Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

‘The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action wants your feedback on the draft of Victoria’s Bushfire Management Strategy, which will set the vision for bushfire management in Victoria for the next 10 years.’

You can find the strategy here.

And you can make a submission here.

The strategy comes in three parts: people safety, conservation, and Aboriginal management.

There’s plenty of reasonable stuff in this document. Nothing wrong with this aim, for example:

‘To achieve genuine ecosystem resilience and positive nature conservation outcomes, the sector will integrate this improved understanding into decision making. This includes identifying and protecting environmental values and assets during on-ground operations and implementing on[1]ground programs to manage increased threats to environmental values (such as weeds and pests) resulting from the applied fire regime.’

The problem with the document might be that there are too many future tense sentences in it. ‘The sector will improve its knowledge of fire regimes…’ ‘The sector will continue to monitor…’ ‘The sector will ensure the scale of each target is appropriate…’ ‘The sector will support…adaptive management…’ ‘The sector… will…continue to improve…will optimise…will ensure…’ And so on.

A reader already sceptical about the ‘sector’s’ monitoring and adaptive management record will not be impressed by the promise that things will ‘continue to improve.’ Promises like this have been made for years, and it’s hard to be impressed by the results.

Let’s recall the Auditor General’s 2021 report:

‘DELWP advised us that it cannot guarantee the protection of all threatened species given:

• current funding levels
• scientific constraints around how species respond to threats and actions to control these in the wild, particularly in a time of climate change
• the long-term lag effects on Victoria’s biodiversity of over 200 years of colonisation.’

Lack of funding, lack of knowledge…Conservationists have been banging on about these things for years.

Still, if you have the time, it might be worth having a go. We recommend you ask, what is there in the strategy to guarantee that the funding levels identified by the Auditor General as inadequate will be brought up to scratch?

The consultation closes on August 20

A large group came to Mount Alexander last Sunday. The walk began at Dog Rocks then travelled south along Whisky Gully on the eastern side of the mount. On reaching the Leanganook Picnic Area the group headed north along the Goldfields Track to Dog Rocks. The winter sunshine was perfect for meandering along the gully. Fungi expert Joy Clusker provided expert help with identification backed up by Liz Martin who navigated the route. Unfortunately we had missed the best fungi months in May and June but there were still plenty around as well as abundant moss displays. Liz Martin sent us the following photos. 

Walks leader, Joy Clusker, taking a closeup.

A hardy group of five set out in brilliant frosty weather yesterday for FOBIF’s June long walk. Walk conditions were perfect, as was the length of the walk, estimated as between 12 and 24 kilometres. We suspect the second estimate was a little subjective.

Middleton Creek, July 16: check last week’s post to see how the water levels have dropped..but the creek is still running strongly.

The walk covered the wonderfully various country at the south end of the Diggings Park: substantial moss covered rock walls, wide green valleys, rocky ascents, unusually impressive giant eucalypts. The south point was the strongly running Middleton Creek. Fungi were in abundance, and the recent wet weather had given the bush a particularly lush appearance.

Our thanks  to Jeremy Holland for as usual providing an intriguing route through little known corners.

Next month’s walk is in the wildflower hotspot of the Maldon Historic Reserve. Check the website for details.

A downbeat note for FOBIF’s walkers along Wewak track yesterday was the sight of yet more evidence of timber theft along this track.

Wewak Track, July 16: FOBIF has regularly reported destruction of this kind along the track.

Wewak track seems to be a favourite spot for timber thieves, and their efforts are threatening to strip this picturesque track of its better trees. Parks Victoria seems to be powerless to stop the destruction. Thieves operate comfortably, sure in the belief that the last person they can expect to see in this bush is a ranger: readers of this site will be familiar with our observations on the under resourcing of our parks.

We’ve been assured by Parks in the past that the problem is being tackled at the distribution end. The method doesn’t seem to be working: and of course things are not helped by the explosion in the cost of home heating….

The state government is running a consultation on its ‘Review of the kangaroo harvesting plan.’ You can participate by going here.

The plan, and the program it describes, is justified by the following:

‘Areas with large kangaroo populations can experience issues such as:

• traffic accidents
• damage to pasture, crops, gardens and fences caused by kangaroos
• negative impact on vulnerable native vegetation or areas undergoing revegetation due to kangaroo grazing
• competition for grazing with livestock on farming properties
• kangaroos becoming aggressive towards people, usually when individual animals have regular contact with humans (e.g. become used to being fed by humans).’

According to the consultation documents, aerial surveys show between 2 million and three million kangaroos in the state.

These aerial surveys don’t include numbers for heavily forested areas, for obvious reasons. The numbers, density and abundance [of Eastern Greys] are significantly higher in the Central Region [of which we’re a part] than in other regions.

As witness recent correspondence in our local press, kangaroo shooting is controversial. A very quick look at the dot points above will reveal that a large part of the kangaroo problem relates to human behaviour: traffic accidents could be reduced if people drove more slowly; the practice of feeding kangaroos in the wild is silly, and should be massively discouraged; competition with livestock could be reduced if water points were less available to kangaroos; and better planning of urban expansion would reduce the impact on kangaroo habitat.

In the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens reserve: a clear appreciation of the facts about kangaroo populations is fundamental to any decision about management.

All of the above would require serious adjustments in our culture. And, as we know, our culture is not great at making adjustments to accommodate nature. The very idea of reducing speed limits, for example, sends Vicroads into nervous fits.

But there remains the third dot point: the effect of high kangaroo numbers on other animals.

