CORANGAMITE CMA PROUD TO SUPPORT GROUNDED FESTIVAL IN THE OTWAYS

Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) engaged with hundreds of people from near and far who visited our stand or attended our presentation at GROUNDED Festival, held 23–24 April at the spectacular Yan Yan Gurt West Farm in the Otways.

Corangamite CMA was proud to be a platinum sponsor of the event, which brought together a vibrant community of landholders, farmers, producers and sustainability enthusiasts from across Australia.

Corangamite CMA CEO, Dr Amber Clarke said, “GROUNDED Festival provided an incredible platform for us to engage with landholders and communities who are passionate about sustainable land management. Events like this help turn ideas into action, and we’re proud to support conversations that strengthen the resilience of our region.”

As part of the program, Corangamite CMA’s Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator (SAF), Karen O’Keefe, joined Andrea Montgomery from Upper Barwon Landcare Network, to deliver a presentation highlighting our Small Blocks Big Dreams project—an initiative supporting small landholders to improve land management outcomes and build confidence in sustainable practices. The presentation was well attended and sparked strong interest from festivalgoers keen to learn more about practical approaches to managing smaller properties.

The presentation also included a panel discussion led by Kylie Woodham with Becky McCann (Small Block owner and project participant), Susan Pyke (Small Block owner and project participant) and Andy Gray (Central Otway Landcare Network facilitator) all sharing their learnings and Small Blocks Big Dreams experiences.

Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator Karen O’Keefe said it was encouraging to see strong interest in the Small Blocks Big Dreams project.

“We’re seeing more people take on smaller parcels of land and really want to manage them well. Small Blocks Big Dreams is all about giving landholders the practical tools, confidence and support to make informed decisions that benefit their land and the wider environment.”

“Hearing directly from participants and Landcare facilitators was a highlight—their experiences show just how valuable peer learning and local knowledge are in achieving lasting outcomes on the ground,” Karen said.

Throughout the two-day festival, Corangamite CMA also hosted a stand, connecting with hundreds of attendees on topics including sustainable farming practices, soil health, drought and bushfire recovery, and programs such as Master TreeGrower, Small Blocks Big Dreams and Testing the Waters.

Importantly, Corangamite CMA’s Sustainable Agriculture team were part of the event planning committee, helping to shape a program that delivered a rich mix of workshops, walk-shops, demonstrations and discussions focused on sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Founded by Matthew Evans, GROUNDED Australia is the nation’s only travelling food and farming festival, celebrating a different location each year. The 2026 festival featured around 80 sessions, 70 speakers, 20 workshops and a diverse range of local stalls, alongside outstanding food and live music.

Corangamite CMA was delighted to see such a strong local and visiting contingent come together in the region, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of this inspiring event in the Corangamite catchment.

Dr. Clarke says, “We would like to thank the hosts, organisers, speakers, volunteers and attendees who made the festival such a success. The energy and enthusiasm across the two days was truly inspiring, and we look forward to continuing conversations that support sustainable land management across our region.”

The Small Blocks Big Dreams project is funded by the Victorian Government through the Our Catchments, Our Communities program.

Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator

The Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator (SAF) is a designated central contact point for farmers, landholders, industry, and community groups who supports climate-smart, sustainable agriculture practices in the region.

Karen O’Keefe is the Corangamite CMA region SAF. She is part of a national network of Sustainable Agriculture Facilitators across Australia, supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.

Karen can be contacted via: karen.okeefe@ccma.vic.gov.au.