Blog Archives

'New REB solar panel installation project completed at Ed Space'

31/3/2026

Press Release

Benalla Sustainable Future Group (BSFG) is delighted to announce completion of a new solar panel installation project on a Benalla community building at EdSpace (24 Carrier Street). This development continues action group Renewable Energy Benalla’s commitment to the generation of solar power in our community and follows past REB projects which installed solar panels on Bernard Briggs and Munro Avenue kindergartens.

EdSpace is an Independent Specialist School and a project of Capability Building Incorporated, a Public Benevolent Institution providing family centred support in health and education for young people with a medical diagnosis affecting their success in mainstream schools.

Pictured are BSFG’s President Brian Harker, EdSpace’s Chair Maggie Fanning
and David Blore (REB).

The installation was funded by a no-interest loan from BSFG to EdSpace, which will be repaid by energy cost savings over the next four years or so. The installation was undertaken yet again by SolarGain Wangaratta.

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BSFG General Meeting Thursday March 26, film "Old Growth Forests - Nature's Biotic Water Pump".

26/3/2026

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Did you miss our General Meeting on Thursday March 26? At the meeting we screened the film from New England Forests "Old Growth Forests - Nature's Biotic Water Pump", which is available via the New England Forests Youtube channel and linked in full below: -

For decades now, we've been hearing how greenhouse gases, particularly CO2, cause climate change. But what has been almost totally ignored is the effect that alteration of land cover has on our climate. It's not just about carbon.

Change to land cover, especially the cutting and removal of forests, is what western Mediterranean region researcher and Atmospheric Physicist Millán Millán referred to as "the second leg of climate change." The greenhouse gas effect is just one half of the climate change story; land cover change is the other half, and just as important.

Millán Millán passed away in 2024, but we hear his words in the film thanks to audio from an interview with Alpha Lo of the Climate Water Project (on Substack),

In this film, Russian Physicist Anastassia Makarieva, renowned for her continuing research on the critical role of forests in climate change, adds more information about the biotic pump mechanism, she is also on Substack.

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Winton Wetlands Reserve Community Update - March 2026

11/3/2026

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We are sharing the Winton Wetlands Reserve Community Update March 2026 with our members and supporters. To subscribe, email [email protected].

The Winton Cafe and Events

The Winton Cafe and Events is now open for business at the site of the former Mokoan Hub and Cafe!

The venue was officially opened on Thursday 12 February, with more than 50 attendees. Benalla Rural City Deputy Mayor, Cr Justin King, attended the opening and reflected on the importance of the site for the local community.

Following an EOI process led by DEECA last year, DS Gill Pty Ltd was appointed as the successful operator. With more than 20 years of combined hospitality experience the team is looking to provide great food and community connection, all while honouring the importance of Winton Wetlands to locals and visitors.

The Winton Cafe & Events will offer locally roasted coffee, fresh regional food, and a high- quality venue for events and celebrations. Several former staff members have also returned to the cafe.

A high priority of the new operators is to reinstate the bush kinder program supported by Nikki James, a proud Yorta Yorta woman. In exciting news - bush kinder and other education events will start in a few weeks.

L-R: New operators, wetlands rangers and Benalla
Rural City Deputy Mayor Cr Justin King

“Our vision is to create more than a cafe, we want to build a genuine community space,” said Miriam Tinaru from the new operator team.

Opening hours are currently Wednesday-Sunday 7.30am-3.00pm.
For bookings and enquiries: mobile: 0466 602 461 and email: [email protected]

Follow The Winton Cafe and Events facebook and instagram accounts to keep up with what’s happening and any changes to their operating hours.

Rangers’ update
The summer weed programme is well under way with two specialist contractors working alongside Winton Wetlands Rangers.

Target species include:
·       Sweet Briar
·       Bathurst Burr
·       Noogoora Burr
·       Prairie Ground Cherry
·       Stinkwort
·       Fleabane
·       Woody Weeds (Cotton woods,
willows, Desert ash, Honey Locust, etc)

Next time you are visiting you might see the rangers out and about in a Forest Fire Management Victoria branded vehicle. Make sure you give them a wave!

A big thank you goes to our Gateway Health volunteers who continue to assist with a wide range of works across the reserve. Most recently, the team completed oiling and repair works on the picnic shelters – thanks for your ongoing support.

We would also like to acknowledge Andy from the Regent Honey Eater Project. Andy has been out watering trees planted last year because of the very dry season. Thanks, Andy, for going that extra mile to look after the young trees and increase their survival rate.

Dry summer conditions

This season Winton Wetlands has experienced very dry conditions because of low rainfall and higher than average temperatures.

