Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has released a free, easy reference guide for small landholders in the region.
The Small Blocks Big Dreams Healthy Hectares Guide aims to help small-scale producers, bush block owners and horse and livestock property managers by providing information on a range of topics geared towards creating productive and environmentally sustainable properties.
Originally designed for Small Blocks Big Dreams project participants, the Healthy Hectares Guide is available in hardcopy through Landcare or digitally at the CMA’s website.
Corangamite CMA sustainable agriculture facilitator Karen O’Keefe said her organisation aimed to empower small property owners, many of whom were “tree-changers new to the area”, to think strategically and farm more sustainably.
“The Corangamite region stretches from Ballarat to Geelong and along the coast to Peterborough in the west of Victoria, and is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions,” Ms O’Keefe said.
“The Small Blocks Big Dreams Healthy Hectares Guide is a legacy document that supports existing participants and acts as a bridge for new participants, providing continuity of learnings and inspiring landholders in the future to begin their stewardship journey,” Ms O’Keefe continued.
Small Blocks Big Dreams participant Vicky Bosnar said the program had been very beneficial.
“We have learnt so much, I didn’t want it to stop,” she said.
“When you’ve come from the city to the country you feel a bit overwhelmed that you don’t have any machinery, you have no knowledge, and you’re looking around for who can help you, and Small Blocks Big Dreams has been absolutely fantastic to assist with this.”
Visit ccma.vic.gov.au/projects/small-blocks-big-dreams for more information.
