Recently appointed Local Landcare Coordinator, Claudia Wythes, formerly of Canowindra, has hit the ground running in her new role with Watershed Landcare.
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Watershed Landcare covers the Mid West regional council area, from Ilford to Gulgong, Goolma down to Kandos Rylestone, and including Mudgee and parts of the Capertee Valley.
Claudia officially took up the job in April as part of the NSW Government's Local Landcare Coordinator Initiative, and is already working on rolling out the Watershed Landcare network's 'Driving sustainable Land Use Project'.
"Expressions of Interest closed early in May and we'll decide on the successful applications before the end of the month, with the on ground work to be completed in this coming spring," Claudia said.
"This new project is about helping landholders to improve landscape function through better grazing management and revegetation, so that they can make their country more productive while the environment also benefits."
"We're helping to fund fencing and other expenses to restore native vegetation and better manage pastures because grasslands need to be grazed to flourish, but grazing needs to be well managed to optimise production and maintain the benefits of natural biodiversity."
"It's an exciting time for Watershed Landcare and my position will help support the volunteers and take up some of the workload of running the organisation. It will also enable us to be more strategic about how we go about things, including delivering on the community plan developed by members."
Claudia Wythes first worked with Watershed back in 2002-2003, after an earlier stint as a Landcare Coordinator in the Dunedoo and Coolah areas.
She then moved on to work with the wool industry in training and leadership programs, before returning to the Landcare sector this year.
"It's a pleasure to be working with grassroots Landcare members again, and with the broader community.
The strategy at Watershed Landcare is to reach out to landholders across the region regardless of whether they have a formal association with Landcare," Claudia said.
"Almost half of our applications for the 'Driving sustainable Land Use Project' have been from non-Landcare members and that's a positive sign that we're extending the Landcare influence well beyond our own 300 members."
