The Wodonga Urban Landcare Network (WULN) celebrated a major milestone last Thursday the 19th February when over 70 community members, volunteers, and partners gathered to officially open the Baranduda Fields Ecohub — a dedicated workspace that will serve as the operational heart of one of the region’s most active environmental organisations.
Uncle Al Murray opened proceedings with a Welcome to Country, before WULN Board Chair Julie Hind and Wodonga Mayor Michael Gobel officially declared the Ecohub open in true Landcare style — with a chainsaw cutting the ribbon.
A Home Base for a Growing Network
WULN has grown significantly in recent years, now coordinating 18 member groups and more than 500 active volunteers who collectively contributed over 14,000 hours of environmental stewardship across the Wodonga region last year alone. Despite this scale of operation, the organisation had long lacked a dedicated, purpose-built base from which to coordinate its work.
The Ecohub, located within a Wodonga Council office space shared with Council field staff, changes that. The facility includes office space, a meeting room, kitchen and storage area, and will house six WULN staff members alongside space for the network’s 18 group coordinators to meet, plan, and run group activities.
“This is a game changer for the way we do business,” said Network Facilitator Jo Vincent. “Having a professional base means our staff, volunteers and group coordinators can collaborate more effectively, access shared resources, and work together on the conservation programs that matter most to our community.”
More Than Just an Office
Central to the Ecohub is a state-of-the-art video conferencing and interactive display system that will transform the space into a digital hub connecting WULN’s member groups, volunteers, and partner organisations across the region and beyond.
The technology will enable remote training sessions, virtual committee meetings, and cross-cultural knowledge sharing — breaking down the distance barriers that have historically made coordination across a dispersed volunteer network challenging. It will also allow WULN to bring environmental data and local conservation stories to life through engaging digital displays and interactive visualisations.
The Ecohub will support the full breadth of WULN’s programs, including endangered turtle monitoring and protection, native plant propagation, rail trail maintenance, sustainable farming initiatives, citizen science projects, Gardens for Wildlife, and the Healthy Hectares program for small landholders.
Timely Investment as Pressure on the Environment Grows
The opening comes at a critical time. As Albury-Wodonga continues to experience rapid regional development, the pressure on local natural environments is increasing. WULN’s expanded capacity to coordinate, communicate, and collaborate will be vital in ensuring community-led conservation keeps pace with that growth.
The Ecohub was made possible through the generous support of Border Trust, 2AY, the Handbury Foundation, and the Stronger Communities Fund. WULN has also expressed deep gratitude to Wodonga Council for providing the office space that made the project possible.
With the ribbon — and the chainsaw — now firmly in the past, the Baranduda Fields Ecohub is open for business, and the Wodonga Landcare community is ready for the next chapter.