Author Archives: fobif

Time to upgrade the Wellsford State Forest

More than 60 people attended a summit on  6 February organised by the Bendigo District Environmental Council to promote the preservation of the Wellsford State Forest through upgrading its status.  The forest is 6,478 ha of Box-Ironbark forest and has special biodiversity … Continue reading

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Sweet Bursaria Seed Collection & Propagation Workshop

On 16 February 2014  there will be a free Sweet Bursaria Seed Collection & Propagation Workshop in the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens between 9.30 and 11am. The workshop has been organised by McKenzies Hill Action & Landcare Group and supported by a grant from … Continue reading

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Smoke and mirrors: government supports prospecting extension

The Victorian Government announced today that it was expanding ‘existing prospecting and gem hunting areas in National Parks.’ In a quite extraordinary piece of logical acrobatics, Environment Minister Ryan Smith declared that the decision ‘supports recommendations made to the Victorian … Continue reading

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Flood mitigation: ideas are floating

Floods are probably the last thing on anyone’s mind as we endure another heat wave–but it’s a sure thing that they’ll happen again some day. The North Central Catchment Management Authority is looking for ways to soften the blow when … Continue reading

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Celebrating Australia

We don’t want to enter the debates that sometimes swirl around Australia Day. But here’s something Australian we can definitely celebrate: a small group of Silver Banksias flourishing near Forest Creek in Happy Valley. Readers of our October 2013 Post … Continue reading

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Gormlessness confirmed?

The State Government’s Improving our waterways: Victorian waterway management  strategy is now out. The important background to this document is that Catchment Management Authorities have had staff cutbacks of around 25%, and DEPI hasn’t done much better. The Strategy is … Continue reading

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Talk on Natural Regeneration

The opening event for Connecting Country’s 2014 education program will be a talk by Ian Lunt, Associate Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences at Charles Sturt University, Albury. His topic is “Natural regeneration in central Victoria: the biggest positive change … Continue reading

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Summer reading 2: fancy a cruise?

Forget about that dream cruise on the Rhine, past turreted castles built by German madmen. What about a trip from Lake Weroona in Bendigo down to the sea at Portland, on a first class steamer along a noble canal? Such … Continue reading

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What next for Wellsford?

The Wellsford Forest is about 15 kilometres NE of Bendigo. The Bendigo and District Environment Council is holding a forum on the future of this forest on February 6. Speakers include Rod Orr (Bendigo Field Naturalists) on the Values of … Continue reading

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Yet another benefit from slowing down

The poet Les Murray has made the interesting observation that ‘the kangaroo has never heard of Australia.’ The point being that animals don’t see things the way we do. Nowhere is this more evident on a daily basis than on … Continue reading

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