Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

Following its objections to roadworks scalping valuable vegetation from the Fryers Ridge, FOBIF has written to the Environment Minister asking for clarification of policy on vegetation management of roadsides.

The letter reads, in part:

“Forest managers have told us that, though this method of vegetation management is not ‘ideal’, budgetary restraints prevent them from using more labour intensive methods—like selective removal of obstructive vegetation, or moderate grooming. Further, there seems to be a common assumption in the Department that ‘priority to safety’ means absolute disregard for environmental values, when it should mean: careful management of vegetation to maintain sight lines and encourage sensible driver behaviour.

Fryers Ridge, July 2015: the road is the strip in the background. Managers plead that budget restrictions mean that ‘scalping’–scouring the earth–is the only option they have in managing roadside vegetation.

“Our group is fully aware of the necessity to maintain proper fire access roads, and to manage adjacent vegetation to minimise the likelihood of accidents. We believe, however, that this should be done with minimum of disturbance to  environmental values. We assume that Victoria adheres to the common principle ‘avoid, minimise, mitigate and lastly offset’ in its road management policy?

“Given that managers often justify crude practices by appealing to budget limitations, we have four questions:

1. What is the Department’s [and the Government’s] policy on roadside scalping?
2. What is the Department’s 2015-6 budget for a. Forest management and b. conservation reserve management, compared to the same figures of 2005-6?
3. Do the native vegetation clearance regulations which have been the subject of recent community consultation apply to the Department’s own managers?
4. Is there any monitoring of the effects of roadside clearing on the environment?”

As this post is being written, controversy sputters over the destruction of 900 ancient river red gums as part of improvements to the Western Highway: seemingly another exercise by government in which ‘safety’–or in this case, speed–sweeps aside any other considerations.

The state government is reviewing native vegetation clearing regulations, which readers will remember were weakened by the previous government on the grounds of loosening red tape. The terms of the Review can be seen here.

As part of the review, FOBIF representatives and members of other conservation groups, DELWP, the CMA, developers and organisations like bee keepers, farmers, miners and prospectors, attended a consultation session at DELWP Epsom on July 22 to discuss the issue.

As can be imagined from such a disparate gathering, it seemed that almost everyone has an issue with current clearing regulations, but often for conflicting reasons.

Some of the issues raised in the meeting were

1. Lack of resourcing – (staff and funding). This impacts on

• Accuracy of mapping: Department maps are often desktop interpretations based on priorities under the environment protection laws [Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act/Flora and Fauna Guarantee], with no input of local knowledge. The maps are often wrong, sometimes to the advantage of the environment, sometimes to the advantage of developers; this leads to widespread lack of faith in the process.

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The North Central Catchment Management Authority is holding a series of forums on climate change, the natural environment and sustainable agriculture in the region through August. The Castlemaine forum will be held at the Campbell’s Creek Community Centre at 7 pm on August 31.  A light supper will be provided. Contact the CMA to RSVP for catering purposes [info@nccma.vic.gov.au or phone (03) 5448 7124]. The CMA’s Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Plan can be found here.

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And a seminar in October organised by the Royal Society, Melbourne University and the VNPA will look at the likely effects of climate change on water, fire frequency, weather events, dry forests, and numerous other subjects connected to the theme of biodiversity. An impressive range of scientists will speak at the seminar. The program document introduces the subject in this way:

‘Assuming ongoing high levels of global greenhouse gas emissions, temperatures in Victoria [in 2050] would be 1.2° to 2.5°C warmer than recent decades. Around the state, temperatures above 40°C in summer would occur two to four times more frequently, and

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Julie Whitfield of Bendigo is an environmental consultant with a passion for butterflies, and she will be guest speaker at Newstead Landcare’s next meeting, Thursday 20^th August.

As a recipient of a prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship Julie recently had the pleasure of exploring conservation projects for butterflies in the USA and the UK with the dream of bringing these models back to Victoria to apply with our local groups.

Julie will provide a presentation on these experiences and on the butterfly species likely to occur in the Newstead area, and their role in local ecosystems.

Mount Alexander Shire has a few populations of the extremely rare Eltham Copper Butterfly which has an extraordinary relationship with a particular ant species and Sweet Bursaria shrubs. Julie will introduce you to this marvel as well as to some of our more common local butterflies.

All are welcome to attend the talk on Thursday 20^th August at 8 pm at Newstead Community Centre (gold coin donations appreciated). No need to book in – just come along, discover and be inspired!

Julie Whitfield in action

A bitterly cold morning didn’t deter FOBIF walkers from tackling some obscure corners of the Columbine and Salters Creeks valleys on Sunday. The corners turned out to be even more obscure than intended when a navigation error by walk leader Bernard Slattery landed the group in an unexpected approach to Salters Creek. Well, as the great Paddy Pallin might have said, in this country you’re ‘never quite lost’, and we all emerged triumphant and on time.

The walk included a look at one of Doug Ralph’s favourite haunts: Charlie Sanger’s hut, near Columbine Creek. As usual, we provided perfect winter weather for the occasion.

Lunch at Salters Creek

Walkers at Sanger’s hut site. Photo by Noel Young

Bernard addressing the group at Sanger’s hut site.