About 30 people attended a community meeting to discuss the problem of high rabbit numbers in and around the Black Range causing significant damage. 6 volunteers formed a steering committee to form a Landcare Group.
Joan Kirner, Minister for Conservation Forests & Lands, presented the group with official membership as a Landcare Group, one of the first in Victoria/Australia/ Worldwide. The group convinced the Vic Govt. to purchase a 270 acre parcel of land across the top of the range to add to the existing conservation reserve.
Work focused on Rabbit control, re-introducing understorey vegetation, erected many rabbit proof revegetation enclosures, and weed control.
Drought-dry conditions to 2008 impacted severely on revegetation programs.
Membership began to drop away, with many original members leaving the district, and new landowners not interested in Landcare.
Rabbit Calicivirus and Rabbit Buster programs focused on warren ripping reduced rabbit numbers by 80 - 90%. This resultant reduction of rabbit impact on native vegetation in the range has been the biggest positive environmental benefit since the inception of the group.
Despite 2 droughts and 12 years of abnormally dry conditions vegetation regeneration in the range improved due to lack of grazing pressure by rabbits.
Black Range Information and Management Guide produced.
Wildfire in Black Range. Group went into recess. CSIRO reports rabbits resistance to RCD increasing to levels of over 70% of some populations around Australia.
News Years Eve / January 1 wildfire burnt approximately 60% of the Black Range.
Former members implemented a Southern Brown Bandicoot recovery program.
Rabbit & fox numbers on the increase in and around the Black Range.
Landholders attended a meeting and re-activate the group to meet as needed.
Group undertakes the Pleasant Creek Walking Track project.
Group unincorporated and decides to undertake invasive plant and animal control works through Project Platypus.
Lightning-strike ignited wildfire over 12 days from 16 - 28 January 2014 burning over 1800 hectares in the Black Range. Victorian Fire Service resources were stretched responding to many simultaneous incidents, including the Northern Grampians bushfire.
New landholders keen to learn about the Range re-activate the Group with a series of short walks and informal gatherings.
Group membership rises to include 17 landholdings involved. Numerous grant applications are developed, and after waves of Covid social restrictions, an annual gathering commences at Bunjil’s Shelter.
Landcare Victoria Grant funds enable a new phase of project activities: exclosure plot erection and seed propagation in readiness for revegetation; invasive animal monitoring and control, and increased levels of invasive plant control work undertaken by Project Platypus and LandMate. The Black Range Invasive Plant and Animal (IPA) Management Plan is developed, and the BRLMG website launched.
