Koorong Bushland Reserve - Wendy Murphy, Wedderburn CMN Ranger
The Koorong Bushland Reserve is located on the corner of the Calder Highway and Roberts Rd almost opposite to Mt Korong. It is only just over 4 Ha in size, but is of great significance in the surrounding fragmented landscape. It is a very important representative of the Plains Woodland (endangered) / Grassy Woodland (vulnerable) vegetation community. It has unsurpassed ground layer quality with very few weeds and high species diversity. It has particularly good populations of Arthropodium fimbiratum, or the Nodding Chocolate-lily, but I guess most concern for the Wedderburn CMN is the plantings of the nationally threatened Olearia pannossa spp cardiophylla, or the Velvet-daisy Bush - see photograph top right. There is only one known plant of this species in the whole Wedderburn CMN area, which is found a short distance away.
In early December of last year, road works were occurring along a vast stretch of the Calder Highway between Wedderburn and Inglewood. Unfortunately Vic Roads made a mistake in writing out their open stack site numbers in the contract, (where road base and screenings are stored before use), which caused their contractors to use the Koorong Bushland Reserve. This site has been closed for many, many years, but was used by heavy machinery and trucks over a period of about a week. This caused severe compaction of the area where the screenings were placed and also damage to some of the surrounding vegetation. Fortunately though, none of the Velvet-daisy Bush plantings were harmed.
In early December of last year, road works were occurring along a vast stretch of the Calder Highway between Wedderburn and Inglewood. Unfortunately Vic Roads made a mistake in writing out their open stack site numbers in the contract, (where road base and screenings are stored before use), which caused their contractors to use the Koorong Bushland Reserve. This site has been closed for many, many years, but was used by heavy machinery and trucks over a period of about a week. This caused severe compaction of the area where the screenings were placed and also damage to some of the surrounding vegetation. Fortunately though, none of the Velvet-daisy Bush plantings were harmed.
But due to Vic Roads’ error in writing the contract, they were willing to survey the damage and assist in repairing any damage.
In March I organised a meeting between their two Environmental Officers, Jade Logie of Parks Victoria Inglewood and myself. After discussing our concerns and what we would like seen done, Vic Roads agreed to pay for the ripping of the damaged area and to revegetate it. It was hoped that they may also pay to fence the Reserve, but they didn’t feel that was necessary. So in the near future you will see works being done in this small, seemingly insignificant patch of bush, probably one you have never taken much notice of before, but hopefully now that you know of its importance you will look at it in a whole new light.
Thanks must go to Richard Goonan of DSE, David Martin and Jade Logie of Parks Victoria and the Vic Roads representatives for their time and input into this situation.
In March I organised a meeting between their two Environmental Officers, Jade Logie of Parks Victoria Inglewood and myself. After discussing our concerns and what we would like seen done, Vic Roads agreed to pay for the ripping of the damaged area and to revegetate it. It was hoped that they may also pay to fence the Reserve, but they didn’t feel that was necessary. So in the near future you will see works being done in this small, seemingly insignificant patch of bush, probably one you have never taken much notice of before, but hopefully now that you know of its importance you will look at it in a whole new light.
Thanks must go to Richard Goonan of DSE, David Martin and Jade Logie of Parks Victoria and the Vic Roads representatives for their time and input into this situation.
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