Author Archives: fobif

Fire 1:Take your pick…hang on: whose pick will count?

Posted on 18 March, 2019 by fobif

DELWP and CFA fire officers have conducted a number of consultations on the ‘Safer together’ fire management strategy in Bendigo and Castlemaine in the last few weeks. As we noted two weeks ago, the Department is considering three strategy options … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management, News | Comments Off on Fire 1:Take your pick…hang on: whose pick will count?

Fire 2: how to deal with ‘reckless ignorance’?

Posted on 18 March, 2019 by fobif

The Safer Together documents available as part of the fire consultations (see above) are headed ‘better bushfire management’. It turns out that this means, ‘better fuel management’, which is not at all the same thing. ‘Management’ includes a whole lot … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management, News | Comments Off on Fire 2: how to deal with ‘reckless ignorance’?

Another reason to slow down…

Posted on 17 March, 2019 by fobif

Travellers on the Pyrenees Highway east of Newstead will have noticed that work is under way on Vicroads’ wire rope project. A last minute series of meetings between local residents and road engineers has failed to bring any further modification … Continue reading →

Posted in News | 1 Comment

It’s a mouthful, but definitely worth putting on your table

Posted on 17 March, 2019 by fobif

Here’s an event with a rather long title–but which looks like it could be both engaging and seriously informative: The interactive workshop will cover two important databases in detail: – State Wide Integrated Flora and Fauna Teams (SWIFFT): a knowledge … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on It’s a mouthful, but definitely worth putting on your table

Another consultation epic: fire

Posted on 25 February, 2019 by fobif

The Victorian Government is running an online consultation on approaches to fire management. It’s a continuation of the consultation started last year on the subject. The info gathered from Phase One of the survey has been processed, and the results … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management | Comments Off on Another consultation epic: fire

Why didn’t we notice this before?

Posted on 11 February, 2019 by fobif

People travelling on Harmony Way south of Harcourt in the last few months have been intrigued by what seems to be a new kind of mistletoe on roadside Red Gums. Although maybe more prolific than in previous years, the mistletoe … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off on Why didn’t we notice this before?

Highway safety: the talk goes on

Posted on 11 February, 2019 by fobif

Vicroads engineers met again with residents in Newstead last week to go over objections to tree removals along the Pyrenees Highway [see our previous posts]. Numerous objections to the basis of the project were raised. Some were accepted as legitimate—statistics … Continue reading →

Posted in News | 2 Comments

Eltham Copper Butterfly awareness project

Posted on 11 February, 2019 by fobif

Connecting Country is preparing a grant application to Mount Alexander Shire Council for an Eltham Copper Butterfly project, working with local ecologists Elaine Bayes and Karl Just, seeking funding to monitor and protect this threatened species. FOBIF has agreed to … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Eltham Copper Butterfly awareness project

Only read this if you’re feeling courageous

Posted on 11 February, 2019 by fobif

As we pointed out a few weeks ago, there’s increasing anecdotal evidence of a decline in local insect populations. The evidence is mounting that this is a world wide problem. According to the latest scientific review, ‘More than 40% of … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off on Only read this if you’re feeling courageous

Forest management survey

Posted on 11 February, 2019 by fobif

DELWP is currently running an online survey to gauge community attitudes to forest management. According to a Department press release, ‘The Forest Reform Program is the bringing together of land and fire managers, Traditional Owners and Victorian communities to plan … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Forest management survey