Project Officer Position – Part-time (2-3 days/wk) Short term contract (6 months)
Organisational skills and the ability to engage with the community is a vital part of the role. Community ownership of the project is critical to its success. The Project Officer will work closely with the Network’s Committee of Management.
Loddon Plains Landcare Network is a collective of farmer, Landcare and other environmental groups located northwest of Bendigo working to improve the natural environment.
As part of Naturally Loddon – a month long series of environmental events across the Loddon Shire – the network has organised a tree planting day at four sites, from Wedderburn to Durham Ox , for Saturday , 4 September. Urban volunteers are needed to join with network members and share this enjoyable and rewarding day.
A dinner (with entertainment by Kinja ) will be held in the Serpentine Hall to celebrate the day’s landcare work. Volunteer tree planters and network members are welcome to attend.
The day’s timetable
11 am Arrive at sites, briefing, lunch (provided)
12 pm Planting, guarding, watering trees and shrubs
5 pm Arrive Serpentine Hall (Drinks and nibbles)
6.30 pm Dinner and Entertainment
9 pm Close
What to bring
Volunteers should bring with them a hat, sunscreen, gloves, water bottle, waterproof boots and a change of clothes for the dinner. All planting equipment will be provided.
Who to contact
All volunteers and network members participating on the day must register with Penny Wall by Tuesday 25 August.
(Ph: 54361262; M: 048836126
E: apwall@aussiebroadband.com.au).
Please advise Penny of any dietary special requirements
KINJA TO ENTERTAIN LANDCARERS
Made possible by the generous support of the Inglewood
and Districts Community Branch of the Bendigo Bank
Ron Murray and Sarah James (pictured above) celebrate the cultural heritage of their ancestors in a blend of indigenous Australian and Celtic music. In many ways Ron and Sarah that playing together is their special contribution to reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous people in this country.
A very frosty morning greeted us on the drive to Birchip where we met with members of St Arnaud Field Nats to tour the “Wetlands”
First Stop was Keith and Helen Barber’s property. The wetland area on their property was initially created by Keith’s grandfather and has received an environmental water allocation with the completion of the Wimmera Mallee pipeline. Keith had photographs of a wide variety of bird and animal species that use the wetland including plumed ducks and carpet pythons. We viewed his frog pond which has been one of the environmental considerations from the pipeline project.
Peter then escorted us to the Birchip Landcare wetland area which was nominated for a Landcare award this year. A most interesting project, illustrating use of a redundant bunker area, to capture water runoff. The community usage of the area and recycling of water was conveniently demonstrated to us by a truck wash in progress.
Lunch at Lake Tchum, where a committee member gave us a picture of the utilisation of the lake, particularly since it has been dry for years and has recently filled with water from the pipeline. We witnessed an Australian Raven take an egg from a plovers nest at the water’s edge.
Another Birchip Landcare member ( Dorothy) showed us her frog pond. This one impacted by kangaroos and rabbits, and intermittent available water supply from a domestic tank. She gave us an interesting historical perspective of past droughts in the 20’s and 40’s when her family had to walk off the farm due to lack of feed for too many sheep.
Mary Fielding’s farm, and neighbouring catchment dams provided yet another view of water catchments. The catchment dams on her property continue to hold water, however her frog pond had failed due to lack of tank water supply. The area has an increasing population of Chariot Wheel which is currently being researched.
This was a great opportunity to view the importance of water for biodiversity in the Mallee. It was also valuable to view the effects of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline project and its political and practical applications for farmers and the environment.
A most interesting day. Annette Robertson and Lynton Schriever
Photograph - Keith and Barbra's frog pond
| DATE | ACTIVITY | MEETING TIME/PLACE |
| Thursday 19th August | Searches for old records of Dainty Phebalium in the Wanyarra area. | 10am at the corner of Rooneys lane and Dunolly-Rheola rd. Vic roads ref Map43 E6 |
| Thursday 26th August | Count and map extent for Dainty Phebalium Phebalium festivum In the Wedderburn Nature Conservation reserve. | 10am at the corner of Gibson road and the Wedderburn/Wychitella road. Vic roads ref Map29 B7 |
| Wednesday 8th September | Planting Day for Velvet Daisy Bush in Korong Vale and BBQ provided. | Meet at 9:30am at the corner of Korongvale-kinypanial road and Boort Wedderburn road. Vic roads ref Map29 D7 |
| Sunday 12th September | Counts and searches for Golden Moths Orchid at Mt Jeffcott. | Meet at the base of Mt Jeffcott at 11am Vic roads ref map28 D7 |
| Wednesday 15th September | Counts and searches for Golden Moths Orchid | Meet at base of Howells Hill Scenic lookout Vic roads ref map 28 H6 Opposite the quarry |
Or phone 03 5430 4461 mobile 0407 340 729
Loddon Plains Landcare Network held its AGM in Serpentine on Tuesday 20 July. The newly elected members of the Committee of Management are shown in the photograph attached.
