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Hi [FIRST_NAME],
Quick Dates to Pencil In
General Meetings are held at Grosvenor Hotel at 5:15pm:
Monday, September 1 - Details below
Monday, October 6 – Details to follow
Monday, November 3 – Details to follow
December – Suggestions welcome for our Christmas celebration!
September - Spring is in the air
Beautiful pair of Rainbow Lorikeets photographed by Gary Wilson on the Hindmarsh River Estuary. They feature frequently in Birdlife Aust Aussie Bird Count as one of the most numerous generally recorded across Australia.
September meeting
When: Monday, September 1st, 5:15pm
Where: Grosvenor Hotel, Victor Harbor
Guest Speaker: Dr Nick Whiterod, Science Program Manager, Coorong Lower Lakes Murray Mouth (CLLMM) Research Centre, Goolwa
(Nick couldn't be with us at our last meeting)
Nick (a Victor Harbor local) oversees more than 25 research projects with 100+ scientists working to help the CLLMM region thrive under the pressures of climate change. With recent record-low rainfall and marine algal blooms affecting our local environment, this is sure to be an insightful evening.
Register per Member Jungle App or online: Book here
Polluting the Hindmarsh River - Watcha gunna do!
Every time it's rained over the past several months, it seems the Hindmarsh River Estuary has turned a mocha colour from the sediment allegedly washed off development sites. Margaret Castles, during the September meeting, will give a 'non-lawyers' overview of what the law says, what's expected of the developers, who monitors it and what action can be taken.
The nursery is up and doing business again for '26 season
After finding homes for over 7,000 seedlings by the end of June, our nursery was completely bare! We've cleaned all the tubes and the propagation process has now started again.
Want to help out? We're looking for volunteers for everything from seed collection to propagation and seedling care.
Keep an eye on your inbox for specific dates and times from Loreto, Tina, and Jen. Pop an email to nature@biodiversityvictor.org.au, and we'll make sure you're tagged for future emails.
No skills or green thumb necessary (you'll pick it up pretty quickly)!
'Bluff' Community Planting Festival again in 2026
This year's planting program was a fantastic success. We've joined together with Friends of Inman River, VH Coast-care, Friends of Hindmarsh River Estuary, Rotary Victor Harbor and Encounter Bay and the City of Victor Harbor to apply for a grant to plant 2500 seedlings on the Bluff in 2026. Feedback suggests the grant managers for the '25 program were pretty chuffed with our program and promotion. Keep your fingers crossed.
Algal Bloom - Environmental Devastation
We're all mortified by the extent of the devastation to our marine ecosystems since the outbreak of the Algal Bloom nearly 5 months ago, and sadly there seems no reprieve in the near future. There have been many meetings and community forums, with an algal bloom guru from the USA recently bought here to advise the state government.
We've done a deep dive with the assistance of AI to review the information available, in particular the known (published to-date) environmental harm.
Here's the link
Algal Bloom - Environmental Crises on the Fleurieu Peninsula
As strategies come to light - if there is an opportunity to assist, we'll put our hand up. Already there is conversation about the Seeds for Snapper and building Oyster Shell reefs to assist in improving habitat and to encourage the re-population of native oysters.
Advocy - Influencing Policy & Behaviour
Advocacy is a core part of what we do. We've been busy speaking up for our local environment at all levels—from local council to state government, and with developers and the business community.
Here are a few of the recent issues we've taken on:
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We've made submissions to the council regarding the Community Biodiversity Nursery/Hub and the Urban Growth Management Strategy.
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We've provided our input to the state government's Greater Adelaide Plan.
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We lobbied the council and submitted to the Native Vegetation Council to save large, mature trees on a local development site.
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We rallied the community to report sediment contamination in the Hindmarsh River Estuary to the EPA, helping to address environmental harm to native species and ecosystems.
Link to our submissions
Lend your passion to our Advocacy - catch up with Peter Sharley D/Chair to chat
petersharley@biodiversityvictor.org.au
NexGen - providing opportunities and gateways
We're reaching out to our local schools.
The environment in recent years has been identified as the Number 1 concern for young Australians aged 15-19, according to Mission Australia's annual Youth Survey. More than 2/3rds of young people aged 16-25 are concerned about climate change, whilst a large percentage are 'very concerned'.
Our member, Dr. Pat Thomson (retired educator / principal) is reaching out to the local schools to explore whether there is a role and what it might look like for our group to collaborate with the schools. Great news - from the initial meeting, the VH High School principal is keen to meet with us to explore this further.
Lend your passion to our next generations - be part of the solution
Catch up for a chat markrichards@biodiversityvictor.org.au
Neighbouring Landcare Groups up for National Awards
The 2025 National Landcare Conference kicks off on 21st September on the Gold Coast and 2 of our neighbouring Landscape Groups are up for National Awards.
Both have great programs. Good luck.
Biodiversity McLaren Vale
Finalist in the Australian Government Community Partnerships Landcare Award recognising leadership and achievement in landcare-related activities as a result of working in partnership with others in the community.
Kumarangk-Hindmarsh Island Landcare
Finalist in the Greyhound Coastcare Award recognising contribution to the significant improvement of a coastal or marine environment.
Have a Great Idea?
If it fits our mission—Caring for the Natural Environment—we want to hear it.
Catch up anytime for a chat and coffee nature@biodiveresityvictor.org.au
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Warmest Regards
The Management Committee, Biodiversity Victor Harbor
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