Author Archives: fobif

Want to have a say about central west forests?

Posted on 16 July, 2017 by fobif

As we’ve previously reported, Vicforests is keen to open some forests on the margins of our area to renewed logging, including the Wellsford, a magnificent Ironbark forest north of Bendigo, and the Wombat, to our south. An analysis of Vicforests’ … Continue reading →

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Winter–and a backward look

Posted on 3 July, 2017 by fobif

So it’s been the driest June on record around much of Victoria. Castlemaine weather station recorded 7 mls of rain for the month, compared to long term average of 56 mls. The previous lowest June rainfall was 13 mls in … Continue reading →

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Not all fuel ‘reductions’ are the same

Posted on 3 July, 2017 by fobif

What conclusions are to be drawn from the Loop Track fire? In the absence of careful and detailed pre and post burn monitoring, caution is needed. We’ve found it impossible to get from DELWP a considered opinion on the effectiveness … Continue reading →

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Dealing with floods

Posted on 25 June, 2017 by fobif

Last Tuesday the Mount Alexander Shire held an info session on plans to construct flood control levees along Campbells Creek. The proposed levee plan is the result of consultations on the 2015 Flood Management plan. This extensive document can be … Continue reading →

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VEAC looks at central west forests

Posted on 25 June, 2017 by fobif

The Victorian Environment Assessment Council has opened an investigation into the public forests of the central west area. These include the Wombat, the Wellsford and the Pyrenees forests. All these were proposed for logging under Vicforests Forest utilisation plan 2017. … Continue reading →

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Winter reading

Posted on 25 June, 2017 by fobif

OK, it’s cold, and maybe not wet enough. Some quality reading to brighten a winter evening: the June newsletter of our neighbours, Wombat Forestcare, available online here. This edition has the usual terrific info on fungi, the case against logging … Continue reading →

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Roadside tales

Posted on 5 June, 2017 by fobif

FOBIF representatives met with Mount Alexander Shire officers last Monday to discuss roadsides in the shire. The meeting related to planning scheme amendments designed to put protection overlays on some roadsides. FOBIF supports Council initiatives in this area, but we … Continue reading →

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What can we learn from the ruins?

Posted on 29 May, 2017 by fobif

FOBIF has made a submission to the process of updating the Castlemaine Diggings NHP Heritage Action Plan [now known as the Heritage Landscape Management Framework]. Our view can be roughly summed up in the words of the old Heritage Plan: … Continue reading →

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A walk on misty Mount Alex

Posted on 22 May, 2017 by fobif

A solid group of walkers was guided by Jeremy Holland through some remote corners of Mount Alexander east on Sunday. The walk started with a pleasant stroll  along the water race, before angling up the mountain south of Aqueduct Creek: … Continue reading →

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What’s the Diggings Park good for?

Posted on 22 May, 2017 by fobif

Parks Victoria has released the results of its survey of users of the Castlemaine Diggings NHP. There were 265 responses to the online survey. While such a voluntary survey has inbuilt problems of reliability, the results are probably a good … Continue reading →

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