Author Archives: fobif

A giant crash

Posted on 23 March, 2015 by fobif

Wild winds brought down numerous trees in the region on the last Saturday in February, including a giant poplar which fell onto the Midland Highway bridge, writing off a car and injuring its driver. The same storm caused massive limb … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations | 2 Comments

After the burning, what?

Posted on 8 March, 2015 by fobif

What can we expect to see in the months and years after the burning of Kalimna Park? Part of an answer can be found in a pamphlet produced by the Castlemaine Field Naturalists after the previous burning of part of … Continue reading →

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Fire review: it’s time to accept the obvious and the logical

Posted on 1 March, 2015 by fobif

As we reported last week, the State Government has asked the Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) to conduct a review of performance targets for the future bushfire fuel management program on public land. The review will ‘examine a risk-based approach to … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management | Comments Off on Fire review: it’s time to accept the obvious and the logical

Hot rods at Gowar: some questions, some answers…

Posted on 28 February, 2015 by fobif

Representatives from the FOBIF committee attended a meeting with Castlemaine Hot Rod Centre (CHRC) and planning consultant David Robb from Planit to discuss plans for a Dynamic Vehicle Testing Facility, Events and Recreation development at Gower on the Castlemaine-Maldon Rd … Continue reading →

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Vale Doug Ralph

Posted on 24 February, 2015 by fobif

FOBIF members and people in the wider community have been saddened by the news that Doug Ralph, founding President of the Friends, has died of a heart attack at his home in Little Bendigo. On his retirement from the FOBIF … Continue reading →

Posted in News | 3 Comments

Fire stoushes: do we need them?

Posted on 18 February, 2015 by fobif

Readers of the Midland Express on Tuesday February 17 will have noticed a letter from the Shadow Minister for the Environment, Brad Battin, as follows: ******* ‘The 2009 Royal Commission into Black Saturday recommended the State Government adopt a five … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management, News | 1 Comment

Fire review, but the old order remains for now

Posted on 18 February, 2015 by fobif

The Labor Government is persisting with Coalition policy on fire in the short term. This is confirmed in a statement released yesterday, announcing an independent review of the fuel reduction program. The statement, from the Environment Minister’s office, goes partly … Continue reading →

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Kalimna: an old question

Posted on 18 February, 2015 by fobif

FOBIF has written to David Major, Ranger in charge fire and emergency operations for Parks Victoria, about track works in Kalimna Park. Our key question was: we believe protocols were developed by Parks some years ago to do with track works. … Continue reading →

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Burning Kalimna

Posted on 9 February, 2015 by fobif

The Department of the Environment is preparing to burn Kalimna Park this autumn, some time between March 1 and May 31. This activity has been long planned, and is part of the current Fire Operations Plan. The map below shows the … Continue reading →

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Gouging Kalimna

Posted on 9 February, 2015 by fobif

As we reported above, participants at the January 30 consultation meeting were assured that track works and mineral earth breaks related to burning operations would be carefully managed and would not involve unnecessary gouging or road widening. Residents can judge … Continue reading →

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