EPISODE #71

Reviving Landscapes & Building Community with Landcare

Gillian and Katja interview Melanie Cooper, a landcare coordinator for the Grenfell district in central west New South Wales, who has worked in natural resource management for over 20 years and farms locally.

Melanie explains landscape rehydration as making the most of rainfall by holding more water in the landscape to rejuvenate productivity, rehabilitate creeks and gullies, and reduce erosion.

She describes a Mulloon Institute introductory field day delivered through the two-year “Over the Fence” project, which uses farmer-to-farmer conversations, field days, bus trips, training, and visual stories to support climate-smart practice change. The workshop drew on methods linked to Peter Andrews and showcased local farmer Alex McAlpine’s rehydration actions.

Melanie shares ways to get involved via mullooninstitute.org, weddinlandcare.com.au, Signing up to Weddin Landcare's e-newsletters, seeking help from Central West Local Land Services, and emphasizes Landcare’s inclusive, responsive community network and role bridging urban and rural communities.

Listen to the episode via this LINK