Front, left to right:
Mal Brown (Northern United Forestry Group) - President
Michael Moore (Wedderburn CMN) - Secretary
Wendy Murphy (Wedderburn CMN & Friends of Kooyoora & Inglewood Landcare) - Committee member
Back, left to right:
Jean McClymont (Salisbury West Landcare) - Treasurer
Bill Twigg (Salisbury West Landcare & East Loddon Landcare) - Committee member
Laurie Maxted (Loddon Vale Landcare) - Committee member
Penny Wall (North Central Landcare & Northern United Forestry Group) - Vice President
Dennis Demeo (North Central Landcare) - Committee member
All members of the committee are volunteers with a strong commitment to sound Natural Resource Management. The committee will meet monthly at the Loddon Shire Council Offices, Serpentine, to discuss the ongoing business of the network.
On Sunday 1st August we joined members of VMRG to conduct a line search of an 2 square km area which had been burned in 2008.
The search was well organised with teams of 9-10 people covering a 2km grid. Conservation and Land Management students from Sunraysia TAFE also participated. The searching through mallee country that had been burnt two years ago was relatively easy, with some challenging walking in diagonal directions over sand dunes. I could not resist comparing carrying out the same task in our local area, which is much more densely vegetated country. Existing tagged mounds were found. At least three emu nests were also located, some with eggs.
A hearty lunch, provided by the Nangiloc and District Kindergarten, gave us sustenance for the afternoon search, which was in some unburnt country and was more difficult terrain.
The day was an enlightening experience. It gave us the opportunity to participate in a well organised and coordinated search, with adequate numbers of volunteers and ample safety and data recording equipment. It also allowed us to assist in gathering of valuable information regarding the effect of bushfire on Malleefowl population.
Article by Annette Robertson and Lynton Schriever
Photograph of emu eggs - Annette Robertson
Do malleefowl prefer a position with an open view to the south, or a nice shrubby backyard to the east? Is there a reason why one particular mound is used more often than another mound? Is vegetation structure and quality a limiting factor to where malleefowl will live? These are some of the questions we are trying to answer with our current vegetation surveys.
In 2007 surveys were done at 5 malleefowl mounds in the Wychitella NCR- 2 in the Skinners Flat block, 2 in the Wychitella block and 1 in the Wedderburn block as well as one mound on private property. The mounds range from being currently active, active within the last 5-10 years and long inactive. The method of the surveys is in two parts. The first survey is based on vegetation structure whereby a 50m tape is laid out and at every 50cm a 2m pole is placed and all vegetation touching that pole is recorded including the ground layer and the canopy above. This method gives an indication of the make up of the ground cover, understorey and canopy around the mound. This is then repeated at all four compass points.
The second method is where along the 50m line two 10m square blocks are measured up at the 20-30m point and the 40-50m point. One 1m square block is also set up within these two 10m square blocks. In both the 10m and 1m squared blocks every species is recorded and the number of each of the species is counted.
By comparing the results of the current surveys with the 2007 results it is hoped that we can get a better picture of why malleefowl choose to use one mound over another. It may be the structure of the surrounding vegetation providing better protection or it may be the mixture of species meaning a better supply of quality food, i.e. fungi, berries and insects.
The mound on private property has been completed and the remaining mound surveys will be occurring in the coming weeks. These will be followed by vegetation surveys in the kangaroo exclosure plots and 50m structure surveys in the Wychitella NCR. If you are interested in helping please let me know. Knowledge of plant species is not essential, but would be helpful, but there are some difficult working conditions involved.
Article by Wendy Murphy, WCMN Ranger, Photograph - Peter Watts
Last month it was exciting to find a few specimens of basket fungi. They have been uncommonly seen in the area for many years. However, this month, there are so many of these fungi in places they could almost be described as “common”. The wetter conditions have certainly started to impact on the local vegetation, particularly now producing lots of interesting and colourful fungi.
