The Wurdale Landcare Group was originally formed in March 1998 but was in recess from March 2001 until mid 2004. The groups main aim is to protect the fragile catchment area of Wormbete Creek and to link the Otways and the Barwon River with a Wurdale wildlife corridor. Wurdale Landcare is a part of the Upper Barwon Landcare Network (UBLN).

Much of the Wormbete Creek has already been fenced off and revegetation on many properties is well underway. The group have also worked together to tackle roadside furze infestations (eg the corner of Wurdale Rd and Cape Otway Rd) to prevent further spread by roadside slashers

The group recently participated in the Environmental Best Management Practices program, which identified several problems on private land including;

-soil erosion along creeks/gullies and saline streams

entering the creek

-pest plants and animals (foxes, rabbits, ragwort,

blackberries, kangaroos)

-flooding damage /water quality / soil loss

-impacts on private land by public land use

The identification of required actions through the EBMP process has resulted in the development of landholder action plans and has increased the likelihood of the receiving government funding incentives. It has also got the community working together on their catchment area and has identified some training requirements of the group. The current Wormbete Creek Project is a truly integrated approach – various partners (including landholders, CCMA, Landcare, Barwon Water, DPI/DSE etc) are involved in jointly addressing a variety of issues in the Wormbete catchment.

Highest priority actions relate to protecting water quality –ie. reestablishment of natural riparian zones, revegetation of associated eroding gullies (and protection of remaining vegetation) and revegetation of salinity discharge areas. Extensive works have already been completed in 2004 (and some before then) and will be ongoing over the next few years.