Lyn's new Landcare role

Lyn Dohle has joined the sustainable production team at Natural Resources Kangaroo Island (NRKI) partnering with Kate Buck as Regional Landcare Facilitator.

Lyn has made a major contribution to the uptake of sustainable agriculture on Kangaroo Island. She began work on KI as a Soils Officer with the then Department of Agriculture at the time the Landcare movement was beginning. Lyn was heavily involved with the formation of most of the Island’s Landcare groups, working with them to gain access to funding and providing technical support to their projects.

Regional Landcare Facilitators work to support Landcare and production groups and producers to adopt sustainable farm and land management practices and to protect Australia's landscape. Through Caring for our Country funding the Australian Government supports one full-time equivalent Regional Landcare Facilitator position in each of the 56 natural resource management regions Australia wide.

On Kangaroo Island the Regional Landcare Facilitator will continue to provide support and help to a range of community groups but will now take on a broader extension role, providing landholders with access to one-on-one technical advice relating to soil and land management. The position will also support the ongoing soil testing service (currently provided by PIRSA/AGKI through Caring for our Country funding) and the annual KI Ag Trial Booklet.

Lyn and Kate are part of NRKI’s recently formed Sustainable Production Program, along with Mark Morris who will deliver the on-ground works program and provide advice on native vegetation clearance enquiries. Grant Flanagan will provide the overall management for the team.

Richard Trethewey, Presiding Member of the KI NRM Board is very positive about the development of the role,

‘These changes will provide a stronger emphasis on sustainable farming practices. We are well aware that producers need to focus on the long term profitability of their enterprises. This position will provide producers with access to the information they need to develop more productive systems.‘Lyn’s continuing involvement with PIRSA will strengthen the relationship between the two agencies and provide other opportunities for us to work together,’ he said.

Lyn will still be based in the PIRSA Office and her contact details remain the same (lyn.dohle@sa.gov.au, phone 8553 4999 BH, 8553 2487 AH mobile 0419 846204). She will continue to deliver her existing projects with PIRSA as well as her Landcare Facilitator role. You can contact her at any time to discuss any Landcare issues as the role will fit around her existing work.