分类: Winton Wetlands - Benalla Sustainable Future Group

Planting at Winton Wetlands by the Regent Honeyeater Project

10/9/2025

Since our 'Winton Wetlands & its Ongoing Management' General Meeting on Thursday July 24th, 2025, Regent Honeyeater Project Coordinator Andie Guerin has arranged with DEECA to conduct some planting weekends at Winton Wetlands. Report from the meeting, https://www.bsfg.org.au/news/supporters-of-winton-wetlands.

The first weekend planned for August 30th and 31 was cancelled due to poor weather. The second weekend took place on September 6th and 7th and was attended by 20 people.

Three remaining planting weekends will be held on September 13th and 14th, September 20th and 21st, and September 27th and 28th. Full details of these planting weekends are available at https://www.regenthoneyeater.org.au/news-events.

Book your attendance by emailing regen[email protected], preferably by the Wednesday before the planting you can attend. If possible, put the date(s) you are interested in attending in the subject line of the email. On booking you will be emailed details about the planting.
The planting site is along North Road extending over Flynn's road below the dam wall. To access the site, meet at the outlet channel on the dam wall at 9am on Saturday and Sunday.
As in previous years a free meal in Benalla for Saturday night and a Sunday lunch will be arranged. There will be a continuous supply of hot drinks on site.

Ecosystem Restoration - Supporters of Winton Wetlands

28/7/2025

At the BSFG AGM On Thursday June 26 we heard about the imminent closure of Winton Wetlands as ongoing funding of the Winton Wetlands Restoration Project had not been secured.

The closure was published widely in the media. Many people were disappointed the project would be discontinued and there were strong community feelings that the project should receive ongoing funding to realise the goal of restoring Winton Wetlands given the progress already made in restoring the ecological values of the site, increased indigenous knowledge of the Wetlands, and the development of educational, tourism and economic opportunities already progressing at Winton Wetlands.

Within a short time from the closure announcement a number of locals got together as community Supporters of Winton Wetland and arranged a meeting with representatives of the Victorian Environment Minister, Treasurer and the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action (DEECA) on 15th July 2025. Three members of Supporters of Winton Wetland (SWW) attended the online meeting; Jane Rushworth, Peter Holmes and Hamish McPherson.

BSFG Inc decided to have a General Meeting on Thursday July 24th about the Winton Wetlands closure. The SWW group arranged for Winton Wetlands CEO Dennis O'Brien to speak at this meeting and they would also report on its online meeting on 15th July.

The General Meeting on Thursday July 24th was very well attended.

Dennis O'Brien presented a very good report which covered indigenous connection with Winton Wetlands, then European Settlement, the Commissioning and Decommissioning of Lake Mokoan and details about the Winton Wetlands Restoration and Monitoring Strategic Plan. Peter Holmes read Hamish McPherson's Report on the Government DEECA meeting as Hamish was unable to attend.

It was decided to publish ongoing announcements about Winton Wetland on the BSFG website beginning with Dennis O'Brien's presentation to the meeting and also the SWW report about the online meeting with Victorian Government representatives. These reports can be downloaded and viewed in pdf format below.

Ongoing developments about Winton Wetlands will be posted here.

Download Dennis O'Brien's PPT Presentation as PDF.

Download Report by Supporters of Winton Wetland of the Meeting with DEECA and State Government.

At the 2023 Swanpool Environmental Film Festival Sue Lebish, then Chief Executive Officer of Winton Wetlands titled her presentation ‘Winton Wetlands: A Story of Hope and Renewal’.
Download Sue's Presentation.
The film screened in this session was 'The Rights of Nature, A Global Movement'.
Watch the film.

Attention: BSFG Members - General Meeting Thursday 24 July 7.30 pm - 'Winton Wetlands & its Ongoing Management'

11/7/2025

No doubt members will have heard about the current problems concerning the Winton Wetlands and its ongoing management. This is of great concern to us at BSFG, particularly that the research and ecological rehabilitation and restoration of species be continued and previous vital work in this area over decades not go to waste.

Members are invited to attend our next General Meeting at 7.30 pm on Thursday the 24th July at the Uniting Church Meeting Room opposite Coles Car park.