All swamps have dried up, with water being retained only in some old dams and ponds, but these are also continuing to dry.

A reminder that the reserve is closed to the public on all days of Total Fire Banday and days of Extreme or Code Red Fire Danger Rating, with the exception of the lakeside foreshore zone where the cafe is located.

Seeding a Greener Future: Sowing healthy habitat and hearts project

Winton Wetlands has marked an important milestone with the completion of the Seeding a Greener Future: Sowing healthy habitat and hearts project.

Funded through a Restorative Project Court Order granted in October 2024, the project focused on on‑ground restoration works, strengthening cultural and community connections and building local seed collection and storage capacity.

On 31 July 2025, the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GB CMA) took responsibility for coordinating the final stages of the project, including completion of the Bush Tucker Garden and Corroboree Circle, and delivery of a large community celebration event.

Community, Culture and Country celebrated at Winton Wetlands

Yorta Yorta woman Nikki James was engaged by GB CMA to lead the finalisation of the Bush Tucker Garden and Corroboree Circle project.

“This project has been about far more than planting trees – it has been about strengthening cultural connections, building community pride and ensuring that restoration works at Winton Wetlands continue well into the future,” said GB CMA’s Project Officer Janice Menitplay-Smith.

The garden features three distinct sections, showcasing edible and culturally significant species including bulbine lilies, saltbush, kangaroo grass, golden wattle, sarsaparilla, banksia, everlasting daisies, kangaroo apple and buloke.

Sedge and rush species were also planted for future weaving, while shade trees were planted and protected around the Corroboree Circle.

The project culminated in a community celebration on Saturday 29 November 2025, to formally open both the Corroboree Circle and Bush Tucker Garden. More than 200 people attended the event.

Dancing on the Corroboree Circle

Glennys Briggs weaving circle

Photo credits: Rene Martens

Building local seed production and storage capacity

The Regent Honeyeater Project will establish a one-hectare seed production area with kangaroo-proof fencing at the wetlands during winter and spring 2026.
In partnership with the Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seedbank and the Euroa Arboretum, this will support seed processing and storage and provide an ongoing supply of locally sourced seed for future revegetation projects at Winton Wetlands and the Regent Honeyeater Project.
Activities already completed include:

5kg of indigenous seed collected and processed by Euroa Arboretum staff in the 2024/25 season.
Purchase and installation of seed storage equipment for the Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seedbank, including shelving and dehumidifiers, to add to the new cool room.

New cool room for seed storage for the Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seedbank,
Euroa Arboretum Photo credit: WW Committee of Management

Visit the link to learn more about collection of indigenous seed for propagation by the Regent Honey Eater Project.

Wildlife and research updates

Growling grass frog release project
A significant environmental restoration milestone was achieved with the release of 59 Growling grass frogs (Ranoidea raniformis) at Winton Wetlands, marking the return of a species historically known to inhabit the site.

Delivered by Swamps, Rivers and Ranges the release represents the culmination of more than 10 years of collaboration and planning.

The frogs were translocated from a Coliban Water site in Bendigo, where they were carefully selected before undergoing a strict quarantine process to protect both the animals and the wetland ecosystem.

Project Coordinator Sophie Enders from Swamps, Rivers and Ranges said the success of the release was immediate: “It was the best feeling hearing the frogs calling within half an hour of being released at the site.”

A second translocation is scheduled for March to further support the establishment of a self-sustaining population.

Swamps Rivers and Ranges extend a big thanks to the project team and to funders and supporters:
DEECA, Wettenhall Environment Trust, Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, and Nature Glenelg Trust.

Growling grass frog in quarantine

Released Growling grass frog

Photo credits: Sophie Enders, Swamps, Rivers and Ranges

Follow updates on the Swamps Rivers and Ranges facebook page.

Turtle islands at Winton Wetlands

Murray River Short-necked Turtle
https://wintonwetlands.org.au/

Following up on the success of last year, La Trobe University researchers have reintroduced artificial floating islands for Winton Wetlands’ breeding turtles. These islands provide safe nesting areas away from predators.

Preliminary observations suggest around 25 turtles nested on the two islands this year. Further field work will estimate hatchlings by counting the hatched eggs. We’ll keep you updated!

Christina Hunter, PhD student at La Trobe University, has completed fieldwork using model turtles filmed using GoPro and trail cameras to identify predators of hatchlings. Early results indicate purple swamphens, ravens, and magpies are the major predators, with some predation also by Eurasian coots and rakali.

Want to learn more? Contact Dr James Van Dyke, Associate Professor at La Trobe University, Wodonga: [email protected] .

