Local landowners invited to celebrate Healthy Landscapes

Last updated on 03 May 2024

Landowners with a passion for improving land management practices are invited to join in a special evening to celebrate and learn more about Council’s award-winning Healthy Landscapes program.

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.

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 commence at 6:30pm. Registrations are essential for this free event. Visit the Environment Events page or call 5422 0333.

Quotes from participants:

“My company has probably spent over a million dollars on my professional development, Harvard and other world-renowned institutions and this is much better than anything I’ve ever done.” ─ Stuart Grainger, Newham

* Stuart is a veteran of the world of Agribusiness from working on farms to CEO of a large food processing plant. He will be one of the panellists at the event.

“If the council is advertising the Healthy Landscapes program as a key strategy to mitigate the climate crisis, they have got a winning horse. There is nothing better to focus on than regenerative agriculture.” – John, Sidonia

Image caption: The 2022/23 participants of the Healthy Landscapes – Holistic Grazing Management Course, with Cr Jennifer Anderson (front left) and Council’s Private Land Conservation Officer Jason McAinch.