Announcement soon on Mokoan Hub and Café future

An announcement about the resumption of operation of Winton Wetlands' Mokoan Hub and Café is expected to be made in coming weeks. Expressions of interest to operate the café and hub were sought by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) after it took over management of Winton Wetlands Reserve in early August. The site's previous committee of management, the Odonata Foundation, relinquished its role in July and handed back control of the 9000-hectare reserve to DEECA. This triggered redundancies for all 20 staff, temporary closure of the Mokoan Hub and Café, and a pause on environmental and research programs including frog and fish reintroductions, turtle restoration, revegetation and next box development. Since taking the helm, DEECA has expressed its commitment to the ongoing management of Winton Wetlands Reserve for the benefit of the environment and the community. Expressions of interest for operation of the café and hub closed on 11 September, and evaluations have since been under way with support from the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, Rural City of Benalla council, and a community representative. Discussions to finalise tenancy conditions are now taking place with parties behind the preferred proposal, with the aim of supporting the operators to establish the café and commence operations as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Swamps, Rivers and Ranges, a community-driven landscape restoration group, is continuing with the project to reintroduce the growling grass frog to Winton Wetlands. The captive cohort of frogs residing in the on-site custom-built quarantine laboratory and breeding habitat pods are doing well, and the team is preparing for the second translocation of frogs from Bendigo. A restorative project focusing on advancing ecological restoration, enhancing local seed collection, and strengthening community engagement at Winton Wetlands has been overseen by Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, and funded through an Environment Protection Agency restorative court order. The project included development of a bush tucker garden and corroboree circle. Since August, rangers operating at Winton Wetlands have been focusing on weed control, targeting Paterson's Curse and St John's Wort, with spraying carried out along Mokoan, Winton North and Boggy Bridge roads as well as internal bike trails over 300 hectares of the reserve. A licensed contractor was also engaged in late October to control foxes, pigs, rabbits and deer, to help protect native wildlife and reduce pest threats to livestock on adjoining farmland. As the warmer weather settles in, locals are encouraged to explore the wetlands by foot or by bike, and to take advantage of 20 unpowered campsites across three locations. Fishing is also allowed by any person who holds a valid Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence. For more information about Winton Wetlands, visit https://wintonwetlands.org.au

Announcement soon on Mokoan Hub and Café future

$50,000 grant to fuel Boys to the Bush programs

The season for giving Oak FM

'White Christmas’ comes early as isolated hailstorm tears through city

New café and catering operator appointed for WPACC

'Ripple effect' extends through latest course

Rufous Whistler – arrival of a summer songbird

Bombers go back-to-back in A grade

“No stone unturned” – Police committed to the long-haul in manhunt

Start your engines, Wilby Drags are back

Most popular stories