An unusual bird sighting was a Buff banded rail. Unfortunately the bird was found as road kill on the Calder Highway just out of Wedderburn. This is a ground dwelling bird that normally inhabits swamps and wet grasslands. Another indication, that wetter conditions are creating changes in our local biodiversity.
Many birds have been seen gathering nesting material. Striated Pardalotes have been making noisy inspections of nesting boxes and prospective nesting sites. Honeyeaters have been observed wrestling with twiggy bushes to remove small sticks for their nest, and magpies flying to nesting trees with beaks full of wool.
An increasing number of plants are beginning to flower now. The Rosy Baeckea is particularly bright pink this year, with masses of flowers on small bushes. Some other flowers recently seen locally are: Early Nancy, Tiny Stars, Dwarf Greenhood orchids, Rice flowers, and of course the wattles, (Bentleaf, Ploughshare, Spreading and Golden in flower at present).
Observing our natural environment is only one of the activities enjoyed by members of the Wedderburn Conservation Management Network. If you would like to find out more about our Network visit : wedderburncmnnews.blogspot.com.
Wedderburn Conservation Management Network “Observers”
Photograph attached shows WCMN “Observer” taking photographic record of Rosy Baeckea in flower.
The White Box, Yellow Box and Blakelys Red Gum grassy woodlands and Buloke woodlands are nationally endangered ecological communities and are listed under the EPBC act. These woodlands occur as scattered remnants across the Wedderburn area (see map below for indication of locations) Population isolation has increased the probability that environmental fluctuations will indeed lead to increasing local extinction of certain species. For this reason alone it is necessary to act.
The overall goal of this current WCMN project is to increase the area of White Box, Yellow Box and Blakelys Red Gum grassy Woodlands and Buloke woodlands and to provide long term protection and connectivity of these existing woodlands within the region. This project aims to reduce the threat of fragmentation, especially in the face of climate change, by protecting existing remnants, wherever possible by providing buffers with revegetation and the connection of remnants through linkages with new vegetation. Other threats this project aims to address are overgrazing of these woodlands through stock control fencing, landholder agreements to exclude stock and the management of rabbit and weed infestations.
The Buloke woodlands are at particular risk from grazing as all natural regeneration is immediately eaten by stock, rabbits and kangaroos/wallabies. Ongoing Kangaroo/wallaby and rabbit monitoring and management will alleviate the impacts of overgrazing on woodland remnants allowing natural regeneration to improve species diversity and recruitment of new Buloke seedlings.
In all this project will involve 200 hectares of remnant White Box, Yellow Box and Blakelys Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Buloke Woodland communities protected by June 30, 2013. Also 120 Hectares of Box Gum Grassy Woodland and Buloke Woodland communities enhanced with understorey and grass species to improve quality of remnants by June 30, 2013. Landholders and land managers within the Wedderburn CMN’s area of interest who wish to apply for assistance in the protection of these species on their land are invited to apply to the Wedderburn CMN, contact details are supplied below.
Descriptions of species
YELLOW BOX (Eucalyptus melliodora) Widely distributed in Victoria and New South Wales, especially on the inland side of the Dividing Range, yellow box is perhaps one of the best-known eucalypts and one which could be considered a very Australian tree. This is a species of the open forest and savannah woodland, where the trees grow far enough apart to develop large, spreading crowns and to cast a welcome shade in the hot, summer days.
Yellow box is a very useful tree, providing excellent firewood, hard, strong, durable timber, and honey which is renowned for its quality. It flowers profusely throughout the summer, although some years are much better than others. The botanical name means 'honey-scented' and is obviously appropriate.
The amount of bark retained on the trunk varies from tree to tree. Some trees are almost completely smooth with small, irregular streaks of dark and light grey; others have hard, black, scaly bark to the large branches. Most commonly, however, yellow box has a yellow-brown, sub-fibrous and rather friable bark on the trunk and large branches, while the small branches are smooth, white, cream or grey. The crown may be bright green, dull grey or almost blue.
Contacts: WCMN Ranger, Wendy Murphy - 0438384053
WCMN’s DSE Facilitator, Alison Jeavons - 54304567
Illustrations used in this series of articles have been copied from the book "Eucalypts" by Stan Kelly
Areas where remnant box gum grassy woodlands / buloke woodlands are likely to occur.