What is the effect of kangaroo population density on grasslands, and therefore on the other creatures that live in them? Research in the ACT in 2014 argued that ‘There was a strong negative relationship between kangaroo density and grass structure after controlling for tree canopy cover… Changes in grazing intensity (i.e. grass structure) significantly affected reptile abundance, reptile species richness, reptile species diversity, and the occurrence of several ground-dwelling reptiles.’

The 2016 state government discussion paper Protecting Victoria’s Environment—Biodiversity 2036 provocatively claimed that ‘High numbers of kangaroos can exert high grazing pressure on native plants and wildflowers, a bit like rabbits, and can destroy habitat that ground-dwelling native animals may need to survive.’ It also pointed out that kangaroos had increased in numbers owing to ‘the increase in reliable water supplies (e.g. stock watering) and pasture for grazing’. That is, that human activity has altered the environment with the effect of making it capable of carrying larger numbers of kangaroos than would naturally occur. These larger numbers are not confined to agricultural areas, but spread to bushland where their grazing does significant damage to understorey, with consequent effects on biodiversity.

Changes to our culture, or intervention to control numbers—or both? Both present challenges.

For culling, the two obvious problems are rogue shooters, and cruelty.

Though cautiously endorsing kangaroo culling in some instances, the RSPCA has pointed out very serious failings in the current system, and has urged ‘that any measures taken to reduce kangaroo populations should first be proven to be necessary (through a proper consideration of the reasons for control). They must be conducted humanely and be under the direct supervision of the appropriate government authorities (as part of an approved kangaroo management program). Effective monitoring and auditing of such programs is vital to ensure that these conditions are met.’

‘Effective monitoring and auditing’ seems like a good policy at all levels of this debate. The key is in the word ‘effective.’

It’s significant that the reporting of the ACT research project on the Conversation website brought some objections criticising the validity of the research procedures, and therein lies another challenge: getting wide community consensus on what the facts are, based on the best science.

Interestingly, the 2016 Biodiversity paper also referred to increased human population as a problem for the environment, but did not pursue the theme…another contentious question on which considered, clear reflection and maybe some ‘auditing and monitoring’ might be revealing.

But one thing at a time. The consultation is open till July 11. Have a go.

Nearly 4,000 cars take the Midland Highway through Campbells Creek every day. It’s a fair bet few of the drivers notice the row of trees along the east side of the highway opposite Moscript street. Well, it’s not a good idea for drivers to be gazing anywhere except at the road, of course. But if you happen to be in that area, pause and take a look: you’ll see a row of possibly the biggest Silver Banksias in the district.

Main Road/Midland Highway, Campbells Creek: that row of trees you may not have noticed is a sign of something pretty significant…

Planted by Friends of Campbells Creek over 20 years ago, some of them have reached an impressive size…and they’ve been flowering for weeks now. You can’t appreciate that part unless you actually stop and have a good look.

…especially if you get up close and have a good look.

It’s worth it: and it’s a small sign of a process of healing the damage done to the region when this species was practically eradicated here over a century ago. Banksias used to be widespread in this region. Seeing healthy specimens along Campbells and Forest creeks is a hopeful sign of better times to come?

The Department of Environment’s latest Draft Fuel Management Program is out for consultation. An interactive map, which you can access here. shows the location of planned burns. Click on a location and you’ll see where and when management burns are planned. You’ll have to concentrate, because unfortunately important tracks are not easily found on the map.

We urge you to check the map, find proposed burns near you, and put in a considered point of view to Loddonmallee.plannedburning@delwp.vic.gov.au.

Large Leaf Bush-pea (Pultenaea daphnoides): this is the largest of our local bush-peas, and is rare in our region. One of its strongholds is near the Sugarbag extension track, bang in the middle of a planned burn area. Will fire officers take this into account?

Major planned burns in this region include those around the Maldon Railway, Wewak Track, Dingo Park Road, Railway dam, Irishtown Track and Sugarbag Extension track. There is a proposed burn along Bells Lane track in the Muckleford forest, overlapping with the fuel break along this track.

A burn is also planned along Salt Water Track, in an area covered by walk 13 in FOBIF’s guide 20 Bushwalks in the Mount Alexander region. We suggest readers go out and have a look at this very beautiful patch of bush: those who do will be able to do a ‘before and after’ comparison when the exercise is finished.

This program is an extension of the Joint Fuel Management plan 2022-5. Some additions have been added to that plan. You can find a detailed rationale for the program in its informative 50 page document Loddon Mallee Bushfire Management Strategy 2020  Unlike many such documents, this one is informative and worth a look.

As our readers will know, the question of management burning is fraught. FOBIF will be making a detailed submission, and as in the past, we’ll be emphasising that the Department should stick to its own rules: be informed by its past monitoring; avoid excess track gouging; avoid bringing down valuable habitat trees; pay attention to sensitive areas in and near the fire zone…Attention to detail is the challenge, and any amount of strategic thinking won’t make up for lack of it…

A smallish group tackled FOBIF’s June walk yesterday, on a circuitous route around The Monk, taking in many of the more notable mining sites of the area. The weather was fine and cool with extensive patches of sunshine: perfect for walking. The bush is looking pretty healthy with rampant regrowth of Golden Wattle, among other species. It will be spectacular in the season–and Golden Wattles are already starting to flower.

In the Eureka Mine zone: one day this could be world heritage!

The route chosen crossed the Eureka Mine site, but ventured into some obscure but fascinating corners: in fact, it could be argued that the interest of the mining history of this region is in its abandonment, the fact that much of what remains is not signposted, and has to be found by adventurous explorers, not tourists with a map.

‘Now, what’s this about quartz?’ Part of the FOBIF group wondering about the gold question.

Our thanks to Lionel Jenkins and Barb Guerin, for devising a route which took in some really isolated, thought provoking sites.

Next month FOBIF is offering two walks: a long and a short! Check the program for details.