Welcome to the BICA (Bend of Islands Conservation Association) website.
BICA was formed in the 1960s and helped save the Bend of Islands from being flooded to form the Yarra Brae Dam.
The Bend of Islands is located only 30km north east of Melbourne, Australia, adjacent to the Yarra River and about 20 minutes drive north of Eltham.
The area is zoned Special Use Zone 2 (Environmental Living) under the Shire of Nillumbik Planning Scheme and is unique in Australia.
Situated on 634 hectares of natural bush-land, the area combines environmental conservation with residential use. The zoning ensures that the flora and fauna are protected by strict regulations prohibiting the introduction of non-indigenous plants and the keeping of pets and or livestock, including cats, dogs, horses or cattle.
Members of our community care about the flora and fauna that live close to their houses. Protection of the environment and low impact residential development form the basis of the special planning provisions in this area.
The BICA objectives are:
- To preserve, nurture and encourage the diversity of the native flora and fauna of the area and its natural beauty, consistent with essential community needs, including fire precaution.
- To nurture and encourage the diversity of the local flora and fauna and to promote community understanding of the local ecology and how to live in harmony with it through sharing of knowledge and experiences.
- To associate and collaborate with other organizations whose aims are consistent with these objectives and to support, where appropriate, conservation activities in other areas.
- To act for and on behalf of the membership individually or collectively in negotiations with public authorities, other organizations and individuals within the framework of these objectives.
- BICA Calander 2022 – Has all the activities that BICA has organised throughout the year.
- This Month in the Bend – For what events are planned for each month in the Bend of Islands.
- See the BICA newsletters for articles of interest to the Bend of Islands:
BICA Newsletter – 97 – May 2022
BICA Newsletter – 96 – June 2021
BICA Newsletter – 95 – November 2020
BICA Newsletter – 94 – May 2020
BICA Newsletter – 93 – November 2019
BICA Newsletter – 92 – May 2019
BICA Newsletter – 91 – November 2018
BICA Newsletter – 90 – April 2018
BICA Newsletter – 89 – October 2017
BICA Newsletter – 88 – April 2017
BICA Newsletter – 87 – October 2016
BICA Newsletter – 86 – April 2016
BICA Newsletter – 85 – November 2015
BICA Newsletter – 84 – April 2015
BICA Newsletter – 83 – October 2014
BICA Newsletter – 82 – April 2014
BICA Newsletter – 81 – April 2013
BICA Newsletter – 80 – November 2012
BICA Newsletter – 79 – March 2012
BICA Newsletter – 77 – September 2010
BICA Newsletter – 76 – April 2010
BICA Newsletter – 75 – November 2009
BICA Newsletter – 74 – May 2009
BICA Newsletter – 73 – December 2008
BICA Newsletter – 72 – August 2008
BICA Newsletter – 71 – March 2008
BICA Newsletter – 70 – December 2007
BICA Newsletter – 69 – August 2007
BICA Newsletter – 68 – May 2007
BICA Newsletter – 67 – November 2006
BICA Newsletter – 66 – July 2006
BICA Newsletter – 65 – March 2006
BICA Newsletter – 64 – December 2005
BICA Newsletter – 63 – August 2005
BICA Newsletter – 62 – April 2005
BICA Newsletter – 61 – November 2004
BICA Newsletter – 60 – July 2004
BICA Newsletter – 59 – March 2004
BICA Newsletter – 58 – November 2003
BICA Newsletter – 57 – July 2003
BICA Newsletter – 56 – March 2003
BICA Newsletter – 55 – November 2002
BICA Newsletter – 54 – August 2002
BICA Newsletter – 53 – April 2002
BICA Newsletter – 52 – November 2001
BICA Newsletter – 51 – August 2001
BICA Newsletter – 50 – March 2001
BICA Newsletter – 49 – November 2000
BICA Newsletter – 48 – July 2000
BICA Newsletter – 47 – March 2000
BICA Newsletter – 46 – November 1999
BICA Newsletter – 45 – September 1999
BICA Newsletter – 44 – April 1999
BICA Newsletter – 43 – September 1998
BICA Newsletter – 42 – June 1998
BICA Newsletter – 41 – March 1998
BICA Newsletter – 40 – October 1997
BICA Newsletter – 39 – August 1997
BICA Newsletter – 38 – April 1997
BICA Newsletter – 37 – November 1996
BICA Newsletter – 36 – September 1996
BICA Newsletter – 35 – April 1996
BICA Newsletter – 34 – August 1995
BICA Newsletter – 33 – December 1994
BICA Newsletter – 32 – August 1994
BICA Newsletter – 31 – March 1994
BICA Newsletter – 30 – November 1993
BICA Newsletter – 29 – July 1993
BICA Newsletter – 28 – February 1993
BICA Newsletter – 27 – November 1992
BICA Newsletter – 26 – May 1992
BICA Newsletter – 25 – November 1991
BICA Newsletter – 24 – June 1991
BICA Newsletter – 23 – December 1990
BICA Newsletter – 22 – July 1990
BICA Newsletter – 21 – December 1989
BICA Newsletter – 20 – July 1989
BICA Newsletter – 19 – October 1988
BICA Newsletter – 18 – March 1988
BICA Newsletter – 17 – April 1987
BICA Newsletter – 16 – August 1986
BICA Newsletter – 14 – April 1986
BICA Newsletter – 13 – October 1985
BICA Newsletter – 12 – June 1985
BICA Newsletter – 11 – March 1985
BICA Newsletter – 10 – December 1984
BICA Newsletter – 9 – October 1984
BICA Newsletter – 8 – Auguast 1984
BICA Newsletter – 7 – July 1983
BICA Newsletter – 6 – November 1982
BICA Newsletter – 5 – April 1982
BICA Newsletter – 4 – September 1981
BICA Newsletter – 3 – January 1980