Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

Anyone  wandering the desolate tracks separating Kalimna Park from the Moonlight Flat pine plantations to the north east this week will see a remarkable sight: beautiful patches of Rough Mint Bush flourishing on apparently sterile rocky surfaces–sometimes right in the middle of the track! The Mint Bush is one of those which may be the frustration of the gardener: spectacular in the most unpromising of environments, it’s not so easy to grow in the civilised conditions of a garden. It’s particularly impressive right now, given that the bush is looking pretty stressed by the dry.

Prostanthera denticulata, Kalimna Park, October 2025: it’s a strikingly rich sight in our stressed bushlands.

You don’t have to go over to the pines to see the Mint Bush, however: if you check out walks 1 and 2 in FOBIF’s walks guide: the Kalimna Circuit Walk, and Kalimna North End, you’ll find Rough Mint Bush in flower there—and in company with lots of Chocolate Lily, Grey Everlasting, and sundry other flowering plants.

Rough Mint Bush can be found scattered around our region. It can be locally abundant—if you see one, you’ll probably see a crowd.

And while I’m on it, there’s another local plant which is described in the late Ern Perkins’s online plant guide, https://www.castlemaineflora.org.au/, as ‘scattered and sparse’ in our region: Rosemary Grevillea. It’s common enough as a garden specimen, but when you see it in the bush, the experience can make your day. The photos below were taken along the Campaspe river.

—Bernard Slattery

Grevillea rosmarinfolia, Campaspe river valley, October: it’s a common garden specimen, but to see it in the bush is special. Photo; Duncan Sharpe

Rosemary grevillea, Campaspe river valley, October. Photo: Duncan Sharpe.

So much is revealed about our local places when we venture out on foot. That is the main purpose of the monthly FOBIF walks. The 2026 calendar of walks is now being organised. Do you know a great walk in the local region? Great can be many things – wonder, curiosity, beauty, fun and enjoyable. Would you be interested in leading or co-lead a walk? Get in touch with Gen Blades, our friendly walks coordinator 0431 371 065. 

This month’s walk will be in the eastern slopes of the Fryers Ranges. We will begin from a  spot inside the forest on the Taradale-Fryerstown Road. From there, we will follow bush tracks and traverse private land to the Dearden Creek where we’ll explore a scenic section of the creek, before picking up the Dearden Creek track to the main ridge road. From there we’ll make our way north along the ridge on the road and side tracks before dropping back down to our parking place. We can expect to see all the usual October wildflower beauties. Bring drinks and food for morning tea and lunch stops along the way. Distance is approximately 7 km. 

To join in the walk, either meet at the Community House in Templeton Street at 9.20am in time for a 9.30am departure or, meet at Taradale Main Street opposite the Metro fuel station at 9.45am. Carpooling is encouraged due to limited parking at the starting point.      Enquiries: Christine Henderson 0417 529 392 or Gen Blades 0431 371 065

Common Cassinia, Fryers Forest, January 1 2015

Mt Alexander Shire Council is inviting residents to ‘have your say on rural land use’ by completing a survey.  For more information about this and the link to the survey, go to the Council’s website: https://shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/rural-land-use-strategy/rlus-community-survey

The website states, “The Rural Land Use Strategy will identify potential areas for rural activities, rural conservation and rural living as well as provide guidelines for development on these lands.”  The latter point regarding “development” is a complex one.  The survey canvasses what you value about rural land and what you think are the main priorities.  It asks what types of things you would like to see in rural areas, ranging from small farms, hospitality and living.  There is a section on rating of impacts, such as environmental, housing pressure and impacts on agriculture.  These areas reveal the competing interests in rural land uses – environmental, economic, hospitality, tourism, social and cultural. We love our rural area for values such as a healthy ecosystem and want to make sure that “development” does not degrade this.

Alarming results in the Victorian State of the Environment 2023 Report https://www.ces.vic.gov.au/soe2023 from the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability is motivation enough for us to have a say in land use wherever possible. From this report, the overall summary of status assessments;  biodiversity, out of 42 assessments, one is good, six are fair and the remaining are poor or unknown; for forests, 26 assessments, three are good, nine fair with the remaining fourteen poor or unknown.  “more than 14 million hectares (60%) of Victorian land has been cleared, mainly for agriculture and settlements.” ces.vic.gov.au/soe2023/key-topics/land

Another issue is farmland and the dilemma of how to maintain sustainable, local food economies. This competes with the pressure to build more homes. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/periurban-planning-failure-a-ticking-time-bomb-20150213-13dw6r.html

The Shire conducted a community consultation as part of a Rural Land Study in 2014. This provides some historical context and interesting information and maps on the various zones that are identified as Farming, Rural Living, Low Density Residential, Rural Conservation, Public Conservation and Resources, water body. https://share.google/PS84gRV8Ii0UDP8jl

To find out if your property is in a rural zoned area, go to https://mapshare.vic.gov.au/vicplan/ then type in your address and read the planning property report.

Mount Alexander Shire have provided this forum for us to let them know what the community thinks and we urge you to take this opportunity to support our environment.