Country Lane Caretakers

Life-long association with Environmental and Natural Resource Management

 

​I have a long association with the environment, adventure activities, and natural resource management (NRM).

 

Beginning with family camps, boating, extended remote through-hikes, 4WD trips, and pest mammal management, I developed a range of interests, passions and practical skills. I have also been a professional guide, commercial Instructor and  experiential education Team Leader in hiking, canyoning, back country skiing, rock climbing sea kayaking and rafting, in Australia and the USA.

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In addition to my NRM qualifications, I managed to fit in a Number of Certificate IV's in Training & Assessing, Rescue Medical Technician, Small Business Operations and a Paramedic Degree!

 

My earliest notable NRM experience was in 1988 on a Scientific Expedition assisting with extending a National Park boundary in the Daintree National Park. Our Botany team had collected and mapped (before GPS) a number of previously un-mapped and threatened plant species. These findings along with the work done by other teams saw the recognition of the area as a place of great Natural and cultural significance.

 

From that early start I have volunteered for a variety of Community conservation organisations during the 90's, receiving a number of volunteer awards. Participation included

 

• seed collection

• tree planting

• regional community native tree nursery & seed bank

• water course and soil protection works

• bush regeneration works

• weed removal

• habitat creation

 

… and other community-based activities.

 

This community involvement led me to obtain a Diploma in Natural Resource Management and Certificate in Landcare.

 

During a research project for NSW NPWS, a key achievement in 2003 was mapping and measuring the growth and spread of Phytophthera cinnamomi, a fungus known at the time only to be present below 800m. It was assumed to be a tropical / temperate climate fungus, killing tropical fruit crops locally and internationally. In Western Australia this fungal disease caused massive damage to Native Karri and Jarrah Forests. My task was to map and measure the spread. This outbreak took place at over 1500m in an Alpine wetland / Alpine forest location, an unknown elevation at the time.

 

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Using my Natural Resource Management Qualification

 

With my NRM qualifications I later became a Team leader and relief Caretaker manager of a conservation organisations’ "Bush base" that acted as centralised accommodation base for local and international project teams.

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Team Leadership

 

I have led teams of local and international volunteers across NSW and the ACT in urban, rural, regional and remote locations. Most notable include:

 

• Canberra fires’ tree planting

• Central West - Tree planting on farms, road easements and public spaces

• Cobar - Invasive plant removal

• Green and Golden Bell frog Industrial land recovery project

• Hunter River / Hexham Wetlands' (RAMSAR listed) projects

• Illawarra - Soil, weed and water projects

• Illawarra, Jervis bay - Dune stabilisation and beach access works

• Kangaroo Valley, Lake Macquarie & Hunter Valley - Lantana removal

• Lake Macquarie, North, Central and South Coasts - Bitou bush removal

• Monaro Plains - Soil conservation works

• Playtpus habitat protection works

• South coast & Northern Rivers -  Watershed & Hinterland bush regeneration

 

... and many others.

 

 

I have worked on a variety of community conservation projects:

 

• Training young people in National Vocational training projects

• Certificate level training in Landcare Management as well as horticultural and environmental Certificate courses

• Vocational programs for people with disabilities

• Open / general public community conservation projects

• International volunteer conservation projects

 

 

Site Management experience

 

Contracted Site management experience under the auspices of community / NGO’s such as;

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• Landcare

• Rivercare

• Bushcare

 

Site Management of contracted projects for NPWS, Local councils, public and private landholders, national Not for Profit (NFP) conservation organisations:

 

• weed management and removal

• native planting

• track & trail maintenance

• fence construction

• planting of windbreaks

• erosion controls

• water quality improvement tasks for

• Soil and water conservation works

• erosion controls

• sediment reduction

• Water testing

 

On-ground roles

 

• Implementing biodiversity strategies

• assisting in getting conservation declarations

• assisting with getting funding and support for fencing waterways

• protecting threatened plant bird and other animal species,

• Conducting fire risk assessments

• Conducting plant and animal surveys

 

I have a wide range of skills, experience, training and education to help you out with your Farm Plan.

 

I can help you out with some common Farm Planning issues landholders face, or point you to specialists advisors and support networks that would make your Farm experience more rewarding over the long term.

 

So… If you have some odd jobs, a farm plan or a larger project you'd like advice on, contact me for a free discussion.

 

​Whether you need a one-off helping hand, regular vacation time covered, or a seasonal Caretaking service, let me know how I can help.

 

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Country Lane Caretakers…

 

Your Caretaker On-call

 

Don't leave home without us!

 

Mike

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