Partnerships Against Pests

Catchment-wide biosecurity projects

Western Port Catchment Landcare Network (WPCLN) has led community-driven action against invasive weeds and pest animals across the catchment, from Bunyip State Park to Western Port Bay. Funded through Agriculture Victoria’s Partnership Against Pests program, the network has progressively built knowledge, skills, and collaboration across landholders, Landcare groups, councils, agencies, and Traditional Owners through three successive projects. Together, these projects create a progressive, integrated approach: building knowledge, aligning strategy, and implementing best-practice pest management to ensure sustainable, community-led biosecurity.

Building Catchment Capacity and Partnerships (Oct 2024 – Mar 2025) focused on community knowledge, awareness, and collaboration. Through Paper Road Walk and Talks, Pest Animal Information Nights, and Farmer Discussion Groups, the project provided practical guidance, shared technical expertise, and strengthened networks. Landholders and volunteers learned about pest animals, invasive weeds, biosecurity risks, and biodiversity benefits, while fostering partnerships with agencies, neighbouring Landcare networks, and the Bunurong Land Council.

Planning Positive Partnership Pathways Against Pests (Feb – Nov 2025) built on the foundation of the first project by strategically aligning members and stakeholders. Network-wide strategic planning days, targeted workshops on rabbits, cats, and invasive weeds, and farm planning training enabled landholders to collaboratively design an Invasive Pest Action Plan. This round emphasised creating achievable goals, improving technical capacity, and formalising partnerships for long-term, coordinated biosecurity management.

Preparing Community to Implement Best Method Action Against Pests (Nov 2025 – Nov 2026) is moving the Network from planning into active implementation. Activities include mentored Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) demonstration sessions, a VRAN Bootcamp for emerging community leaders, accredited firearms and chemical handling training, and monitoring field days. This project will ensure Landcare members can plan, implement, evaluate, and adapt pest management programs effectively, fostering sustainable, ethical, and community-led pest control across the catchment.