Formation

A Working Group resolved to form Friends of Oneonta on 29 September 2020.

Office Bearers were appointed on 13 October 2020.

The decision to join Landcare Victoria was made on 27 October 2020.

Membership of the forming group is attached to the application.

Statement of Purpose

“Promote environmental education within Oneonta”

Background

“Oneonta” is a twelve acre freehold property in Lake Tyers Beach township. It is predominately remnant bush and was left in trust to the community with the local shire (now East Gippsland) as the trustee, declared in 1994. Oneonta is a native American word meaning “place of peace”. The intention of the trust was for ”the land to be used as an environmental education centre for the benefit of residents of the Tambo Shire and the public.”

This group has formed in support of the intent of the Settlor of the trust to establish the proposed environmental education centre, which has not been achieved by the Trustee.

Current activities include protection of remnant bushland, revegetation of degraded areas, development of an educational program for schools in the region and engagement with the local community through onsite events and interpretive signage. Future collaboration with the Shire is expected to lead to implementation of the intent of the Trust.