Community Projects

Community Engagement and Education

Community engagement and education is of high priority for Pioneer Catchment & Landcare Group Inc.  Since 1992 we have built strong working relationships with community members, local governments and organisations.  PCL aims to serve the community by feeding information both ways between the grass roots, community-based natural resource management (NRM) level and higher levels of coordination and action, including our regional body.  Through close communication, we are able to hear and respond to NRM issues as they are perceived by the community, and NRM priorities established at regional, State and Federal levels.

Key activities that contribute to our engagement and education include:

• Our monthly newsletter distributed to over 500 landholders and community members, communicating regional NRM events, opportunities, information;
• Engagement and participation in a range of relevant groups (e.g., Mackay Regional Pest Management Group);
• Field trips, working bees, community events (e.g. Wetland Open Day, Landcare Day in the Gardens) and displays;
• Regular volunteering programs;
• Support for schools’ environmental activities; and
• Resources on local native vegetation including Plant Information sheets, revegetation assistance for landholders.

Jerry Coleby-Williams speaking about low-carbon gardening at Landcare Day in the Gardens 2009 (left) and Veronique & Herman demonstrating water quality monitoring for Healthy Waterways Month, 2006 (right).

Current Community Engagemet Projects include:

• 1. Regional Workshops & Field Days - Delivering Skills and Support to Improve Land Management Practice in the Mackay-Whitsunday Region (2010 - Current)
  The Central Queensland Coast Landcare Network will deliver 6 workshops and 3 field days in the Mackay Whitsunday region. We will engage local partners including Mackay Regional Council, Queensland..
• 1. Community Support for Eradicating Cat’s Claw Creeper at Reliance Creek National Park (2009 - 2010)
  This project raised the profile of Cat's Claw Creeper and involved the community in controlling an infestation within Reliance Creek National Park at Habana. Cat’s Claw Creeper is a major th..
• 1. Envisioning Lower Carbon Lifestyles in Mackay (2009 - 2010)
  Background: The context for this proposal is the community of our tropical Mackay region. This community derives its income largely from mining, mining services and agriculture. Per capita we..
• 1. Community Caring for Critical Coastal Habitat– Sandfly Creek Environmental Reserve Rehabilitation Project (2009 - 2012)
  Over 150 schools students learnt about the natural assets at Sandfly Creek. Students developed a sound understanding of the following: Basic identification skills of shorebirds that visit the r..