Free Native Vegetation Workshop
The North Central Catchment Management Authority landcare team is holding native vegetation identification workshops across northern Victoria in September. The workshops will give practical advice about identification, family and species classification, and vegetation survey techniques.
The Castlemaine workshop will be held at BRIT in Templeton Street from 6--9 pm on Monday September 20. Bookings are essential:
VNPA response to Bushfire Royal Commission
The Victorian National Parks Association has issued a detailed response to the findings of the Royal Commission on Bushfires.
On fuel reduction burning, for example, the VNPA response is
'We strongly support the Commission’s Recommendations 57, 58, 59 and 65, all of which ask for greater accountability in both fuel reduction and biodiversity objectives of prescribed burning programs, and a considerable increase in monitoring and science-based research.
'We are very concerned with Recommendation 56, which asks for a simplistic 5% statewide annual target for prescribed burning. We believe it will be very difficult to achieve, and can lead to perverse outcomes both for public safety, and biodiversity...
'Accountability for public safety and biodiversity protection can best be achieved through the development of a series of regional (or preferably local) science-based strategic burn targets across the state, designed to suit different habitat types and achieve different public safety imperatives. This allows for regional accountability, and helps to avoid the perverse outcome of unnecessary increased burning in remote areas like the Mallee, at the expense of many strategic burns elsewhere.
'We believe a series of regional, science-based targets for planned burns across the state would ensure that the Commission’s recommendations regarding accountability and transparency are delivered, but in a suitably sophisticated manner.'
Weed clearance on Forest Creek FOBIF has used a Parks Victoria grant to embark on a bridal creeper clearance effort alongside the Great Dividing Trail near Forest Creek in Chewton. The site in question is north of the creek, north east of the small pine plantation, around a very large yellow box tree, the environs of which have become completely infested with the weed. This clearance project could become very long term, as the area is infested with a wide variety of environmental weeds. Though we are persisting with this type of project, as with our long term effort in Wattle Gully, we believe it is urgent to develop a long term strategy to tackle the growing weed problem. Parks Victoria has conducted some very valuable work on weeds, particularly in the grooming of gorse along Forest Creek, against wheel cactus on Mount Tarrengower, and the recent promotion of bridal creeper rust, but the criticisms of the Auditor General of Parks' inability to develop an overall, long term plan of attack on weeds remains valid. [28/8/2010]
Mount Alexander Enviro survey
The shire is conducting an online survey on environmental matters. The scientific validity of such surveys is doubtful, but if significant numbers of residents respond to the survey it may provide the Council with some useful feedback. To take it, go to
DSE has released its draft fire operations plans for 2010/11--2012/13 for public consideration.
These plans are available for public viewing at the DSE office in Matheson St Castlemaine during August on Fridays from 9 to 4, and on Thursday 12th August from 12.30--8.00 pm. You can offer comments on the plans at these places.
The plans can also be seen at the Mount Alexander Shire offices Monday to Friday from 9 to 4.45, and at the Maldon visitor centre any day from 9 to 5.
FOBIF has consistently supported the principle behind these plans, because the zoning system they apply makes a clear distinction between areas close to settlement and those out in the bush: they are a far more intelligent approach to vegetation management than the one implied in calls to burn five per cent of everything, for example.
We have, however, serious reservations about the way the plans are implemented, as our readers will know.
We are also concerned about the fact that the plans apply only to public land. In the case of the Mount Alexander region, it seems ridiculous that the fire management systems of the bushland and the pine plantations are in different hands. And, as far as we can tell, there's not much communication between the two managements. We wrote to Hancock plantations in June expressing our concerns on this matter, but have received no reply.
On the subject of the draft DSE plans, our initial examination has revealed one cause for concern: the Department's intention to burn areas of Forest Creek which have been recently revegetated. This operation will have to be sensitively handled, to avoid destroying important biodiversity and amenity gains. [10/8/2010]
Exhibitions kick off
FOBIF's exhibition of photos of flora and fauna of the local bushlands opened this week at DIG Cafe in Newstead. The exhibition will be up for the month of August, and will move to the Castlemaine Market Building in October with the addition of ten new photographs.
The Friends of Kalimna Park photo competition was launched on Friday August 6. The competition attracted over fifty local photographers, and the launch was opened by Hamish McLennan, Parks Victoria's Chief Ranger for the Murray Central Region. Among other things, Hamish mentioned that the work of Friends groups around the state was equivalent to that of 170 rangers.
