20 October – Presentation on Indigenous Plant Use by Dr Beth Gott of Monash University. Event organised by Baynton Sidonia Landcare Group.
21 October – Free Community Event organised by Campbells Creek Landcare Group.
22 October – Last FOBIF walk for the year to Fryers Ranges.
23 October – Connecting Country’s AGM
28 October – Bird Identification Workshop run by Dr Kerryn Herman as part of Connecting Country’s Threatened Woodland Bird Program.
On Tuesday October 9 DSE officials met with about 30 individuals and representatives of conservation groups to discuss outcomes of the consultation process around the Fire Operations Plan.
The discussion was limited by the fact that the biggest factor in fire management and practice is the government’s directive to DSE to burn 5% of public land, and this is not negotiable. It seems that DSE has a ‘burn reform’ process under way, but details of how this might improve environmental management are completely vague. For the moment we have to confront the fact that, in the words of one DSE official: ‘The elephant in the room is that the burning program is going to have effects on the environment.’ Changes in this program have to come from changes in the political arena.
Although FOBIF believes that the 5% target is foolish, we think that improved practice can limit the damage which overburning causes. We are therefore keen to engage DSE in any way which can improve environmental practice without compromising public safety.
From the general to the specific
Discussion therefore centred on operational matters. The following comments by DSE officials are a representative sample:
‘We have a duty as public servants to ensure that good information underpins decision making.’
‘Our duty is to put in place protection measures based on information received.’
‘Through this process it is our duty to have all values identified in all burn units.’
We have no reason to doubt the sincerity of these statements—but they have to be put up against the brute fact that DSE data bases have been unable to accommodate information accumulated over the years.
Zone 3 area near White Gum Track: biodiversity values are recorded before burn operations, but DSE data bases are incomplete. Further, pressure to meet targets means these values are overlooked. It is conceded that 'research' underpinning operations does not relate to specific burns, but only to general ideas about types of vegetation.
Burns are managed according to general principles, not detailed local information. This is a fundamental deficiency in the operations. There is a further practical problem. Burn areas are assessed by biodiversity staff for ‘every single value’ recorded for that area, and these are incorporated in the burn plans. But this is a desk based activity: on the ground topography or weather conditions might mean that the workers managing the fire may not be able to work around these values. The brutal reality is that they have to be practical. In the words of the biodiversity officer: ‘they take [biodiversity] advice on board knowing that they still have a target to reach.’ In other words, biodiversity–and therefore forest health–comes second to achieving the target.
FOBIF has made a short submission to the Department of Primary Industries as part of the consultation process for the preparation of a new Invasive Species Management Bill.
Dumped garden rubbish in the Diggings Park near Chewton: oxalis, capeweed and thistles are spreading from the dump. When Parks Victoria officers clean up such dumps, they have to pay tip fees to dispose of the rubbish.
The submission is in response to a discussion paper released by DPI. The paper proposed that the new bill require people to take every reasonable care to prevent the spread of invasive species. We urged that this provision be strengthened, given that many weeds are spread through carelessness–either on construction machinery or dumping of garden refuse. Recent examples of the former in our area include spread of Stinkwort and Needle grass on Shire machinery; and the dumping of garden rubbish is a constant headache for public land managers, who have to clean it up and then pay the Shire for tipping fees!
FOBIF’s brief submission is printed below:
‘We support any measures which will more effectively control invasive species in Victoria. We would like to make the following brief comments on the Discussion Paper:
The North Central Catchment Management Authority has released a Weeds Identification Guide for the region. In many ways it’s an improvement on previous guides, because the photos are better and many species are illustrated by more than one picture.
Sample page from the NCCMA weed identification guide. Multiple photos make for easier recognition.
Unfortunately the guide leaves out five common environmental weeds, including Pampas grass, Cootamundra Wattle and Gazanias–apparently because of cost limitations. Gazanias, in particular, are in full flower at the moment, and seem to be promoted by many people in gardens and nature strips. They have a sinister capacity to spread into bushland.
All the same, the guide is highly recommended. FOBIF has a few copies available for members–contact us at info@fobif.org.au
We have received a response from DSE to our submission on the draft Fire Operations Plan. We will be making a comment on this response and the state of consultations on fire management after the upcoming meeting between DSE and local groups in Bendigo on Tuesday next, October 9. The DSE response is printed in full below:
‘Thank you for your submission regarding our planned burning in the Murray Goldfields District. Your input has been considered during our planning process.
‘The DSE planned burning program aims to minimise the impact of major bushfire on human life, property and the environment. The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission recommended changes to the Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land (2006). This Code supports delivery of an expanded planned burning program to reduce fuel levels and the likelihood of bush fires becoming uncontrollable.
‘Our Fire Operations Planning Process starts in February and is finalised in October. During this period DSE consults with a broad range of stakeholders regarding our planned burning on public land.
‘DSE has considered your submission and makes the following response:
White Everlasting Daisy (Chrysocephalum baxteri)
Slime Mould
Dunns Reef
Tall Greenhoods
Gnat Orchid
Blue Caladenia
Downy Grevillea (Grevillea alpina)
Coliban river upstream of the Gibbons bridge
Coliban river upstream of the Gibbons bridge.
Coliban river upstream of the Gibbons bridge.
Sailors Gully ruin
Loddon River near Vaughan
Cortinarius archeri
Mycena subgalericulata
Cortinarius rotundisporus
Cortinarius cystidiocatenatus,
Ramaria sp.
Pink Heath
Mount Alexander
Mount Alexander
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Click on image for info/order page
Click on image for info/order page