Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

Travellers across the Coliban River on the Taradale-Metcalfe road recently will have noticed that the river is looking terrible. Although there’s a very small flow,  the water is an unhealthy milky colour and there’s a peculiar scum on it.

The problem is that there’s been little rain since October and practically none this year. The Catchment Management Authority is aware of the problem, and is planning a small environmental release from the Malmsbury reservoir in the near future.

The Coliban at Taradale. An environmental release is planned to give the river a break: but maybe the Coliban would be in better shape if water wasted in the Poverty Gully channel in January had been put into the river instead..

There’s an interesting dimension to this problem. The water in the Malmsbury/Upper Coliban dams is managed by the Coliban Water Authority, mostly for community and licence holder use.. The CMA is entitled to a very small amount of this water for environmental flows into the river system.

The problem is that some of the water released to licence holders seems to be blatantly wasted. As an example: in January water was released into the notoriously leaky Poverty Gully water race. Although it’s hard to get a figure on it, Coliban water has conceded that a relatively small proportion of the water released at Malmsbury actually makes it through to Castlemaine. Sources at the authority tell us that they’d like to take the race out of commission–but for some reason or other they haven’t taken the necessary steps to do this.

The water released into Poverty Gully is relatively small, in the grand scheme of things: but when the Coliban river is sick, it would seem to be a better idea to give it a hand, rather than toss precious water into the air.

The CMA welcomes community feedback on river quality: write to info@nccma.vic.gov.au

On Thursday 25^th April Chris Tzaros will give a presentation on tips and techniques for photographing birds, at Newstead Community Centre at 7.30pm. “We are really looking forward to having Chris address our group again” said Frances Cincotta, President of Newstead Landcare Group.

Chris has maintained a strong interest in natural history since his childhood. Brought up in central Victoria, he has a particular passion for and knowledge of woodland and wetland ecosystems, particularly birds.

In 2005 Chris authored a comprehensive book on birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians of our local area titled, “Wildlife of the Box-Ironbark Country”.  The nature soundscape CD that comes with the book was recorded by Andrew Skeoch, a member of Newstead Landcare.

“I’m currently employed with BirdLife Australia” said Chris. “I co-coordinate a major woodland bird conservation project throughout Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania”.

Grey-crowned Babblers photographed by Chris Tzaros

Everyone is welcome to Newstead Community Centre next Thursday evening to learn how Chris gets the amazing shots that he produces. The presentation will go for about an hour and will be followed by supper. A gold coin donation from attendees helps the group cover costs.

On the following Saturday Chris Tzaros and Geoff Park will run a workshop on bird photography, but that booked out very soon after it was advertised on Geoff’s “Natural Newstead” blog.  Another talented member of Newstead Landcare, Geoff has been photographing nature and writing about it on-line since December 2008 and you can read and subscribe to this informative nature diary by clicking here.

The Victorian National Parks Association is campaigning against the State Government’s decision to open our parks to commercial development. The VNPA has issued the following statement:

‘On Easter Sunday (31 March 2013), the State Government released new guidelines for ‘tourism investment’ in national parks.’The guidelines invite private developments in two-thirds of our national parks – essentially hanging a ‘for sale’ sign on our finest natural areas. National parks are primarily protected areas for nature conservation, sensitive recreation and respite – not for commercial property development.

Otway NP: There is no evidence that commercial developments in National Parks bring any improvements in park management. The chief beneficiaries are the developers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘The government proposes to give property developers up to 99 year leases, which is effectively selling sites in parks.

‘The guidelines have a number of vague principles, and outline a five-stage approval process, but the provisions for community consultation are weak.

‘Alarmingly, it is not until development of a full proposal that a detailed environmental management plan will be required, leaving no opportunity for community comment on this critical aspect.

‘Worldwide experience shows it is the investors who benefit most from private developments in parks, not the majority of park visitors and certainly not the parks themselves.

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The State Government’s decision to open National Parks to commercial development [see above] has its origins way back in the Kennett era, but surfaced more recently in a report published by the Labour Government in 2008. It’s called Victoria’s Nature based tourism strategy 2008-12 . This report was enthusiastically endorsed by then Conservation Minister Gavin Jennings and Tourism Minister Tim Holding in 2010. A critical account of it can be found here.

The report pointed out that over 28 million people visit our parks every year [a figure which puts paid to the idea that parks ‘lock out’ people]: the problem is that they don’t spend enough money. The strategy devoted its attention to ways we can attract rich people to our parks and get them to spend. Among other things it enthusiastically endorsed the idea of ‘products’: for example, it liked a ‘premium penguin viewing product’ available at Phillip Island. This involves getting people to pose for faked photos making them look as if they’re up close and personal with penguins. Similarly, the report talks, not of encourageing people to go for a walk, but of getting them to ‘buy a walk product’.

It’s worth comparing this kind of objective with the purposes of parks, as set out in the National Parks Act first passed by a Liberal Government in 1975. In this document Parks are

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A group of 20 eager bushwalkers emerged from their summer hiatus to participate in the first walk of the 2013 FOBIF calendar.  The walk was led by Chris Johnston, who has built up a considerable body of knowledge about the Maldon Historic Reserve and the Muckleford Forest. 

The walk commenced at the ruins of the Gowar School and wended its way through impressive box-ironbark forest up to Smiths Reef Dam, built in 1860.  A number of native under storey species were identified along the way.  Following a break for morning tea at Smiths Reef Dam, the group explored a number of the digging sites to the east of the dam.   

Hairy mullock heaps. Photo by Dominique Lavie

Photo by Dominique Lavie

A disturbed bottle dump was located with many fragments of old bottles still present.  The archaeological knowledge of one of the walkers (from Kyneton) was put to good use in describing the style of the bottles, the production processes and the possible uses.

The walk continued along the Spur Track with a marked contrast observable in the vegetation on either side of the track resulting from previous prescribed burns.

Photo by Frank Forster

A lunch break was taken in the lee of a large rocky outcrop providing an interesting micro-climate for small ground covers, ferns and lichen.

After lunch the group returned along Clarry’s Track and the Gowar Road, taking note of the areas designated for prescribed burns in autumn 2014.  Chris Johnston is coordinating a data collection exercise in the designated area and is seeking a few volunteers to assist in the process.  This is scheduled for Sunday 14 April;  please email mucklefordffg@bigpond.com if interested.

This walk was a great start to the 2013 program, and thanks are due to Chris Johnston for her detailed preparation and informed guidance. You can view more of Dominique Lavie’s photos by clicking on her Facebook page.