Visitor information

Days of Total Fire ban
Please note the reserve is closed to visitors during periods of and days of Extreme or Code Red Fire Danger Rating, with the exception of the lakeside Foreshore zone where the café is located. The Winton Cafe & Events will remain open at the operator’s discretion.

Explore the reserve
Walk or cycle more than 90 kilometres of roads and tracks across the wetlands.

The Winton Wetlands Cycle Guide can help you plan your visit and is available to download here.

Image from https://wintonwetlands.org.au/

Open for camping
Winton Wetlands offers 20 unpowered campsites across three locations:

Green’s Hill Camp
Bill Friday Swamp
Duckpond Camp

For more information visit:
https://wintonwetlands.org.au/camping/

To protect wildlife and wetlands, dogs are not allowed at any of the camp sites.

Can I fish?

Fishing is allowed but you must have a valid Victorian Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL).
To protect our native biodiversity, catch and release is preferred, and non-native catches must be humanely dispatched.

Resident snakes
Keep an eye out for the resident snakes when visiting – local species include venomous snakes, such as the Eastern Brown Snake; Red-bellied Black Snake; Tiger snake and Copperhead snake.
Some tips:
· If you see a snake, keep clear and allow it to move out of your way.
· It is recommended you carry a snake bandage at all times.

Eastern Brown snake, Pseudonaja textilis
(image credit: Australian Museum)

In case of snake bite DO NOT MOVE & call 000.

Contact us
If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to our community update or are having difficulties viewing this email, contact us at [email protected]

We acknowledge Victorian Traditional Owners and their Elders past and present as the original custodians of Victoria’s land and waters and commit to genuinely artnering with them and Victoria’s Aboriginal community to progress their aspirations.

Transcribed from emailed March Update in the interests of sharing - BSFG Web Team

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Swanpool Environmental Film Festival - Expressions of Interest

4/3/2026

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Interested in contributing to make the 2026 Swanpool Environmental Film Festival a success? There's an Information session at Swanpool Cinema, Thursday 12 March at 7pm

Last year's Festival was a sold-out success, featuring two dynamic guest speakers, and four thought provoking films. Master of Ceremonies Ramey Hengen filled the role with warmth and humour.

Themes from the first film, 'Climate Extremes' were explored by speaker, Dr Philip Lawn, an ecological economist from Torrens University Australia. The second film, 'Roots So Deep', looked at attitudes to sustainable and regenerative farming in the US. This was followed by a lively interview and Q&A with local farmer Mark Foletta and MC Ramey in which Mark spoke about his ventures in diversification and passion for involving his local community.

The third film before the dinner break was 'Takayna - The Heart of Lutruwita', followed after dinner by the final film of the 2025 festival, 'Ocean' with David Attenborough.

For more detail about the 2025 Festival and earlier festivals, follow this link : - Swanpool Environmental Film Festival.

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Did you celebrate Pistachio Day? Food Coop Open Dates - March

2/3/2026

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Hoping you enjoyed celebrating Pistachio Day, which occurs annually on Feb 26!

Did you know that pistachio was named 2025’s flavour of the year in Australia?
Pistachios (along with almonds) have the most protein of all tree nuts.
Pistachios provide all nine essential amino acids plus a powerful antioxidant and dietary fibre.
Pistachios get their green and purple colour from the antioxidants they contain.
Pistachios contain high levels of melatonin, which is linked with getting a better night’s sleep.
Pistachios are THE top nut source of the mineral potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure for a healthy heart
How good that the co-op stocks very fresh, high quality shelled pistachios.

Rhona Rose

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Benalla Sustainable Future Group acknowledges the traditional owners of the land on which we live, work and meet, the Taungerang, Yorta Yorta and Bpangerang people of North East Victoria, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

Photo from davebloggs007

'New REB solar panel installation project completed at Ed Space'

BSFG General Meeting Thursday March 26, film "Old Growth Forests - Nature's Biotic Water Pump".

Winton Wetlands Reserve Community Update - March 2026

Swanpool Environmental Film Festival - Expressions of Interest

Did you celebrate Pistachio Day? Food Coop Open Dates - March

BSFG News

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'New REB solar panel installation project completed at Ed Space'

BSFG General Meeting Thursday March 26, film "Old Growth Forests - Nature's Biotic Water Pump".

Winton Wetlands Reserve Community Update - March 2026

Swanpool Environmental Film Festival - Expressions of Interest

Did you celebrate Pistachio Day? Food Coop Open Dates - March

​BSFG News

Search for articles here...

Categories

Archives

BSFG News