Author Archives: fobif

Spring prowl

A typically strong group rocked up for FOBIF’s October walk on Sunday, expertly and entertainingly led by Elaine Bayes and Damien Cook through the Morgan’s Track area of the Diggings Park. In spite of the dry season there was plenty … Continue reading

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The Big Tree: does it really need the doctor?

The Guildford Progress Association has written a considered letter to the Mount Alexander Shire to express concern over plans to prune the tree in the interests of its long term health [see our Post]. It essentially argues that the proposed … Continue reading

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Campbells Creek: some questions about fire

On October 2 DELWP conducted a Zone 1 [Asset Protection] burn in Campbell’s Creek. The area burned was 80 hectares, between Rowley Park Road and Pottery Road. The result, in yellow gum and box woodland with reasonably sparse understorey, appeared … Continue reading

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What might have been…

The Federal Department of the Environment estimates that estimated that weeds ‘cost Australian farmers around $1.5 billion a year in weed control activities and a further $2.5 billion a year in lost agricultural production. The real cost of weeds to the … Continue reading

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Water on the Great Dividing Trail!

It’s well known that one of the problems with walking on the GDT is the lack of water, which probably discourages some walkers from undertaking ambitious distances on the track. A small dent in this problem is about to be … Continue reading

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Scalping: here’s part of an answer

We’ve received a response from DELWP to our questions about the scalping of Fryers Ridge Road. You can read it by clicking here: Fryers Ridge Rd DELWP response The key paragraph runs as follows: ‘Roadside scalping is sometimes used where … Continue reading

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Big Tree goes to the doctor

The Mount Alexander Shire will be undertaking works on the Guildford Big Tree, which, as we’ve previously reported, was badly damaged in February. From a Council briefing: ‘The severe storm in February 2015 caused considerable damage to the canopy of … Continue reading

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Tarran Valley: how necessary is it?

FOBIF has made a submission to the Tarran Valley rezoning advisory committee. This committee has been appointed by the planning minister, Richard Wynne, to consider a proposal to develop land in the Sandy Creek area near Maldon. We have objected … Continue reading

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September youth walk

Nioka Mellick-Cooper has supplied us with the following account of FOBIF’s September youth walk: ‘What did you do on Fathers Day? Did you stay at home, did you go out for lunch? On Fathers Day, I ran a bush walk … Continue reading

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Blackwood: a link to a great Australian tradition

Blackwoods are flowering around the place at the moment, though more prolifically in the country to our south. Is there a better example of an Aussie battler than this attractive tree? ‘It tolerates drought, poor drainage, any soil, salt air, … Continue reading

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