WHITE BOX (Eucalyptus albens)
E. albens has an appropriate name, for it gives the impression of being a white tree, although when examined more closely, few of its features are really white. Perhaps the closest is the inflorescence, for the long buds with sharply conic opercula, and the stalks, are covered with a white, powdery wax. The twigs and leaves are also white to grey-green, and the closely adherent, finely fibrous bark is light grey-brown or very pale grey. Seen from a distance, the pale trunk and silver crown are very distinctive.
The rounded crown and large, rather broadly lanceolate leaves give an appearance of solidity to the tree, and the shade it casts is quite dense. This is a good shade and shelter tree in its native environment, which includes much of the wheatlands of New South Wales, along the western side of the Dividing Range, and in the upper Hunter River valley; to the south it extends into the northern part of Victoria and has a limited occurrence in South Australia.
White box occurs on fairly rich, well-drained soils of both igneous and sedimentary origin. It grows to over eighty feet in height, often with a bole about half the height of the tree. It is moderately resistant to frost and drought, and flowers from late summer sometimes into winter.
Areas where remnants of box gum grassy woodlands / buloke woodlands are likely to occur.
BLAKELY'S RED GUM (Eucalyptus blakelyi)
Blakely's red gum is typically a savannah woodland species growing with boxes and ironbarks over an extensive area along the western slopes of the Dividing Range in New South Wales, with extensions in Victoria and Queensland.
Growing in open formation, it usually has a rather short, irregular trunk and a dense, rounded crown. The bark is shed in irregular patches which vary in colour from almost white to dark grey, and as the leaves have a dull, greyish colour, the general effect is a rather sombre one. Under cultivation, E. blakelyi grows more rapidly and can be an attractive tree. It stands frosts, drought and wind comparatively well and is a useful tree for areas of twenty to thirty inch rainfall. It is also possibly salt-tolerant, and flowers from August to December.
(3 August 2010) The Loddon Shire, in collaboration with local partner agencies, is driving the inaugural Loddon Nature Tourism Festival entitled Naturally Loddon: A Wonderland in Spring, to be held throughout September-October this year.
The festival is an objective of the Nature Tourism Advisory Team with the aim to bring more people to the area, and to pull together new and existing key environmental events to market under the one umbrella.
“We essentially wanted to promote our beautiful environment and to highlight the biodiversity, natural assets and cultural heritage of the Loddon Shire – and in doing so it will enable all of our partner agencies within the area to get greater exposure by marketing their individual activities as part of a festival, rather than simply running incidental events during this time,” said Mrs. Vella.
“Many local events occur during the spring, so the timing seemed right to get everyone on board to come together, working as with a “whole-of” approach, and each event would benefit from the additional publicity,” she said.
These thoughts are echoed by Loddon Shire Councilor,
“We formed a working group early this year, bringing together agencies such as the North Central Catchment Management Authority, Parks Victoria, local Landcare groups and environmental networks, various government departments, and community organisations such as the YMCA,” explained Cr Brooke.
“The group has worked tirelessly in pulling together events to add to the festival calendar. Each organisation still organises and runs their own events, although now with much greater support and subsequent exposure.”
The festival is aimed at all age groups and incorporates the popular annual Kooyoora Wildflower show, along with a variety of fun, interactive and educational events such as bushwalking, tree planting, bird watching, photography, canoeing and bike riding – as well as highlighting areas of Indigenous and European cultural significance – all showcasing the great Loddon outdoors.
“We have just released a brochure outlining of festival schedule, and a calendar of events is available from the Loddon Shire website, along with contact information relevant to each event,” said Mrs. Vella.
“We would like to encourage everyone to have a look at what is on offer and come along to one or several events. Many activities are being held during the school holiday period and the majority are free for the whole family to enjoy.
The festival will be held from 4 September to 3 October this year, with the official inaugural launch to be held on Friday 10 September at the Loddon Visitor Information Centre. For a brochure or further information, including a full program of events, visit www.loddon.vic.gov.au or telephone the Loddon Visitor Information Centre on 03 5494 3489.
For further information please contact:
(03) 54941200, mobile 0428448390 email rvella@loddon.vic.gov.au
Or
Christine Taylor – Marketing and Events Coordinator
North Central Catchment Management Authority
t: 03 5440 1870,
m: 0448 103 266
