Author Archives: fobif

A stroll through the Metcalfe NCR

Good numbers rocked up for FOBIF’s August walk through the Metalfe Nature Conservation Reserve yesterday. This small reserve features beautiful open valleys of grassy woodland, the understorey dominated by Wallaby Grass. The reserve, unusually for this region, carries no Stringybarks, … Continue reading

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Here’s an answer–Oh…but what was the question?

FOBIF has received an answer from Forest Fire Management to its submission on current plans for management burns in this area. We print the answer in full below. You can check to see if it answers any of the questions … Continue reading

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AGM!

The FOBIF Annual General Meeting will be held at the Ray Bradfield Rooms, Castlemaine, on Monday September 12th at 7.30. All members and supporters are welcome. The guest speaker at the meeting will be Patrick Kavanagh, who will talk on … Continue reading

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FOBIF’s walks guide: an update!

Parks Victoria is currently undertaking landscaping works around the Garfield Wheel in the Castlemaine Diggings NHP. These have changed the nature of the signage in the area, and therefore affect the directions we have given for Walk 8 in our … Continue reading

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Roadside riddles

Mount Alexander shire conducted three poorly advertised consultation sessions through June and July on its draft Roadside fuel and bushfire risk strategy. The draft document can be found online here The draft, prepared by Fire Risk Consultants, proposes ‘treatment’ of … Continue reading

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State of the environment: I don’t need to change, do I?

Australia’s State of the Environment report 2021 was belatedly released last week. The report’s grim findings have been widely publicised, and we won’t repeat what will be already widely known. It’s worth pointing out, however, that the report is peppered … Continue reading

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State of the environment 2: some fun snippets

Here are a few details from the SOE report, relevant to our own region: 1. Paying attention to good on ground management matters. If you ever wonder whether Landcare is worth the effort, or if weed and feral animal control … Continue reading

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State of the environment 3: this fact isn’t so fun

‘Species introduced to Australia from other regions and countries can have a crippling effect on economies and further impact the health and wellbeing of local communities. The cost to Australia of managing problem species over the past 50 years is … Continue reading

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OK, things are not great. In the mean time, from day to day…

…From day to day, the signs of spring are popping up everywhere: And just as heroic: Eucalypts growing out of nothing, on mullock heaps at the slate quarry near the Welsh Village:

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Sunshine…and a few clouds

Long Walk A small group rocked up for FOBIF’s July long walk yesterday, undeterred by black clouds, sober weather forecasts and the prospect of an energetic 16 kms trek across hilly terrain. The weather actually delivered everything except snow: squally … Continue reading

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