President: Marie Jones; Vice President:Neville Cooper; Secretary:Bernard Slattery;Treasurer:Bronwyn Silver; Committee: Frank Panter, Alex Panelli
The AGM heard an instructive talk on the Post Office Hill project from Ian O’Halloran, laced with some amusing anecdotes about the challenges and rewards of working on such a long term project next to housing.
The DEPI planned burning program is now on the internet for public consideration. As we have previously reported, the program contains new proposed burn areas, mainly centred around settlement, and targeted as Asset Protection Zones.
The program can be seen here. It’s not a particularly friendly website, and the maps may be slow to load, but it’s important that people familiarise themselves with burns planned in their own area.
DEPI has shown that it is interested in community feedback: instructions on how to do this are on the above link, but it’s probably simpler to email concerns to planned.burning@depi.vic.gov.au . The consultation is open till August 31.
FOBIF’s position on this question has been consistent:
1. We are not opposed to fuel reduction clearly and effectively directed at protection of communities and assets.
2. We are sceptical of the value of recklessly burning vast areas remote from settlement, with little evidence of any ecological or safety concern. We believe that the recent report by the Royal Commission Implementation Monitor validates this view.
In all cases we believe operations should be conducted with respect for the environment: this means more than just drawing a boundary around a zone and setting fire to it.
In the case of the present plans, we are particularly concerned about the plan to burn Kalimna Park. DEPI showed in last year’s Poverty Gully burns that it could conduct its operations with care for ecological values, but even there precious big old trees were needlessly brought down. FOBIF has produced a weed map of Kalimna. We believe that the proposed operation can be used to get rid of flammable weeds and that fuel reduction should be achieved without destroying the Park’s many precious assets. This can only be done with a variety of fuel reduction methods, not just blunt application of fire.
We are also concerned about remote area burns: in particular, the proposed burning of Peppertree track and Rusconi’s Road, in the Tarilta catchment, if not properly managed, will go close to completing the destruction of this wonderful area; and the large planned burn at Amanda’s Track, at the south end of the Diggings Park, presents a serious ecological challenge to managers.
We urge members to write to the above address expressing an interest in the areas they know best. Intense interest from this area last year has caused some modification of DEPI plans. It’s a simple fact that some DEPI operatives work a lot better if they think they are being closely watched. We would like to avoid a repetition of the scandalous carelessness of past operations like last year’s Tarilta Gorge burn.
FOBIF’s submission to last year’s FOP can be found here. It’s still relevant. Modifications to last year’s plan include the addition of several Asset Protection burns; a sensible change to the zoning of Mount Tarrengower [the whole of the mountain had been unaccountably zoned Asset Protection]; and others which can be seen here.
The forty plus millimetres of rain which has fallen in our district over the last week or so has made a huge and probably temporary difference to our minor streams.
Creeks which flow for only a few weeks of any given year have acquired a shining new life. That’s why, if you have the chance, it’s a good idea to get out into the bush as soon as you can after any heavy drop of rain. Sometimes the flow only lasts a few days.
Salters Creek, Castlemaine Diggings NHP, August 10 2013. Scenes like this may only last a few days.
The Fryers Forest creeks are a good example. Our picture shows a scene which is only on show if you’re quick on the uptake, and get out to see it while it lasts!
Local ecologist Karl Just will be presenting a talk on Ants and their important role in native ecosystems on Thursday 15 August between 8 pm and 9 pm at the Newstead Community Centre.
Among other things, the talk will explore the origin and distribution of ants, the fascinating relationships they have with other organisms and their potential for use in monitoring. Some common species occurring in the local area will also be discussed.
The evening has been organised by the Newstead Landcare Group and a gold coin donation on the night will help to continue to provide these interesting talks (and supper).
Notoncus ants attending larva of Eltham Copper Butterfly
The Royal Commission Bushfire Implementation Monitor [RCBIM], Neil Comrie, has released his annual report. It can be seen online here.
