Howqua Valley Landcare Group
The Howqua Valley Landcare Group was established around 1999 to bring together residents and landholders who share a deep care and concern for the health and beauty of the Howqua Valley.
The group provides a network for people committed to protecting and enhancing the valley’s unique environment — from its scenic landscapes and rich wildlife to the pristine waters of the Heritage-listed Howqua River.
Members meet quarterly, often hosting guest speakers on topics of local and environmental interest. The group actively promotes understanding of the valley and its land uses through self-education, seminars, and information days, all with the goal of encouraging sustainable and regenerative land management practices.
Howqua Valley Landcare also works to:
Safeguard the valley’s aesthetic and environmental values for residents and visitors
Monitor water quality, land health, and wildlife
Engage in fire management awareness and planning
Keep watch on development proposals and their potential environmental impacts
Represent members’ views to relevant authorities and government bodies
Foster knowledge of the valley’s historical, cultural, and ecological significance
The Howqua Valley Landcare Group continues to advocate for the long-term care and conservation of this special part of the Mansfield Shire.
Memberships
$25 per person per year
Becoming a member of the Howqua Valley Landcare Group helps support our local environmental projects and community events. Membership includes a subscription to the Up2Us newsletter, keeping you informed about upcoming activities, workshops, and the latest Landcare news. Members may also receive discounted tickets or early access to selected events throughout the year.
For further information, contact Howqua Valley Landcare group president, Andy Matenson at andy.matenson14@gmail.com
Latest Howqua Happenings
A river with real purpose — fast-moving, brown with sediment, and spilling wide across its banks. Fallen trees, gradually working their way downstream over time, have settled into the current and now stretch across the water in tangled formations.
Five Howqua Valley Landcare members recently came together to learn the art of water testing — and are now committed to monitoring the health of the Howqua River month by month.
The latest edition of Landcare in Focus from Landcare Australia has just been released, and it's well worth a read. Spanning climate-smart farming, AI-powered weed detection, threatened species, and shorebird conservation, this issue showcases the remarkable breadth of work happening across Australia's landcare movement.
Up2Us are once again offering subsidised stock proof tree guards and indigenous eucalypt seedlings to Mansfield Shire landholders. Protect the next generation of paddock trees while supporting local biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and healthier farming landscapes. Limited numbers available.
Calling all nature photographers! Entries are now open for the 2027 Capture the Catchment community calendar by the Goulburn Broken CMA. Share your favourite local flora, fauna and landscape images and help showcase the beauty of our region. Find out how to enter and submit your photos today.
This National Volunteer Week, we’re celebrating the incredible volunteers whose time, passion and commitment help care for the Mansfield Shire’s landscapes, wildlife and community.
Long before "Landcare" was even a word, the seeds of the Howqua Valley Landcare Group were being planted in Melbourne lounge rooms.
On a golden autumn afternoon, the Howqua Valley Landcare Group gathered for the group’s April meeting. It was a full agenda — and a wonderful evening.
The Latest Platypus News and Views from the Australian Platypus Conservancy (Issue 102 – May 2026)
A Landcare member has shared this incredible footage of a male Superb Lyrebird in full display, performing his remarkable mating call.
Feral animal management continues to be an important focus for our community, and recently we’ve had a concerning sighting close to home.