Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

According to the Trust for Nature, 4000 ha of native vegetation is being cleared from private land each year.

In spite of this, there has been a push among supporters of the State Government to ease laws controlling this clearing, and the Government is about to do this.

The changes may be seen in a DEPI document in which the word ‘reform’ is repeatedly used. ‘Reform’ used to mean ‘improvement’: but it has now become  a general rule that prolific use of the word almost certainly means that the systems in question are about to be degraded. This seems to be the case here.

The government’s ‘reform’ document can be seen here

A thorough analysis of the ‘reform’ proposal can be found on the Conversation website, together with interesting responses from readers: including one landholder who discovered that under the new regulations his bush block–which contains several endangered plant species–is classified the same, for clearing purposes, as the wheat field next door!

Essentially the ‘reforms’ mean that it will be easier to clear native vegetation. FOBIF has put its name to the following letter drafted by the Victorian National Parks Association, objecting to the changes:

Continue reading →

Due to factors beyond our control, all the posts after 13 August 2013 have been removed from the FOBIF website. We intend to reinstate them using stored copies. However this could take a couple of weeks because our main contributor, Bernard Slattery, is currently on holidays for 10 days.

We will email subscribers when the site is back to normal.

The second last FOBIF walk for the year took place in the Fryers Ranges west of Taradale on Sunday 15 September.    A 20 minute portion of this walk was conducted as a “sound walk” during which (without speaking) we listened to the soundscape to which our own passing contributed.  People commented later that this silent walking led to a more intense visual and aural experience of the bush.  We may include a sound walk on one or more occasions next year if people are interested.

Noel Young contributed the following text and photos:

In fine and mild to warm conditions, a group of 25 to 30 set off for a 10k walk through the bush, ably led by Alex, who led us across country rather than along tracks.

Perhaps owing to the weather and the time of year, there seemed to be more bird activity than I have noted at other times in the area. Although I only recorded species while on the move, and didn’t use binoculars, I had noted the following by the walk’s end; Superb Fairy Wrens were abundant, especially near the race, where also the distinctive call of the Fan-tailed Cuckoo was heard persistently, as well as further into the walk. Others noted along the way were White-throated Treecreeper, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Black faced Cuckoo-shrike, Red Wattlebird, Common Bronzewing Pigeon, Galah, Crimson Rosella, White-winged Choughs, Grey Fantail, Yellow Robin.

Toward the end of the walk, someone found a recently deceased body of a female Scarlet Robin (apparently undamaged)

Although the bush seemed quite dry for the time of year, there were good showings of flowering wattle scrub along the way, and many early wildflowers. I noted down the following;    Purple Coral Pea, Gorse Bitter Pea, Early Nancy, White Marianth, Fairy Wax-flower, Handsome Flat Pea, Pink Bells, Pink Fingers (the only orchid – a single specimen), Common Beard-heath, Daphne Heath, Downy Grevillea (alpina), Common Hovea, Grey Everlasting, Rice Flower sp. and a Button sp.

White Marianth and Purple Coral-pea. Photos by Noel Young

The final FOBIF walk for the year will be in another part of the Fryers Ranges. Richard Pease will lead the walk and you can find out more about this one here. We are now planning the 2014 walks program. If you have an idea for a walk or would like to lead one we would be very interested in hearing from you.  Contact details are here.

FOBIF’s AGM saw the current committee reelected unopposed on August 12: the committee for the next twelve months is:

 The DEPI planned burning program is now on the internet for public consideration. As we have previously reported, the program contains new proposed burn areas, mainly centred around settlement, and targeted as Asset Protection Zones.

The program can be seen here. It’s not a particularly friendly website, and the maps may be slow to load, but it’s important that people familiarise themselves with burns planned in their own area.

DEPI has shown that it is interested in community feedback: instructions on how to do this are on the above link, but it’s probably simpler to email concerns to planned.burning@depi.vic.gov.au . The consultation is open till August 31.

FOBIF’s position on this question has been consistent:

1.   We are not opposed to fuel reduction clearly and effectively directed at protection of communities and assets.

2.   We are sceptical of the value of recklessly burning vast areas remote from settlement, with little evidence of any ecological or safety concern. We believe that the recent report by the Royal Commission Implementation Monitor validates this view.

In all cases we believe operations should be conducted with respect for the environment: this means more than just drawing a boundary around a zone and setting fire to it.

In the case of the present plans, we are particularly concerned about the plan to burn Kalimna Park. DEPI showed in last year’s Poverty Gully burns that it could conduct its operations with care for ecological values, but even there precious big old trees were needlessly brought down. FOBIF has produced a weed map of Kalimna. We believe that the proposed operation can be used to get rid of flammable weeds and that fuel reduction should be achieved without destroying the Park’s many precious assets. This can only be done with a variety of fuel reduction methods, not just blunt application of fire.

We are also concerned about remote area burns: in particular, the proposed burning of Peppertree track and Rusconi’s Road, in the Tarilta catchment, if not properly managed, will go close to completing the destruction of this wonderful area; and the large planned burn at Amanda’s Track, at the south end of the Diggings Park, presents a serious ecological challenge to managers.

We urge members to write to the above address expressing an interest in the areas they know best. Intense interest from this area last year has caused some modification of DEPI plans. It’s a simple fact that some DEPI operatives work a lot better if they think they are being closely watched. We would like to avoid a repetition of the scandalous carelessness of past operations like last year’s Tarilta Gorge burn.

FOBIF’s submission to last year’s FOP can be found here. It’s still relevant. Modifications to last year’s plan include the addition of several Asset Protection burns; a sensible change to the zoning of Mount Tarrengower [the whole of the mountain had been unaccountably zoned Asset Protection]; and others which can be seen here.

The forty plus millimetres of rain which has fallen in our district over the last week or so has made a huge and probably temporary difference to our minor streams.

Creeks which flow for only a few weeks of any given year have acquired a shining new life. That’s why, if you have the chance, it’s a good idea to get out into the bush as soon as you can after any heavy drop of rain. Sometimes the flow only lasts a few days.

Salters Creek, Castlemaine Diggings NHP, August 10 2013. Scenes like this may only last a few days.

The Fryers Forest creeks are a good example. Our picture shows a scene which is only on show if you’re quick on the uptake, and get out to see it while it lasts!

Local ecologist Karl Just will be presenting a talk on Ants and their important role in native ecosystems on Thursday 15 August between 8 pm and 9 pm at the Newstead Community Centre.

Among other things, the talk will explore the origin and distribution of ants, the fascinating relationships they have with other organisms and their potential for use in monitoring. Some common species occurring in the local area will also be discussed. 

The evening has been organised by the Newstead Landcare Group and a gold coin donation on the night will help to continue to provide these interesting talks (and supper).

Notoncus ants attending larva of Eltham Copper Butterfly