About Bellinger Landcare

Bellinger Landcare Incorporated is a community-based not-for-profit organisation supporting community initiatives and involvement in natural resource management in Bellingen Shire and beyond.

Organisation Profile | Structure | Goals | Funding | Management

Organisation Profile
Bellinger Landcare is an incorporated, not for profit association which acts as an umbrella organisation for landcare groups in Bellingen Shire and beyond.

The organisation:

• Represents landcarers in the Bellinger - Dorrigo region,
• Advises on processes, organisation and legal matters in environmental restoration,
• Liaises between landcarers, government and technical experts,
• Manages on-ground projects,
• Facilitates environmental conservation works and projects
• Undertakes school and adult education in environmental issues and best practice management,
• Assists landholders to secure funding for on-ground environmental works
• Promotes landcare achievements
• Raises awareness in the community on environmental issues and sustainable agriculture

Structure
The organisation is a group of between 20 and 25 landcare groups. Management of the organisation is through a committee of five to seven elected volunteer members. The management committee meets bi-monthly, the finances of the organisation and all projects are formally reviewed regularly and the accounts are audited annually.

Bellinger Landcare Inc reports to the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. The organisation currently employs two part-time staff who are based in a resource centre in Bellingen and engages a contractor for book keeping services.

Members of Landcare groups are volunteers whose activity occurs on private and public lands. Environmental issues addressed by member groups include the restoration of dune environments, rainforest restoration, farm planning, revegetation of riparian areas on farms with improved management of livestock, river restoration works, erosion control works, feral animal control programs, farm forestry activities, bush food plantations, wildlife surveys, control of environmental weeds and environmental monitoring. These activities change from time to time.

Working in groups makes Landcare an efficient and effective network. The network structure acknowledges that environmental problems don't stop at the farm fence or gate and that sharing of resources and information maximises outcomes.

Goals
Bellinger Landcare Inc promotes practical environmental care in the Bellinger area by supporting and representing member Landcare groups. The organisation aims to raise the awareness and to increase the understanding in the local community of natural resource degradation issues and the need to adopt more sustainable natural resource management practices.

Funding
The organisation is funded by the Australian Government through the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. The organisation contracts directly to the Catchment Management Authority for its primary activity of supporting the community in natural resource management as well as for projects under the National Landcare Program. More about funding

Management Committee
The management committee, elected at the annual general meeting in December 2007: Alan Jarrett, Brian Sherratt, Fiona McMullin, Judy Cooney (secretary), Kerry Child, Martin Riddell (treasurer), Ross Macleay (chair).

Disclaimer
This website contains documents, links and information that is available from the office of Bellinger Landcare Incorporated. This information has been collected from a number of different sources over time and is not necessarily comprehensive.

Best Management Practices are subject to changes and improvement and Bellinger Landcare Inc will update this information as new knowledge becomes available and we leave it to the landholder to decide which method or technique is most appropriate for the particular situation.

Success or otherwise is dependent on many factors, including the operator and the local conditions and Bellinger Landcare offers this information in good faith.

Bellinger Landcare Staff

Revegetation workshop, Dorrigo plateau

Landcare Planting

Shelter Belt