Category Archives: News

‘Five per cent’ topples at last

The State Government has finally accepted the recommendation of the Inspector General for Emergency Management to scrap the policy of burning five per cent of public land each year. The government will instead pursue a risk assessment policy. The new … Continue reading

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“Mum look out, don’t touch!”

A recent visit to our local patch and bush cubby saw a near miss for me and the realisation that the bush in Campbells Creek seems in distress. On our way up the trunk of our unusual, almost horizontal Candlebark … Continue reading

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Befriending our frogs

Elaine Bayes and Damien Cook who led our last FOBIF walk in Chewton have produced two terrific youtube videos:’Frogs and their Calls’  and ‘Frogs and their Habitats’. The information is well presented and relevant to our local area. Each goes for about 30 … Continue reading

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Geology excursion this Saturday

Muckleford Landcare has organised an excursion for November 14 which will take in Mount Gaspard and the Muckleford Gorge. FOBIF members might remember a fascinating walk we had in the Muckleford Gorge in 2011. The following text is taken from the Muckleford Landcare … Continue reading

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Reprieve for ‘The Big Tree’

The Guildford Progress Association has received news that their concerns about the proposed work on The Big Tree have been heeded. The following is an excerpt from a recent letter to the Association from the Shire: Due to the continued … Continue reading

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Heritage: um, what about us?

Whatever its merits, VEAC’s draft report on heritage places is notable for one baffling deficiency: its failure to consider landscape as a heritage ‘place’. More specifically, it’s clear that the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park is considered, in this report, … Continue reading

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Listen to the Wild: 2 sessions with Andrew Scheoch

In the first session (November 5) Andrew will present ‘beautiful and fascinating recordings from wild places around the world’. Andrew gave a similar presentation in the Castlemaine library earlier this year but this time he will concentrate more on our local birdlife, … Continue reading

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Want to count a koala?

As we’ve previously reported, koalas are not uncommon in our area. But how many are there? You might want to add to the sum of human knowledge by participating in DELWP’s Koala count on Saturday November 7. For details, check … Continue reading

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Guess what? We’re not looking after our heritage places properly

The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council has released its draft proposals paper on Heritage Places. You can find it here Not surprisingly, the Council found that management of heritage sites is seriously underfunded: ‘It is clear that there is insufficient funding … Continue reading

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Historic places, and what they’re worth: revelations soon

The Draft Proposals Paper for VEAC’s Historic Places Investigation will be released for public comment on Thursday 22 October 2015 and made available on that day on the VEAC website. VEAC is holding three information sessions on the Paper, one … Continue reading

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