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Gippsland › Latest news › Department of Sustainability and EnvironmentBudding Environmentalists Called To BloomMore than half of the agricultural land in Victoria is managed by Landcare groups, some of which will soon be officially recognised at the 2005 Victorian Landcare Awards. By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 16th June 2005 - Back to News Nominations for the bi-annual awards are now open and Landcare organisers are seeking inspiring individuals, schools, farmers, community groups and environmental groups to take part in this year’s awards.
Statewide Co-ordinator of Victoria’s Landcare program, Mr David Lucas, said that 12,000 rural Victorian properties currently involve voluntary Landcare work.
"It’s impossible to overstate the contribution that Landcare volunteers make to both the health of the Victorian environment and local communities," Mr Lucas said.
"There are about 1,300 Landcare groups working on various projects across Victoria, ranging from ingenious ways to save water to protecting wildlife habitat.
"There’s growing acceptance of the fact that effective and happy communities are those that have grass roots organisations firmly in place and there’s no doubting the social contribution that Landcare makes in this way," he said.
The Landcare awards recognise environmental projects that have significantly improved the Victorian environment.
Winners of Victorian Landcare Awards automatically qualify for entry into the National Awards in September.
"The Awards are a genuine opportunity for individuals or groups to be recognised as the best in caring for our land," Mr Lucas said.
"By taking things like the health of the environment into local hands, communities develop a real sense of ownership and pride in their surrounds and the awards feed this positive momentum," he said.
Entries for this year’s Victorian Landcare Awards close on Friday 1st July 2005. Non-Landcare members are welcome to enter and winners will be announced by the Governor of Victoria, John Landy, and the Minister for Environment, John Thwaites, at an event at Government House in Melbourne on 7th September.
The 2005 Victorian Landcare Awards are being organised by the Victorian Catchment Management Council in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment and Landcare Australia Limited, with support from the Victorian Farmers Federation.
To download a summary brochure for the National and Victorian Landcare Awards, including the conditions of entry and application requirements please got to www.landcare.net.au. For further information contact the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com

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