Author Archives: fobif

‘Castlemaine’s first environmental cause’

Posted on 19 March, 2013 by fobif

The curious circular earth formation pictured below isn’t a mysterious religious site. It’s a puddling wheel, and if you want to know how it used to work, check out historian Marjorie Theobald’s article ‘Commissioner Bull and the Puddling Machines: Castlemaine’s … Continue reading →

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Flood management plan on the way?

Posted on 13 March, 2013 by fobif

About 100 people turned up to the first public consultation meeting on flood management on February 18 at the Castlemaine Town Hall. The meeting consisted of three presentations on flood issues by Catchment Managers and water industry experts—unfortunately rather repetitive … Continue reading →

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Where’s the heritage?

Posted on 27 February, 2013 by fobif

The photo below shows old sluicing pipes in the Fryers Forest. As they decay, they provide shelter for the growth of seedlings which will eventually hasten their destruction. Is this decay the gradual fading of our heritage? Maybe–if we identify … Continue reading →

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Ant behaving strangely

Posted on 26 February, 2013 by fobif

The ant pictured below is a member of the genus Rhytidoponera. The curious thing about it is that the creature is labouring to carry a shoot of moss [Pseudocrossidium crinitum].                     … Continue reading →

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Kalimna: weeds, fuel, fire

Posted on 23 February, 2013 by fobif

FOBIF has produced a weed map of the south western corner of Kalimna Park. This section of about 24 ha—essentially  the area from Kalimna Point to the golf course— is currently scheduled as a DSE Zone 1 asset protection burn … Continue reading →

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Ever wonder where the soil went?

Posted on 18 February, 2013 by fobif

The photo below could be duplicated hundreds of times through our region: a tree sitting on a ‘pedestal’on the edge of a deeply eroded gully. When that tree was young, it was at ground level. So, where has all the … Continue reading →

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Should prospecting be extended?

Posted on 18 February, 2013 by fobif

The State Government has directed the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council to nominate areas in six National and State Parks where recreational prospecting will be allowed. Details of the brief are here. FOBIF has made a submission to VEAC, which reads … Continue reading →

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2013 Fungi program announced

Posted on 17 February, 2013 by fobif

Fungi expert, Alison Pouliot, has returned to Australia and will  be offering ‘a series  of seminars, workshops, forays and feasts’ in April and May. Most are reasonably close to Castlemaine – Glenlyon, Woodend, Trentham and Creswick. So if you’re interested in … Continue reading →

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FOBIF loses at VCAT on Diamond Gully development

Posted on 9 February, 2013 by fobif

The objections by FOBIF and some local residents to current proposals to build a housing development at Diamond Gully were rejected at the Victorian Administrative Appeals Tribunal in December. The VCAT decision was reported in detail in the Midland Express … Continue reading →

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Poverty Gully Burning [1]: what’s it for?

Posted on 6 February, 2013 by fobif

The Poverty Gully management burn [CAS 008] was a Zone 1 fuel reduction exercise covering 99.6 hectares on the Castlemaine town side of the Dingo Park road, north of Poverty Gully Track. It was conducted late last year. The Arthur’s … Continue reading →

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