Press accounts of the report seem to have concentrated on the Monitor’s criticism of the failure to build bushfire refuges. The report is, however, generally kind to the Government. On the subject of the planned burning program, the Monitor repeats his criticism of the hectare target, but is prepared to accept that the Government is at least thinking about moving to a more sensible method of fuel management.
Remote corner of the Castlemaine Diggings NHP, slated for burning in the current Fire Operations Plan. The real issue isn't the area burned: it's what has been achieved, in safety and biodiversity.
His criticism of the hectare target is the same as the one he delivered in his interim report: effectively, he says that by having to concentrate resources on racking up burnt hectares, the Department is less able to focus its attention on areas of prime safety concern:
‘In the Final Report, the BRCIM advocated that the planned burning program be strategically focused on addressing high bushfire risk areas rather than on meeting the annual rolling target of five per cent minimum of public land as the primary focus… The BRCIM continues to hold the view that the pursuit of broad hectare targets alone will be ineffective in achieving the primary intent of the VBRC to ensure the protection of human life and community safety.’
To support this position he quotes Dr Malcolm Gill:
‘The real issue with targets is not the total area per year burned by prescription: it is the effect of fire regimes, including prescribed fires, on assets (human, property and biodiversity). There is a possibility that in meeting targets, the real issue of meeting ultimate objectives is overlooked.’
So, are we moving towards dealing with the ‘real issue’? The Monitor thinks so [see below].
On the subject of monitoring and reporting, almost everything in the Monitor’s Report referred to developing strategies, frameworks, ‘additional measures’ to be implemented: to things that are going to be done, not things that have been done. Meanwhile, the burning program charges on: it’s like someone driving flat out along the highway at twice the speed limit, while a group of experts in the back seat try to figure out whether this is dangerous, or whether the engine might burn out.
We’ve put some giveaway passages in bold:
‘[The draft new annual reporting framework] is a comprehensive framework that also includes commentary on community engagement activities. Data will be presented in a simple, user-friendly format, which displays outcomes against performance indicators via a traffic light ratings system. The framework reviewed by the BRCIM was indicative and did not include actual data. Data will be incorporated in time for publication in the DEPI 2012-13 Annual Report on the Planned burning program.
‘The BRCIM notes the progress in the development of additional measures to ensure planned burning outcomes are captured and reported. It is, however, premature to comment on the efficacy of these initiatives until they are incorporated into the DEPI Annual Report on the Planned Burning Program as outlined in recommendation 57(a) above. The BRCIM will revisit action 57(b) in the 2014 Annual Report.
On the subject of the hectare target, Mr Comrie appears to accept the Government’s view that all is going well in the development of an informed approach to fuel management: but most of what he cites as evidence for this is talk, not action:
‘The BRCIM notes that in May 2013, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change stated in the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee:
“We are also doing a lot of work around developing a risk based strategic approach to fuel management on public land. We want to have a program that is based on the risk to human life and critical assets. We want to have an approach that helps us make evidenced-based decisions around bushfire management and also allows us to assess the work we have done and make sure that we have the policy objective of reducing the risk of bushfires while having an eye on property and critical infrastructure and certainly on ecosystems.” p 63
Sludge in the Tarilta Creek after an 'ecological burn', March 2012. 'We want to have an eye on critical infrastructure, and certainly ecosystems.' The question is: why should 'having an eye on ecosystems' have to wait for the development of a flash new system?
‘The BCRIM has been advised that the State has recently adopted a broad accounting framework for planned burning and fuel management on public land as part of the strategic risk based approach described above by the Minister. The BRCIM strongly supports this more holistic approach to managing and reporting bushfire fuel reduction on public land. In the accounting framework, planned burning will be acknowledged as one (albeit the most substantial) of a range of fuel management treatments. Others will include slashing, mulching, mowing, spraying, grazing and under certain specific circumstances, bushfire which as mentioned above has traditionally been excluded from planned burning targets.