Dennis O'Brien (CEO Winton Wetlands) and Hamish McPherson who many of you will know, have agreed to address our Members at this meeting.

Dennis will give us an overview as to how Winton Wetlands has come to the current state of impasse, and what is the future role of DEECA at Winton.

Hamish will be able to outline the role and progress of an advocacy group, and its suggestions for Winton Wetlands' future.

There will be opportunities for members to bring forward positive suggestions which could be utilised in further negotiations with State and Federal government departments.

Please RSVP your intention to attend, or apology to [email protected]

A light supper will conclude the evening.

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary, Benalla Sustainable Future Group

Nest Log Workshop - Winton Wetlands - Saturday 27 April - 10 - 3

17/4/2024

Members and Supporters may be interested in this workshop coming up, on Nest Logs for the Turquoise parrot, at Winton Wetlands. Please note - registration which is free but necessary.

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary, Benalla Sustainable Future Group.

Another Successful Swanpool Environmental Film Festival in 2023

20/6/2023

A successful Swanpool Environmental Film Festival 2023 was presented to a full house on Saturday June 17th, 2023, at Swanpool Cinema.

The festival ran from 1pm until 9.40pm and included afternoon tea and dinner prepared and served by the Swanpool Catering Team and volunteers.

The first two of our guest speakers have provided their presentations in pdf format to be made available on the BSFG website. Full details about the Festival Programme.

Sue Lebish, Chief Executive Officer, Winton Wetlands titled her presentation ‘Winton Wetlands: A Story of Hope and Renewal’. Download Sue's presentation. The film screened in the first session was The Rights of Nature, A Global Movement. Watch the film.

Professor David Karoly, Hon. Prof. University of Melbourne, Climate Council Australia titled his presentation ‘Update on Climate Change Science, Impacts and Solutions for Victoria. Download David's presentation. The film screened in the second session was Greenhouse by Joost.

Our final session was introduced by Landcare Facilitator Claire Birch, https://www.landcarevictoria.org.au/donate. After describing the work of Landcare, Claire introduced Bertram Lobert from the Save our Strathbogie Forest Group, https://strathbogiesustainableforests.wordpress.com/. With support from group members Bert presented recent actions which have resulted in the cessation of logging in the Strathbogie Forest. Video supported the groups presentation.

The final film screened was the Bob Brown film The Giants, https://www.thegiantsfilm.com/.

The 2023 Festival was the 10th anniversary of the Swanpool Environmental Film Festival. Professor David Karoly spoke at our first festival in 2013.

Thank you to the ongoing contributions from our supporters in enabling another successful Swanpool Environmental Film Festival in 2023. The $30 entry to the festival covers the cost of afternoon tea and dinner.

BSFG AGM and the Ecological Renewal of the Winton Wetlands

30/5/2021

The BSFG AGM on Thursday evening 27th February was well attended. All office bearers and current general members were returned, with the exception of Christine Holmes, who has retired after many years as a committee member, with the past 10 years as representative of the Benalla Food Cooperative. Susanne Bennett is replacing Christine in this role. A vacancy remains for one general committee member.

Guest speaker, Dr Lisa Farnsworth, Winton Wetlands Restoration Ecologist, delivered an exellent presentation titled The Mokoan Project - Ecological Renewal of an Ephemeral Wetland System in North East Victoria. We highly recommend other community organisations inviting Lisa to present to their groups.

Supper was served at the conclusion of the evening, providing a opportunity for sharing news and information with like minded people. The President's report is now available on the website and as a downloadable pdf below. Links to reports from Renewable Energy Benalla, the Food Cooperative, the Web Team and Treasurer will be available on the website shortly.

President Peter Holmes' report to AGM, May 27 2021

BSFG Annual General Meeting, Thursday 27 May, 2021 at 7.30 pm

14/5/2021

Dear BSFG Members and Supporters,

We would like to invite you to attend our AGM, with guest speaker Dr Lisa Farnsworth, Winton Wetlands Restoration Ecologist.

The meeting is at 7:30pm Thursday 27th May in the Benalla Uniting Church Fellowship Room. Supper will be served at the conclusion of the evening.

For any of our supporters considering joining BSFG, please come along; you can join up at the meeting and would be most welcome.

