The Member for Bendigo East, the Hon Jacinta Allan Minister for Regional & Rural Development and Minister for Skills & Workforce Participation today announced a partnership project between the Northern United Forestry Group (NUFG), North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and the University of Melbourne to deliver the Master Treegrower Course in North Central Victoria in 2008.

Minister Allan made the announcement to more than 170 participants at the NUFG's Field Day at Kamarooka, 30 km north of Bendigo.

North Central CMA's Community Partnerships Manager, Allison Long said that the Master Treegrower Course is designed to build regional capacity for landscape change by providing revegetation and farm forestry education and training. NUFG will run their first course commencing August 2008.

"This new partnership agreement between the three agencies is recognition of NUFG's capacity to deliver its extensive tree growing knowledge and experience across North Central Victoria," said Allison Long.

NUFG was formed in 1998 and now has 45 member families, with half the members having completed the Master Treegrower Course. NUFG member's farm forestry plantations cover a wide geographic area from Heathcote to Gunbower.

"The Master Treegrower Course is one of the most popular and successful adult education courses available to farmers in Australia focused on learning about growing and managing trees on farms", said Allison Long.

"This program is best known for its locally run 8-day tree growing design and management short courses. Since 1996, more than 75 regional courses have been conducted across Australia involving over 1500 participants and 30 partner organisations".

The Australian Master Treegrower program is supported nationally by the Federal Government's Joint Venture Agroforestry Program and Land & Water Australia. Those who complete the course are recognised by their peers as 'Master Treegrowers'.

The program supports farmers who want to grow and manage trees for both conservation and profit, as well as the extension agents, scientists, industry members and agency staff who work with them.

Other activities include: peer group mentor training for farmers and extension agents; regional vegetation management workshops; introductory and refresher courses for farmers; and contributing to field days, conferences, policy development and research.

According to Milloo farmer and NUFG President, Ian Rankin there has been a lot of interest in the course and places in the first course are filling fast. Master Treegrower Course 'Expression of Interest' forms are available from the NUFG website www.nufg.org.au

For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au