FOBIF Submission on Proposed Planned Burn South of Castlemaine

Posted on 12 March, 2026 by Karl Just

FOBIF has lodged a submission to Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) regarding the proposed 239-hectare Campbells Creek – Stephensons Track planned burn in the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park.

Among the concerns raised in our submission:

  • The planned burn area contains populations of the nationally threatened Eltham Copper Butterfly (Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida), a species that depends on Bursaria spinosa shrubs and a close relationship with native ants to complete its life cycle.
  • The forest within the burn footprint supports numerous other threatened species, including the Castlemaine Spider-orchid (Caladenia clavescens), Emerald-lip Greenhood (Pterostylis smaragdyna), Brown Toadlet (Pseudophryne bibronii), Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus) and Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa).
  • Old hollow-bearing eucalypts occur throughout the burn area, providing nesting sites for wildlife but at risk of being killed when fire burns inside existing hollows.
  • Evidence from recent burns nearby suggests fuel hazard can return to — or even exceed — pre-burn levels within just a few years, raising questions about the effectiveness of broad planned burns in Box–Ironbark forests.
  • The burn footprint includes “The Monk” hilltop, a well-known butterfly hill-topping site where butterflies gather during the breeding season.
  • Part of the Castlemaine Diggings Track passes through the proposed burn area, a popular walking and cycling route through the historic goldfields landscape.

You can read our full submission, with a map showing the site and threatened species previously recorded here

If this proposal concerns you, please consider sending your own submission to FFMV — even a short message explaining why this forest matters to you can help ensure community voices are heard. Community members can send submissions or comments to –

customer.service@deeca.vic.gov.au

mallee.engage@deeca.vic.gov.au

environment.compliance@dcceew.gov.au 

mg.forestandfireplanning@deeca.vic.gov.au

with the subject line Campbells Creek – Stephensons Track planned burn.

Posted in Fire Management | 1 Comment

Make a submission to Parliament about the 2026 bushfires, read our submission

Posted on 9 March, 2026 by fobif

There is an inquiry into the 2026 summer fires across Victoria, Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee

The deadline for submissions has been extended to 19 April 2026. We encourage you to use this Link and make a submission.

Here is the FOBIF submission, it makes interesting reading.

Posted in Fire Management, News | 2 Comments

Brendan Sydes “The importance of community groups and citizen science for protecting and restoring our natural environment”

Posted on 9 March, 2026 by fobif

The Castlemaine Field Naturalists AGM & talk

Brendan is an environmental lawyer and former Executive Director of Environmental Justice Australia.  He is the National Biodiversity Policy Adviser to the Australian Conservation Foundation, and a Board of Management member for several environmental not-for-profit organisations.  Brendan is a regular contributor to iNaturalist and passionate about biodiversity conservation at landscape scale.

Meeting papers are available from the following links:

For more information, please contact the Secretary. Completed forms should reach the Secretary (castlemainefnc@hotmail.com) before the AGM.

The evening will conclude with a birthday cake to celebrate the CFN 50th anniversary!

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First walk for the year, Spring Gully

Posted on 9 March, 2026 by fobif

15 March   A backyard view of Spring Gully   Carolyn Crowther 0407 214 049

This walk with a Spring Gully local, is an invitation to ask: what do we owe the place now? Find out the answers on this walk. We will follow kangaroo tracks through Box–ironbark forest, moving quietly and slowly to notice what’s living and growing here: the thin range of plants that persist, what’s being eaten, and the signs of animals passing through. We’ll also act on what we see – picking up any rubbish that can harm wildlife. Talking frankly about what protection looks like in practice. It’s a walk for people who love this place enough to protect it: to recognise harm, call it out, and help stop it. The walk takes a 5 km loop from Spring Gully Road that includes relatively untouched vegetation but still holds the detritus of generations.              

Meet at Community House, Templeton St Castlemaine at 9.30am or Spring Gully Mine carpark, Old Coach Road at 9.45am carpark

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Bibron’s Toadlet Field Trip Soon

Posted on 2 March, 2026 by fobif

Karl gave us a great insight into this ‘Fascinating little critter’. We learnt how we can use citizen science to protect its habitat which will give this endangered species a greater chance of survival. 

Today’s rainy day was the perfect day to contemplate this little toadlet, which only breeds after autumn rain. They aren’t calling yet, but if we get some follow up rains, the Bibron’s toadlet will begin to call in the lead up to breeding. Then we will head out into the field to hear some in real life. 

If you are interested and didn’t make it to this session, you can still be involved by emailing us at info@fobif.org.au. 

 

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off on Bibron’s Toadlet Field Trip Soon