Swan Hill Region Seed Bank

The seed bank is located at the eastern edge of the Swan Hill stock selling complex in Karinie Street in northern Swan Hill. It is open on both Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9.00am to 5.00pm

Our focus is to educate community groups and major project contractor’s on the importance of sourcing genetically diverse, provenance based seed for the long term success of both direct seeded and planted seedling revegetation projects.

VISION

To ensure seed quality, availability and diversity for our region, now and into the future.

MISSION

The effective, efficient and ethical collection, storage and distribution of native seed.

Raising community awareness of the Seedbank, and its role in landscape enhancement.

Increasing the knowledge base of native seed management through effective community engagement.

Being pro-active in adopting new technologies, developments and findings of research.

HISTORY

The origins of Swan Hill Seedbank can be traced back to the 1994-5 Murray Corridors of Green project. This project was managed by a partnership of NSW and Victorian Landcare Groups, the Field Naturalists group, relevant government departments, Greening Australia and community members – operating as Mid Murray Greening Consortium.

During the ‘Corridors’ project it was clearly identified that to undertake the revegetation proposals, there was a desperate need for the collection, storage and distribution of native seed in the areas being rehabilitated.

Over the next two years, 1996-7, members from MMGC established the Seedbank committee. Critical support was provided by Greening Australia Vic central Victorian representative David Millsom who motivated the committee and generated donations. The major contributions were $2631 from the statewide CWA movement, and $600 from the Landcare Foundation. A 6 metre by 3 metre site office was obtained and installed at Swan Hill’s centre for people with disabilities. Natural Heritage Trust funding was obtained and administered through Greening Australia NSW, and this provided the funds to employ the first paid co-ordinator.

The Seedbank began to supply seed for projects developed by Greening Australia, Rural Land Protection Board, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Catchment Management Authorities, Landcare Groups, Indigenous Groups and individual landholders. The first major seed orders on a contract basis were generated by North Central CMA for its revegetation work on the Northern plains.

The Swan Hill Rural City Council supported the Seedbank by providing a new site in Swan Hill, which is still the existing site. Council provides the site at a very low annual lease, and also sponsorship of electricity and water use, and support and assistance from the Environment Officer.

The important site development of 2006 has been the purchase and installation of a site office, using the Bundaberg Rum sponsorship, and the 2007 Bundaberg funding providing the cooling / heating units for the site office and the cool room containers.

The Seedbank project has successfully achieved, and is continuing to achieve what the Federal Government had been looking for from its Natural Heritage Trust investments – addressing the long term environmental needs that are outlined in Federal / State / Regional strategies for both biodiversity decline and salinity issues.

There is more to a Seedbank than managing the collection, storage and distribution of native seed. It also involves the development of new practices, educating the community of the benefits of revegetation, the importance of biodiversity, delivering training and awareness programs to the whole community.

Since its creation, the Seedbank has enjoyed the support from Greening Australia, North Central CMA, Mallee CMA, River Mallee Maintenance, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Parks Victoria, Mid Murray Landcare Network and other regional Landcare Groups, Murray Human Services, Swan Hill Rural City Council, Bundaberg Rum, Department of Primary Industries, Peter Walsh MLA, Landcare Australia, Green corps, Lake Boga Transport, and Martins Cranes.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS & POSSIBILITIES

The Seed Bank project demonstrates strong community involvement and dedicated commitment by individuals and organisations who perceive the way to address long-term sustainability of our natural environment and biodiversity is through ensuring access to quality local native seed and plant material.

Our future potential and possibilities are limited only by our imagination.

Advancements for this Seed Bank include:

• On-site germination testing of seed lots to ensure viability
• Plant nursery & seedling propagation area
• Seed Production Areas throughout our collection region
• Increased cold seed storage areas
• Increase in partnerships with other agencies
• Increase in seed supply and sales
• Improved facilities for administration, staff and seed cleaning
• Increased range of commercial services available: assessments of potential sites for revegetation, direct seeding, planting & plant maintenance, seed cleaning, seed testing.

Reliable and consistent funding, partnerships and community engagement are vital to the Seed Bank being able to maintain this important service, and to continually improve and expand upon our abilities.

NEWS

The Swan Hill Regional Seed Bank has recently obtained a germination cabinet for the testing of seed. This cabinet will be invaluable in testing seed stock for viability.

In August 2007 the Coordinator of the Swan Hill Regional Seed Bank sadly left for a new position in Western Australia. The staff and committee wish her the best of luck in her new endeavour. Kristy Scalora has now been appointed Coordinator for the seed bank.

Our technical officer Marcel Patterson also left the Seedbank in February to pursue further study in Bendigo. Kristy will be working an extra day until a new technician can be found.

MEMBERSHIPS

Anybody can become a member of the Swan Hill Regional Seedbank.

As a member you will regularly receive newsletters and have free use of cleaning equipment (a refundable deposit is still required). Membership costs $10.00 per year.

COMMITTEE

The seed bank is exceptionally proud to have a committee with a vast wealth of knowledge and experience across a number of fields. Without their dedication and assistance, the Seed Bank would not be the vibrant entity it currently is. The current committee are as follows: