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Hi [FIRST_NAME],
Quick dates to pencil in
January 5th (Monday) – 1st General Meeting for '26 (5pm Grosvenor Hotel)
February 2nd (Monday) – General Meeting - 5pm
March 2nd (Monday) - General Meeting - 5pm
Grosvenor Hotel – details to follow re guest presenters etc
David Basham MP – joins us in January
We’re delighted to have David Basham MP, Member for Finniss and the Shadow Minister for Environment & Water Infrastructure, join us as guest speaker at our meeting on 5th January.
With the ongoing impacts of the algal bloom, the recently passed State Biodiversity Act, and the Federal Environmental Protection Reforms Bills, there’s certainly plenty to discuss. After the meeting, David will also join us for a relaxing meal in the Bistro.
We’re expecting strong interest from members, so please head over to our website and secure your spot, as seating is limited:
🔗 biodiversityvictor.org.au/events
Please note: This event is for members only.
Our comments on the CVH Environment Plan
We made detailed submissions during the consultation period of the CVH Environment Plan. Michael Simmons, Editor of the Fleurieu Sun, sought our thoughts on the final endorsed plan. Here are some of our comments:
Biodiversity Victor Harbor acknowledged several aspects of the adopted City of Victor Harbor Environment Management Plan indicated the council was heading in a “generally positive direction. However, we note a disconnect with Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2024–2030, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and aligns with the 2030 mission of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). We believe the plan would benefit from a stronger level of ambition and commitment to reflect the urgency required at a community level.
A key example is the need to expand the focus from improving biodiversity scores only within Council-managed reserves to adopting a whole-of-community approach.
The plan would also be strengthened by being redrafted using SMART principles, setting goals, targets and KPIs that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timebound. Biodiversity Victor Harbor remains very willing to collaborate with the City of Victor Harbor to protect and enhance our natural environment.
Our Nursery Team Smashes Previous Record!
1100 seedlings 'pricked' in a morning session of 1.5 hours. Nimble Fingers indeed!.
For those new to the process, pricking is the careful task of separating individual germinated seedlings or cuttings and transplanting them into tubes filled with growing medium. It’s not difficult, but it does call for a keen eye, a steady hand, and—of course—nimble fingers.
Since our first training sessions with the Hindmarsh Island Landcare Nursery last year, our nursery team has come a long way. Their most recent morning session set a new record for the number of plants pricked in a single sitting.
The best part? If you’re new to it, you’ll pick up the technique quickly. It’s a relaxed, enjoyable activity—and we finish with coffee and delicious cake!
Curious to give it a try?
Or would you simply like to see what our ‘pop-up’ nursery looks like?
Next Session:
📅 Monday 15 December
⏰ 9–11 am
📍 Port Elliot
If you’d like directions, just send a quick email to loretocameron@biodiversityvictor.org.au.
We’d love to see you there!
Did you make it to the film night? More to come in 2026
On a cold, wet Monday evening, more than 90 people joined us for the event—and what a fantastic night it was.
The documentary and photo presentations by Peter and Stefan were outstanding, and their insights kept the audience fully engaged. The evening wrapped up with a series of thoughtful, lively questions from attendees.
A big thank you to Andrew, Randy, Andrew, and Anita for their excellent organisation, and a special thanks to Jarrod from the cinema complex for his professional support throughout the night.
The great news? It’s clear there’s a strong community appetite for programs like this. Planning is already underway for our next session in March 2026, with more details coming soon.
Got a topic you’d love to see covered? We’d love to hear your ideas!
Landcare South Australia – take a look
Joining Landcare SA has been an extremely rewarding step for us. Beyond providing a vital, comprehensive insurance program for volunteer groups and access to grant funding, our membership has connected us with an incredible organisation and a wide network of experience and support—both here in South Australia and right across the country.
Take a look at what they offer: https://landcaresa.asn.au
Although we’re still a relatively young group, our efforts and achievements have already been recognised. This year, we were invited to present at the Landcare SA AGM, sharing our focus and approach with members from across the state. In November, we also attended the Parliamentary Friends of Landcare Dinner, where we met with MPs from all sides of politics—including David Basham—to help strengthen understanding of the valuable work Landcare groups deliver for our environment. (And yes, we took the opportunity to pitch for a five-year budget program!)
We were also pleased to welcome Paula Jones, CEO of Landcare SA, who visited to see our activities firsthand—including a tour of the pop-up nursery with our very own Nursery Guru, Loreto Cameron.
National Parks & Wildlife (FNP&W) focused on the Fleurieu
No, we’re not talking about the State Government rangers who manage our parks. FNP&W has been around for more than 55 years and, like us, is a charity. They work across Australia, partnering with groups like Bio-VH to restore native landscapes and wildlife populations—helping ensure our natural heritage is protected for future generations.
We’re pleased to share that we’ve recently entered into the Landscape Resilience Program for the next 12 months. We’re excited about this partnership and look forward to seeing it grow and evolve.
In November, the FNP&W National Program Manager travelled from interstate to meet with us and explore both current and future project opportunities across the Fleurieu—one of Australia’s 15 key biodiversity hotspots. Check out the Foundation: https://fnpw.org.au
Yeah, we've nailed it again!
We’re absolutely thrilled to announce that, for the second year in a row, we’ve been successful in securing a 2025 Bupa Healthy Cities Landcare Grant. In fact, we’re the only group in South Australia to receive the grant this year!
This achievement is truly a community effort, made possible through the collaboration and support of local environmental groups, Rotary Victor Harbor, and the Biodiversity Team at the City of Victor Harbor.
Right now, we’re busy growing 2,500 native seedlings in our pop-up nursery. These will be planted on the Bluff—as outlined in the Master Plan—during a Community Planting Festival planned for late June 2026.
Across Australia, the Bupa and Landcare Australia program will see 96,500 native plants put in the ground, strengthening the link between environmental health and community well-being.
Last June on the Bluff, more than 100 community members joined us for the planting festival, with some travelling over 250 kilometres to be part of the day.
Keep an eye out for updates and invitations to the 2026 Community Planting Festival—we’d love to see you there.
In the meantime, take a moment to explore Landcare Australia:
🔗 https://landcareaustralia.org.au/
Give the gift of membership this Xmas
As Biodiversity Victor Harbor continues to grow, so does our capacity to make a real impact on the biodiversity and sustainability of our region. And there are so many ways to get involved—whatever your interests or comfort level.
You can simply lend your voice, come along to listen and learn, or get hands-on by growing native seedlings, helping with on-ground projects, planning community events, or even writing news articles.
There’s no obligation and no ongoing membership fees—just the great feeling that comes from helping our environment thrive.
Best wishes for the festive season
Management Committee
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