Cultural burns were recently completed on a local property, highlighting the growing collaboration between Traditional Owners and local Landcare groups in caring for Country. The Springhurst and Byawatha Hills Landcare Group, with support from the Mid Ovens Landcare Consortium, successfully hosted a cultural burn on the property. Organised in collaboration with Bangerang Aboriginal Corporation and supported through the Victorian Landcare Grants Program, the event was the result of months of planning and was especially meaningful given the late-season timing. North East CMA staff had the opportunity to attend, observe and take part in the cultural burning. The burn treated 0.6 hectares of Grassy Dry Forest, aiming to reduce fine fuels and encourage the regeneration of native grasses and ground-layer plants. The site will be monitored over time by Bangerang to assess ecological outcomes. This was one of three cultural burns conducted in the Mid Ovens Landcare Consortium area this year. Bangerang Aboriginal Corporation, in partnership with Warby Range Landcare Group, led a 1.7 ha burn on a privately owned ephemeral wetland at Wangaratta South to protect large old trees and reduce biomass.
