CARDIGAN INVERMAY

MINERS REST LANDCARE NEWS

Part of the UMEC Landcare Network (2017-03)

ABN 82 141 562 499 Correspondence to: PO Box 21,

LEXTON VIC 3352

NETWORK FACILITATOR Joel Owins Tel: 0457 008 895

owins22@hotmail.com

NETWORK COORDINATOR David Clark Tel: 0417 374 704

garvagh@bigpond.com

Mullawallah Wetlands Tour

At the next Network meeting, we are holding a walk and talk session at Mullawallah wetlands. The walk will be an informative session about the wetland and its unique flora and fauna.

A BBQ will be held after we have finished the walk, following this we will commence the official UMEC network meeting. We encourage all members to come along and join in the night.

Forthcoming Events Miners Rest Community Tree

Planting9am, Saturday 7th of OctoberMiners Rest Community Park

RSVP Sandra Kennedy Ph:5320 5746E: sandrakennedy@ballarat.vic.gov.au

Planting Day at Siena Catholic PS10-12pm, Saturday 28th of October

Contact Joel for more details.

Mullawallah Wetlands TourMonday (Evening) November 27th

Time and Venue TBC

Photo: Mullawallah wetlands looking towards CBD of Ballarat.

Gorse ControlSpring has finally arrived and many of our native plants are in full flower. Gorse is also in its main flowering and growth stage which makes it an ideal time to spray herbicide for control.

The Victorian Gorse Taskforce has officially finished its funding period

where landholders with gorse on their property could access finical assistance in the form of a 50% rebate.

Photo: Results of mulching gorse through the VGT. On the right side of fence control works have been done. The left side of the fence has had no treatment. Source: VGT Jennifer Johnson

Our network still has funding left over from this program which can be used to assist landholders in the Miners rest and Invermay areas who haven’t accessed any assistance so far.

If you would like to find out more please contact Joel M: 0457 008 895

E: owins22@hotmail.com

MINERS REST COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING DAY

A community tree planting day in Miners Rest is being held: 9am, Saturday 7th of October at the Miners Rest Community Park. The planting day is part of the Revitalisation of the Community Park, the council will be providing ornamental trees for the park for members of the community to plant.

A free sausage sizzle, tea and coffee is available. Please RSVP to Sandra Kennedy via details above.

Photo: Wollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis). Source Australian National Herbarium

A Wollemi Pine is also being planted on the day. This tree also known as the ‘Dinosaur tree’, a living fossil from the time of dinosaurs. It was only recently discovered in 1994 by a field officer in the blue mountains. The pine is classified as critically endangered. However, since 2006 it has been a part of a nationwide propagation program. This has made it available nationwide to botanical gardens, conserving this species for future generations.

TREE POTSIf you have any tree pots from this or last year’s free trees program we would love to collect them. These pots are reused for future free tree programs. Contact Joel to organise pick up or simply bring them to the next meeting.

PROJECT UPDATESWe have had a great run of weather lately, this has made ideal conditions for planting native trees and direct seeding works across the region.

Last year’s projects that were direct seeded now have well established immature trees and shrubs growing. Due to the lengthy wet period we had last spring, the germination rate is high; producing a diverse mix of trees, shrubs and excellent growth rates.

Picture: Successful germination of direct seeding, a great mix of all different natives. Chepstowe, along Ballie Creek (2017).

Picture: David Clark direct seeding on steep terrain, on the hills of Waubra (2017).