This year Golden Point Landcare has been coordinating a project involving weed control, site preparation and revegetation works being undertaken by 7 Landcare and Friends Of groups along Forest Creek and its catchments, through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country. The works are based on the Forest Creek Action Plan, and through a Community Action Grant, aim to enhance the natural regeneration of endangered Creekline Grassy Woodlands and create habitat connectivity.
Some planting events have happened…
Victoria Gully has had two exclusion plots constructed and these have already been planted out with part of their plant order. Chewton Landcare is doing ongoing planting. Contact Rod Willaton if you’d like to join them on Whitehorse Gully at Chewton. (Ph 5472 3025)
POHAG‘splanting took place last Sunday on the northern side of the old tip site and similarly Castlemaine Landcare planted last Sunday, coinciding with National Tree planting Day.
Friends of Kalimna Park used funds to do weed control works earlier in the year.
But one great morning of planting is on this Sunday!!! Join us…
Golden Point Landcare and FOBIF are planting THIS Sunday August 4th, on Forest Creek, south of the Welsh Street bridge (opposite ‘The Terraces’, Golden Point Road approximately 3kms from the Pyrennees Hwy turnoff, Chewton). 9.30am starting time until noon, bring morning tea. We will have the trailer so no equipment required.
We have 800 shrubs, sedges and grasses to put along the Forest creek streamside so we would love you to join us. This is a very child friendly event (if you don’t mind getting wet!!)
For more info: Jennifer Pryce Golden Point Landcare 0423 900 590
FOBIF was told at the July 15 briefing in Bendigo that if a development of fifty houses or more is placed within 300 metres of public bushland, that bush will be rezoned to Zone 1, Asset Protection.
This information is relevant for a proposed 39 lot development in Happy Valley, near the eastern side of Kalimna Park. This section of the Park is currently zoned 2. An additional 39 houses could well lift the number of houses in this area to 50.
Spring wildflowers, east side of Kalimna Park: a more severe burning regime would have serious implications for this section of the park.
The township side of Kalimna Park is already classed Zone 1, Asset Protection. DEPI is faced with a serious and complicated challenge here: to manage the fuel load in an area close to houses, without destroying a precious and much used public resource.
A rezoning of the rest of the Park to Asset Protection would have severe environmental consequences: managers have more or less conceded that the frequency and severity of burning in these zones can be ecologically damaging.
This is not a simple matter. The Bushfire Royal Commission expressed the problem like this:
‘In the context of bushfires, ensuring the protection of human life means that sometimes compromises need to be made with people’s freedom to choose where they want to live, or the existence of pristine environments close to townships.’
Twenty five walkers led by Jelsje Veenstra took on a cold and misty Mount Tarrengower on Sunday the 21st. They missed out on some great views because of the limited visibility, but got a good look at the Mountain’s heritage qualities.
FOBIF walkers on a wintry Tarrengower: what the mountain loses in views, it gains in atmosphere. DEPI has changed its burning regime on the south side of the Mount to 'maintain species resilience'.
This section of the mountain is scheduled to be burned by DEPI next autumn. In last year’s Fire Operations Plan the whole of the summit area and surrounds was zoned 1, Asset Protection, to protect the township of Maldon. In our response to the Fire Operations plan last year we argued as follows:
‘This is a very large parcel for a Zone 1 burn—as far as we can see, more than double the area of any other Zone 1 in our district. It’s very hard to see why it has been zoned in this way. While it is clear that bushland abutting the town needs careful fuel management, it’s by no means clear why the south side of the Mount needs high intensive fuel reduction, especially since the area around the Tower was burned in 2009.’
In the draft Plan tabled at the July 15 information session in Bendigo the Mountain has in fact been rezoned to ‘ensure that the more ecologically sensitive eastern slopes of Mt Tarrengower are preserved from frequent fuel reduction burning to maintain species resilience.’ FOBIF has not seen the maps of the rezoned sections yet.
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