About

We are a small, committed group that meets once a month to take care of the coastal strip from Deep Bay to Eggs and Bacon Bay in the lower Huon estuary, southern Tasmania.

We tackle blackberry, gorse, Spanish heath and other nasties that threaten our native ecosystems. We replant with trees, shrubs and grasses grown from locally-sourced seed at the Huon Valley Council Landcare Nursery.

We are monitoring seagrass meadows in the shallow waters of our bays, with data contributing to global efforts to conserve seagrass.

We work alongside indigenous fire proponents to help revitalise the coastline and help its resilience in a changing climate.

MELUKERDEE LAND AND SEA COUNTRY

The Melukerdee people of southern Tasmania have a profound, ancient connection to Country - the land, sea, and all living things – that provides the foundation for culture, identity and community.

The coastal strip from what we know today as Deep Bay to Eggs and Bacon Bay was frequented for its rich resources. Bushland yielded shelter and food (possum, wallaby, pademelon, birds, seasonal berries and roots), skins from the animals for warmth, and fibres for weaving shelter, baskets and nets. Middens easily seen in Elizabeth Bay, for example, are testament to shellfish harvest when the Melukerdee people thrived here.

MEMBERSHIP AND SUPPORT

Our Coastcare group needs funds each year for administration (for example, State legal requirements as an incorporated association), to buy tree guards and stakes, and to buy tools and equipment for planting, weeding and fighting spot fires.

Some funds come from memberships. Membership is $10 per financial year for an individual and $20 for a family. If you would like to become a member, please shoot us an email or pop along to a working bee.

If you’d like to donate to Coastcare, please email us.

FUNDRAISING

We are currently fundraising by selling a range of beautiful greeting cards. Local watercolour artist, Peter Hopkins, generously donated hundreds of his greeting cards depicting native plants and animals to Tasmanian Landcare groups. We sell the cards (by donation) to help fund our small Coastcare projects. Please email us if you’d like to grab a few! Below are just a couple of examples of his vast range of gorgeous images.

We also take part in the Recycle Rewards is a program, where community groups can receive the refunds on eligible aluminium can returns. We are now registered receive funds under our High Stakes campaign. We’re using the money to buy hardwood stakes that support trees in the replanting program. Please email us if you would like to contribute.

GRANTS

Some of our funds come from community grants. Below are a list of grants we have received.

Landcare Quick Response Grant - This $300 grant contributed to us buying a sturdy water backpack and steel fire rake to help control any spot fires during fire season.

Huon Valley Council Support Grant - With these funds, we bought some tree stakes and a good First Aid kit which includes snake bandages.