BSFG financial members are encouraged to consider nominating to join the committee. If you would like more information about joining the committee, either as a committee member or in any of the executive roles, please contact the current president, Peter Holmes on 0438 625 638.

Nomination forms (attached) can be scanned and emailed to [email protected], or contact Peter and bring a hard copy to the AGM.

We hope to see you there.

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary BSFG

2021 BSFG INC Executive Committee - Nomination Form (download pdf)

Welcome to BSFG's new Committee of Management

25/5/2019

Our AGM on Thursday 23 May went very well with all positions being filled at the elections conducted by Mayor Scott Upston. Thank you to John Lloyd for chairing the meeting prior to the elections.

We welcome the new committee of management and thank two new members Kay and Richard for accepting nomination, Peter Holmes for accepting the President Role and Wendy for becoming the Treasurer. And thank you to James Webster for accepting, in absentia for the position of Vice President.

President: Peter Holmes
Secretary: Peter Maddock
Treasurer: Wendy Baker
Vice President: James Webster
Committee members:
Bulk Food Coop representative Christine Holmes and Kevin Smith, David Blore, Kay Blore, and Richard Felton.

Peter Holmes spoke about how reading an article in The Guardian by Richard Flanagan influenced his decision to nominate for President, https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/may/05/im-willing-to-go-to-jail-to-stop-adani-and-save-our-beloved-country-will-you-stand-with-me.

Our guest speaker Lance Lloyd, Restoration Scientist (Aquatic Ecology), Winton Wetlands Committee of Management, gave us a good insight into efforts at Winton Wetlands to bring about the ecological regeneration of the catchment.

A reminder again that we are planning for a Newsletter in June so could you send articles to me by the end of May.

Peter Maddock
Secretary

BSFG AGM - Annual Report 2019

BSFG Annual General Meeting 2019-Thursday 23 May. Guest Speaker Lance Lloyd, Restoration Scientist (Aquatic Ecology), Winton Wetlands Committee of Management

7/5/2019

The 2019 Benalla Sustainable Future Group AGM will be held on Thursday May 23rd, 2019 at 7.30pm in the Meeting Room, Benalla Uniting Church, Carrier Street Benalla, opposite the Coles Car park.

Benalla Rural City Mayor Scott Upston will conduct the election of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and at least four Committee Members.

Our guest speaker is Lance Lloyd, Restoration Scientist (Aquatic Ecology), Winton Wetlands Committee of Management who will speak to us about the Ecological Renewal of the Winton Wetlands Reserve.

The ecological renewal of the 8,750-hectare Reserve is a project of national scientific, cultural and environmental significance. Located in north east Victoria, between the regional cities of Benalla and Wangaratta, the Reserve is a mix of wetlands, grasslands, woodlands and forest. The project is aiming to connect people to nature through its ecological renewal, as well as with education and tourism programs onsite. The project has many aspects contributing to the establishment of a site of ecological, cultural, social and economic importance. This ecological renewal work is not a short-term project, but will take decades to be fully realised, and is aimed to enhance natural processes to ensure the restoration is sustainable in the long term.

Lance will discuss the ecological renewal aspects of the project which is built upon the Restoration and Monitoring Strategic Plan (Barlow 2011). The current science team has developed a range of specific management and monitoring plans that have been developed for fish and other fauna, waterbirds, water quality, aquatic plants, revegetation and feral animals and weeds.

The science program has undertaken multiple projects which contribute to the onsite ecological renewal of the site, and, more generally, contribute to the knowledge about wetland and woodland function and restoration.

Lance is also an Honorary Research Fellow at Federation University and has over 30 years experience in consulting, government, and university research into aquatic ecosystems and their management. Lance has a long history at the site, working there in the 1990’s with the predecessor of DELWP and the RWC (as Principal Water Quality Scientist) on the algal problems and the restoration of Lake Mokoan. He oversees the science and sustainability programs at Winton Wetlands, working with the science panel, ranger, staff and volunteers to achieve ecological renewal of the site.

Lance will speak after the business of our AGM including the election of office bearers and committee. A light supper will be available at the end of the meeting.

I encourage you to come along to our AGM and hear about this important wetland restoration project, https://wintonwetlands.org.au

Peter Maddock (0418 135 330)
Secretary

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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.

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