Category Archives: News

Central West forests: sorting out what the public thinks

Posted on 8 April, 2019 by fobif

The Victorian Environment Assessment Council has released a summary of responses to its draft recommendations on the Central West forests. The summary can be found here. The consultation is an interesting example of a public body sounding out opinion as … Continue reading →

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Want to be in the Easter bird check?

Posted on 7 April, 2019 by fobif

BirdLife International has identified areas of conservation importance around the world as Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). This includes KBAs right here in our region. Our KBAs were designated especially for their importance for two special birds, Diamond Firetail and Swift … Continue reading →

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State of the environment: Victoria gets a D

Posted on 28 March, 2019 by fobif

The Commissioner for the environment has released the five yearly State of the Environment report for Victoria. The summary report can be found here. Even the summary report is not easy reading, but it’s fair to say that in most … Continue reading →

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Here’s a pretty picture: tell us how nice it is

Posted on 28 March, 2019 by fobif

FOBIF has made a reluctant submission to the current government consultation on forest management. Our reluctance is based on two concerns: These consultations increasingly look like popularity polls, along the lines of the Herald Sun’s daily polls on subjects like, … Continue reading →

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Fire: another submission

Posted on 28 March, 2019 by fobif

FOBIF has made a late submission to the Bushfire Management consultation [see our previous post], after our representatives attended ‘drop in’ consultations in Castlemaine and Bendigo this month. The substance of our submission is set out below: The poor quality … Continue reading →

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Burns Hill – a recovering landscape

Posted on 18 March, 2019 by fobif

There was a good turnout for the first FOBIF walk this year despite the hot weather. The 5km trek began at the Chewton Shop and followed Forest Creek to the Monster Meeting site. It was then up Burns Hill with … Continue reading →

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Fire 1:Take your pick…hang on: whose pick will count?

Posted on 18 March, 2019 by fobif

DELWP and CFA fire officers have conducted a number of consultations on the ‘Safer together’ fire management strategy in Bendigo and Castlemaine in the last few weeks. As we noted two weeks ago, the Department is considering three strategy options … Continue reading →

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Fire 2: how to deal with ‘reckless ignorance’?

Posted on 18 March, 2019 by fobif

The Safer Together documents available as part of the fire consultations (see above) are headed ‘better bushfire management’. It turns out that this means, ‘better fuel management’, which is not at all the same thing. ‘Management’ includes a whole lot … Continue reading →

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Another reason to slow down…

Posted on 17 March, 2019 by fobif

Travellers on the Pyrenees Highway east of Newstead will have noticed that work is under way on Vicroads’ wire rope project. A last minute series of meetings between local residents and road engineers has failed to bring any further modification … Continue reading →

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It’s a mouthful, but definitely worth putting on your table

Posted on 17 March, 2019 by fobif

Here’s an event with a rather long title–but which looks like it could be both engaging and seriously informative: The interactive workshop will cover two important databases in detail: – State Wide Integrated Flora and Fauna Teams (SWIFFT): a knowledge … Continue reading →

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