Category Archives: News

Fire protection: what should be the priorities?

Posted on 4 September, 2014 by fobif

The Victorian National Parks Association has made its submission to the current draft Fire Operations Plan. Since the VNPA covers statewide fire protection problems much better than we could do, we print its ‘general overview’ of its submission below: ****** … Continue reading →

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What are our ‘high value ecosystem areas’ [and how do we know?]

Posted on 1 September, 2014 by fobif

On Monday August 25 the Department of the Environment and Primary Industries hosted a meeting with representatives of enviro groups from the West Central Risk Management area. The point of the meeting was to discuss current and future fire planning … Continue reading →

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Where do the plantations fit in the Fire Operations Plan?

Posted on 25 August, 2014 by fobif

Residents living near the Hancock Moonlight Flat pine plantations have been informed by company foresters that the plantations are to be harvested and resown this coming season. This finally puts to rest the story that the plantations were slated to … Continue reading →

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7 & 28 September 2014 – Youth & Family Bushwalks

Posted on 23 August, 2014 by fobif

The Spring Youth Bushwalk will be held on Sunday 7 September in Poverty Gully. Young FOBIF member, Nioka Mellick-Cooper, received a grant last year from the Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Youth Grants Program to run bush walks around Castlemaine for younger … Continue reading →

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Box Ironbark AGM

Posted on 14 August, 2014 by fobif

Thirty members and guests turned up to the FOBIF Annual General Meeting on Monday night to hear an entertaining and informative talk by George Milford on the chequered history of Mount Alexander, with an emphasis on its little known industrial … Continue reading →

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Safety last?

Posted on 10 August, 2014 by fobif

The Conversation website this weekend carries an important article by Deakin University researchers on the burning program currently supported by both major parties in Victoria. Revealingly titled ‘Burnoff policies could be damaging habitats for 100 years’ the article patiently explains … Continue reading →

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Royal Commission Monitor hits the target, again

Posted on 6 August, 2014 by fobif

The Royal Commission Implementation Monitor, Neil Comrie, has once again questioned the policy of burning five per cent of public land annually. The Monitor’s Annual report is released today. It can be found here. The relevant section of the report … Continue reading →

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Eight questions to ask the candidates

Posted on 4 August, 2014 by fobif

With a State election due in November, candidates are starting to do a bit of spruiking about the place. We’ve drafted a number of questions it might be worth putting to them, should they appear on the horizon: 1. In … Continue reading →

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Mount Alexander in history

Posted on 30 July, 2014 by fobif

It was an important place to the Jaara people; grazed by sheep for nearly 100 years; listed as having been entirely denuded of useful trees by 1876; burned out by bushfire in 1901, and then washed out by a heavy … Continue reading →

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Is a historic place a relic?

Posted on 30 July, 2014 by fobif

What’s a historic place? The Victorian Environment Assessment Council is conducting an ‘Historic Places Investigation’, submissions for which are due to VEAC by September 12. FOBIF is making a submission to this process, arguing that a historic place is not … Continue reading →

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