Author Archives: fobif

Here’s a pretty picture: tell us how nice it is

Posted on 28 March, 2019 by fobif

FOBIF has made a reluctant submission to the current government consultation on forest management. Our reluctance is based on two concerns: These consultations increasingly look like popularity polls, along the lines of the Herald Sun’s daily polls on subjects like, … Continue reading →

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Fire: another submission

Posted on 28 March, 2019 by fobif

FOBIF has made a late submission to the Bushfire Management consultation [see our previous post], after our representatives attended ‘drop in’ consultations in Castlemaine and Bendigo this month. The substance of our submission is set out below: The poor quality … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Pyrenees highway update: community group welcomes works halt

Posted on 29 January, 2019 by fobif

FOBIF has just received the following communique from Newstead 2021: Community group Newstead 2021 Inc today has been informed by Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards that VicRoads’ proposed Pyrenees Highway Safety Improvements project between Newstead and Muckleford South have been … Continue reading →

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Another bargain

Posted on 29 January, 2019 by fobif

Mal ‘Jase’ Haysom has produced yet another useful map of our area: this time, roads and tracks in the Taradale Nature Conservation Reserve and [almost] adjacent State Forest. The map can be found online here, or a paper version can … Continue reading →

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Pyrenees Highway: on the verge

Posted on 29 January, 2019 by fobif

UPDATE ON THIS POST: Please see the press release above relating to this matter Vicroads is planning to begin its tree clearance works on the Pyrenees Highway east of Newstead this week. Works were planned to start today (the 29th), … Continue reading →

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