Author Archives: fobif

Fire and the five per cent: some background

Posted on 23 March, 2015 by fobif

Where did the policy of burning [at least] five per cent of public land every year come from? The material below is taken from the submission by the Victorian National Parks Association to the current enquiry. As readers will remember, … Continue reading →

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Oh, deer

Posted on 14 March, 2015 by fobif

Readers of the Castlemaine Mail on Friday February 20 will have noticed Newstead policeman Grant Macdonald referring to the increase in wild deer crossings at Green Gully. This, of course, is a potentially serious traffic hazard. Feral deer have a … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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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