27 Sep 2017 Mansfield Courier, Mansfield VIC (General News) SANDY Creek, Barjarg, is set to undergo a significant renewal after Mansfields Landcare Alliance received a $42,000 grant to restore the creek area near Lake Nillahcootie last week. The funds were announced as part of a swag of State Government grants for local community groups to protect and further enhance local biodiversity. Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) last week announced the funding as part of the State Governments $4 million Community and Volunteer Action Grants. Ms Symes said local community initiatives throughout Northern Victoria were receiving funding to help protect, improve and expand habitats for Victorias native plants and animals and contribute to the targets in the governments Biodiversity Plan Biodiversity 2037 Protecting Victorias Environment. Many Northern Victorian communities are already hard at work protecting and restoring Victorias unique natural environment, and these grants will further assist in the protection and enhancement of local biodiversity, Ms Symes said. These community group efforts are making a real difference. In the last year many dedicated local community groups in Northern Victoria helped to reduce threats and improve the survival of threatened species. Ms Symes praised Mansfields Landcare network, Up2Us Landcare Alliance, for the networks uncanny knack of continually unearthing government grants to safeguard and improve Mansfields environment. With respect to the Landcare network in Mansfield, they do such a phenomenal job, Ms Symes said. Mansfield must have fantastic grant writers. If all communities had as an effective and active Landcare network as Mansfield, now that would be fantastic. Project officer at Mansfields Up2Us Landcare Alliance, Kim Magnay, said the money will lead to significant environmental progress along Sandy Creek. Its been fantastic to receive a grant, Ms Magnay said. We hope to assist landholders with works along the creek line, reducing erosion, and improving water quality flowing into the lake. The project will also look to promote biodiversity through encouraging the planting of the Silver Banksia and nest boxes for the Brush-tailed Phascogale to the area. Up2Us hopes that this project will complement the previous work done by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority in reintroducing the Silver Banksia to this area, Ms Magnay said. We are also focusing on creating habitat for the Brush-tailed Phascogale. The Phascogale is a shy nocturnal creature and sightings are rare. We look forward to how this project may support the plant and animal ecosystems in and surrounding this area. Caption Text: HAPPY DAYS: Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) (left) met with Mansfields Up2Us Landcare facilitator Kerstie Lee to announce a grant of $42,000 for a habitat restoration of Sandy Creek. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.