The Kalimna photos will be on exhibition at the Castlemaine Market for the next two weeks. [7/8/2010]
Getting the goats: an update
Following our communication to DSE regarding a long standing goat problem in the Fryers Forest [see below] the Department has agreed in principle to sending shooters into the forest to try to reduce the numbers in this herd. The problem is that though numerous, the goats move around in an annoyingly elusive manner. We'd be grateful to any member who contacts us promptly on sighting goats in this area. [June 2010]
Weeds along the Loddon
Participants in FOBIF's May walk along the Loddon were entranced by the extremely picturesque, gorge like valley of the river in its upper reaches south of Glenluce [see our photo gallery]. We were also appalled by the invasion of English Broom, a weed that is depressingly common in the wetter areas around Daylesford and Creswick, but not so common in Box Ironbark woodlands. We have enquired of DSE as to the Department's approach to this problem, and have been informed that an ongoing weed control program at the Glenlyon end is moving downriver towards the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. It will be a welcome sight to see some weed reduction in this area: the river between Vaughan and Glenluce is grossly infested with blackberry, something we have been raising with Parks Victoria for some years. [June 2010]
A New Guide to Indigenous Plants of Castlemaine and Surrounds
Castlemaine Field Naturalists have produced an excellent and practical fold out guide to local plants with the assistance of FOBIF, Connecting Country, the Norman Wettenhall Foundation and other local organisations. It will be launched by John Landy, AC, CBO, MBE on July 22 in Castlemaine.
The information guide was produced as a resource for small block holders, farmers, town residents, schools, tourists, bushwalkers and anyone who loves the land.
It contains nearly a hundred illustrations of local flora, most in full colour, and can be carried easily in the pocket. It will be distributed among Landcare and other groups, and is available at a very modest cost from the Castlemaine Market Building. [June 2010]
Alien invasions: what is the truth?
At the end of May the State Auditor General released a report entitled Control of Invasive Plants and Animals in Victoria’s Parks
The report ‘examines the effectiveness of invasive species programs in national and state parks. In particular, the audit examined the governance arrangements, information systems, planning frameworks and on-ground activities targeting invasive species across the park network.’
Its conclusion: ‘How well Parks Victoria manages the invasive plant and animal threat in national and
state parks is generally unclear. Its planning is not robust, its data is inadequate and increasingly out of date, and its park management plans are also outdated and lack sufficient detail. In addition, monitoring and evaluation of invasive species management activities is inconsistent.
‘Good progress has been made in managing some invasive species in some parks, but an increasing reliance on short-term initiative funding to address a long-term problem is detrimental to the effectiveness of the effort across the park network.’
Among its other findings: ‘Recent policy emphasises a landscape scale approach—one that disregards
boundaries based on land ownership and use—to manage pervasive threats, such as invasive species. While progress has been made, Parks Victoria (PV) is yet to apply this approach consistently, and no agency is clearly responsible for balancing local and regional issues with statewide management priorities. There are no detailed outcomes
that the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) expects PV to achieve nor is there a performance framework to assess how effective PV has been in managing invasive species.
‘Around 75 per cent of all plant data and 57 per cent of animal data is over 10 years old, while around 30 per cent of plant and animal data is over 20 years old.’
There is nothing in the report to surprise FOBIF members: we have been complaining for years about the lack of resourcing for park management, and in particular are unhappy about the lack of monitoring of park activities, and an apparent inability to implement published policy. Local rangers have done some serious work on the ground, but the auditor general is spot on in highlighting the lack of an overall attack on the problem.
It contains responses from DSE and Parks to the findings. They make no effort to defend themselves, but promise to do better.
Alien Invasions: What is the truth? Part 2
Coincidentally, a week after the release of the AG’s report, FOBIF received a document from DSE called Weeds and Pests Initiative: making a difference on public land (2007-20110).
The document contains summaries of six regional projects, but does not counter any of the Auditor General’s damaging conclusions.
The State Opposition has highlighted the damaging nature of the AG’s report. We enquired of the shadow minister for the environment as to coalition policy on weeds, and were referred to
This site contains a general run of coalition policies, but to judge from it, the Opposition has even fewer initiatives than the Government on pest plants and animals. Its only policy directly attacking the feral problem is a proposal to reintroduce the fox and wild dog bounty. On the other hand, the Opposition proposes to reintroduce bee keeping into national parks, without any apparent interest in the feral dimension of this proposal. The Opposition appears to have no policy on weeds.
Getting the goats
FOBIF members have observed a herd of about fifty goats in the Columbine Creek area of the Fryers Forest in recent weeks. Goats have been a problem in this area for many years, and we suggested to DSE over a year ago that shooters should be brought in to the area to remove the herd. This is one feral problem it should be easy to get under control, and it's a pity it seems to be getting, if anything, a bit worse. We have once again asked DSE what their control plans are. [May 20 2010]
Fire preparation works
DSE has written to numerous community groups asking for their suggestions about fire preparation works in the region. FOBIF has written with a series of suggestions as follows:
'The suggestions below are offered with the underlying assumption that strategic fuel reduction works around settlements are of much greater use than large area reduction burns in our woodlands, which are of dubious ecological value and in our view not much use as fire protection measures.
