This comes in the wake of major funding cuts to grass-roots producer groups, which have slashed frontline Landcare jobs from 35 to just five State-wide.

Meanwhile, Murray CMA is facing financial challenges which have led to office closures in Albury and Corowa, staff cuts and a complete restructure.

Holbrook Landcare members are seeking new ways to guarantee the group’s future, and hope to reignite interest in ground-level natural resource management groups at a meeting in Holbrook.

Meeting co-ordinator, Chris Mirams, said as a result of Murray CMA enveloping Holbrook Landcare three years ago, funding had been decimated and landholder interest had waned.

“Landcare groups see natural resource management and farm profits as one issue, but government-funded groups are more concerned with key performance indicators and funding,” Mr Mirams said.

“We need something in place for education and community engagement that would work in partnership with CMAs or directly compete with them.”

Mr Mirams said many smaller Landcare groups had been “chopped out” by the bureaucracy.

He said the emotional investment in the Holbrook Landcare made it the ideal basis for a model for future community-based producer groups.

From The Land, July 10, 2008.