will lobby the Federal and State Government and the candidates in the upcoming Eden-Monaro by-election. The aim is to secure urgent funding to research the ways to control fireweed as well as consider other on-ground approaches.
Image: Josh Burkinshaw Images: Mother Gulaga looking over Tilba Tilba on the South Coast.