'We have prepared the list with the Bendigo Fire Protection Plan map in front of us, and believe that our suggestions are consistent with the aims of the plan, as they relate to asset protection, and that they would be of serious ecological benefit as well.
1. The feral pines which infest our woodlands should be removed. I refer to those around Mount Alexander and Harcourt, in the bushlands adjacent to the Moonlight Flat plantations, and in Chewton near the CFA station.
2. The pines in the Moonlight Flat plantation south of Clark’s road should be removed.
3. Pines should be removed south of Specimen Gully road, to widen the firebreak effect.
These last two measures would strengthen the effect of the asset protection strip north of Specimen Gully road, and help to allay well justified local fears of the fire risk presented by the plantation. We believe that the trees in question are not of great value.
4. Vegetation, mainly weeds [gorse, etc] along the Castlemaine town boundary in Kalimna Park should be groomed.
5. Weed control measures along Forest Creek in Chewton and up to Expedition Pass reservoir should be followed up.
6. Wattle Gully flat should be cleared of highly flammable pampas grass.
Road verges should be cleared of flammable weeds. We note that this seems to have been done quite well on the Campbell’s Creek Irishtown road.
7. Crown land north of the railway in Chewton, adjacent to the Castlemaine Diggings NHP, needs to be fuel reduced. This would strengthen the effect of the asset protection zone south of the railway line.
'We would like to emphasise that we believe that all fire protection works can and should be conducted with an eye on biodiversity protection. Some native vegetation [for example, sweet bursaria] is not particularly flammable. In conducting fuel reduction works, particularly on roadside reserves, attention should be paid to protecting vegetation which is no great fire risk, but is botanically valuable. ' [May 10 2010]
The Wewak Track fuel reduction burn
Photo: John Ellis, April 2010
In early April FOBIF representatives went down to the Wewak Track to look at a fuel reduction burn conducted by DSE two weeks before, in mid Autumn. The burn operation took place ten days after rain, and was followed a week later by a further rain period.
The area is marked Zone 3, ‘broad area reduced fuel mosaic,’ in the Bendigo Fire Protection Plan: ‘it is aimed to treat approximately 65% of each burning unit in any burning operation’ in this zone, according to the Plan. We have been told recently, however, that the aim is now to ‘treat at least 70%’ of each unit.
Our readers will remember that we had taken some interest in a burn in the same area in 2009, because of the particular richness of wildflowers in this part of the
Diggings Heritage Park. We had successfully argued for the exclusion of a small section of the area from burning because of its spectacular cover of matted bush pea [Pultenea pedunculata]. We also argued for care in the conduct of the operation because of the presence of the rare Fryerstown Grevillea and Scented bush pea.
The 2009 burn, of the perimeter of the marked zone—bounded by Porcupine Ridge, Wewak and Loop tracks—was a relatively mild mosaic, and recovery of vegetation seems good.
As in 2009, the objective of the 2010 burn, [of the interior of this zone], was ‘to provide an irregular mosaic of areas of fuel reduction which will complement works in adjacent fuel management zones.’
The photos in our gallery show the burn zone. It seems to us more like a bushfire than a controlled operation, but we are withholding judgment till we can get more information on monitoring, and see what kind of tree recovery happens in Spring. Certainly, as the photos show, there was insect activity in the ash shortly after the fire, and some grass was shooting after the rains which fell not long after the fire. On the other hand, shrub cover seems to have been obliterated.
We are also interested in what, if any, ecological objectives were in the minds of the DSE operatives who conducted the fire. The Fire Protection Plan stipulates that for Zone 3 ‘advice from flora and fauna biologists and Catchment Management officers will be sought as appropriate to ensure that fire frequency and intensity is within a preferred range for achieving broad based ecological…objectives.’ We are trying to find out what advice, if any, was given on this burn.
Our impression is that fuel reduction is the only objective of these operations. This is, arguably, a fair objective. The problem is that DSE also claims an ecological aim for such burns. We are sceptical of this claim—but we are trying, by lobbying and publicity, to keep the Government to its stated objectives in this matter.
Our long held position is that management operations to limit wildfire are justified: but that if the method you adopt has a more destructive ecological effect in the long term than a severe bushfire would have, then you risk ‘destroying the bush in order to save it.’ DSE, with its policy of ‘adaptive management’, claims to be improving its conduct of management operations in the light of past research, but we believe this claim to be quite unjustified.
We will follow up with new information as we get it, and publish new photos of the same area in Spring.
