Author Archives: fobif

Does logging add to bushfire risk?

Are logged forests less prone to dangerous fire than forests left to themselves? There is a common perception that if you log a forest, you reduce the danger of severe bushfire. The question is, can this opinion be supported by … Continue reading

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Fire: more might be less

FOBIF has made submission to Forest Fire Management’s burning proposals for 2022-5. The submission is printed below. Our approach over the years has been to insist that all ‘fuel reduction’ exercises be carefully monitored, and that the results be used to … Continue reading

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Fire proposals: have a say!

The Department of Environment has released its draft fuel management plan for 2022-4 for comment. The plan includes ‘DELWP led fuel reduction and ecological burns, and does not include Traditional Owner burns, CFA led burns and mechanical works.’ The plan … Continue reading

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A new life for Forest Creek?

What do you think of the walled section of Forest Creek from the old footbridge at the bottom of Andrews street (Ten Foot bridge) downstream to the Pyrenees highway at Barker street? Castlemaine Landcare have embarked on a collaborative project … Continue reading

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Fuel break for Muckleford forest

Representatives of local enviro groups met with the DELWP Strategic Fuel Breaks team in the Muckleford forest last week to look at the break proposed along Bells Lane track. This will run from from Muckleford School Rd (east) to Roberts … Continue reading

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All threats averted

A small group of heroes tackled FOBIF’s May walk, in spite of unfriendly weather forecasts and a slightly forbidding walk description, which piled threat on threat: climbs, creek crossings, fallen logs and loads of gorse. All participants survived this grim … Continue reading

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Tarilta, south end

FOBIF’s May walk will tackle the Tarilta creek valley from the Sawpit Track end, the starting point being  about a 30 minute drive from Castlemaine. This is the less travelled end of the valley: there’ll be steep ascents and descents, … Continue reading

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Have your say on the budget

Mount Alexander Shire Council’s budget provides an opportunity to influence Council on what citizens would like it to spend money on (and/or avoid spending money on). The draft 2022-23 budget went before Council at its meeting on 19 April, and … Continue reading

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Where should the signs point?

A project is under way to install new visitor information points along the Goldfields Track. The project involves 4 visitor hubs, 8 trail headboards, and up to 100 interpretive signs along the 200+ kilometre length of the track between Ballarat … Continue reading

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Code violations and other concerns

The Code of Practice for bushfire management was published in 2012, in the aftermath of the Royal Commission into the Black Saturday fires. You can check out FOBIF’s review of the document here. The Code was intended to be replaced … Continue reading

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