RESOURCE

hume.vic.gov.au/resource

Rural Environment NewsletterWinter 2016

HUME CITY COUNCIL

Hume City Council recognises the rich Aboriginal heritage within the municipality and acknowledges the Gunung-Willam-Balluk of the Wurundjeri as the Traditional Custodians of this land.

Council embraces Aboriginal living culture as a vital part of Australia’s identity and recognises, celebrates and pays respect to the existing family members of the Gunung-Willam-Balluk and to Elders past and present.

Don’t get caught out with fillThe illegal placement of fill on rural land causes significant environmental degradation as well as damage to our rural road infrastructure.

Within the Hume Planning Scheme, a planning permit is required for any earthworks in the Green Wedge Zone which involve the receipt, importation, stockpiling or placement of more than 100 cubic metres of fill. Any amount of fill which impacts on native vegetation or is proposed to be placed in an area covered by an Environmental Significance Overlay, also requires a planning permit.

Council, with the assistance of Melbourne Water, has successfully taken action against a number illegal landfill sites within rural areas. This enforcement action has resulted in landowners having to remove fill from the land, pay native vegetation offsets and rehabilitate and revegetate the affected area.

Don’t get caught out. Ensure that you obtain planning approval prior to bringing fill onto your property. If you are considering accepting fill on your contact the Statutory Planning Department on 9205 2200.

Feedback regarding the current edition or contributions are welcome and can be directed to the Rural Environment Officer by emailing resource@hume.vic.gov.au or calling 9205 2200.

This newsletter is printed on Revive Laser 100% recycled

A new calicivirus on its wayThe original calicivirus was released into the European rabbit population in 1996 and resulted in a great decline in rabbit numbers. Over time the rabbit population built up immunity to this strain of calicivirus, giving more and more populations of rabbits a tolerance which has led to a bounce back in numbers over subsequent years.

Extensive research has been undertaken on 38 different variants of calicivirus to determine suitability for release in Australia. From this, the RHDV K5 strain was chosen for a 2017 release. Like the 1996 strain, RHDV K5 will only affect the European rabbit population with the virus being spread by insects and infected rabbits.

RHDV K5 is pending release in Autumn 2017 at chosen monitoring sites across the nation, including a site in the Sunbury region. It is essential that after the release, control methods are stepped up to reduce numbers at their lowest, as RHDV K5 will not reduce numbers to a sustainable level alone.

For more information about rabbit biological control or if you’re interested in nominating your property as a release site you can express interest through Pest Smart at pestsmart.org.au/get-involved-as-a-monitoring-site

Expression of Interest in Agricultural Chemical Users Course Council will be fielding expressions of interest for an upcoming Agricultural Chemical Users course to be held later in 2016. The course will give participants a greater knowledge on use of chemicals including herbicides, insecticides, pest animal chemicals (excluding 1080) and vet chemicals. At completion of the course the participant will be able to apply for an Agricultural Chemical Users Permit, allowing the landholder to purchase schedule seven chemicals.

To express your interest contact the Sustainable Environment team on 9205 2200 or email resource@hume.vic.gov.au

&

M

CoRE Small Grant Applications - Open 1 July 2016The Conserving our Rural Environment (CoRE) Small grant provides basic support to landowners to continue managing their land. This grant is provided as a $300 reimbursement by cheque following approval of the application form.

Landowners with property larger than 0.4 hectares that is zoned Green Wedge, Green Wedge A, Rural Living and Farming are eligible to apply. Please note if you receive the Agricultural Land Use Rebate you are unable to apply.

Landowners can apply from 1 July 2016 with 2016/17 applications open until 31 March 2017. Council will carry out property visits with landowners who receive funding to review and audit the outcomes of the grant.

Contact Council’s Biodiversity Project Officer on 9205 2849 or email coregrant@hume.vic.gov.au to request an application form.

Getting to the CoRE of the issueDavid Brown, a successful recipient of a Large Project Grant through our 2015/16 Conserving our Rural Environment (CoRE) grants, received funding to attend a Natural Sequence Farming course at Tarwyn Park in the Hunter Valley. David also received funding to fence off an area of native grassland from stock and to revegetate a corridor with indigenous plants. Council’s Biodiversity Project Officer sat down with David to discuss the project and his future plans for his property.

Tell me a bit about your property and its current use?

We purchased our 80ha property in 2009 with the view to setting up a farm and building a house on which our children could have some space to grow. We currently run stud Limousin cattle.

Why were you interested in applying for the CoRE grant?

The grant allowed us to fund revegetation works on our property. These are works that we had planned but had not yet had the budget for.

What was your 2015/16 CoRE grant used for and how is this assisting you in achieving your aims in managing your property?

Last year’s grant allowed us to fence off an area of native grassland so we can restrict grazing and allow regeneration of the grassland. We also fenced and planted a wildlife corridor with indigenous tubestock.

The CoRE grant also funded a training course that you attended. What was the main ‘take home message’ from this training?

I attended a Natural Sequence Farming course at Tarwyn Park NSW in November 2015. The aim of this course was to explore how to restore the natural landscape through working with nature.

What projects are you planning for the next 5 - 10 years and how do you think this will improve your property?

To build a farm that is both beautiful and sustainable into the future and resilient to drought, flood and fire. We plan to continue running our Limousin Stud, but we plan to reserve 30 per cent of our property for conservation. We will plant our ridge lines with native vegetation. Our creek lines will be fenced off from stock, revegetated and we plan to establish a wetland to encourage wildlife and protect the creek from flooding.

Do you have any advice for other landowners in undertaking their own projects?

Planning is the key! Spend time planning and talking to interested parties like Landcare, catchment management authorities, local council and Melbourne Water. Talk to and involve neighbours where possible. Start small and build on these works in subsequent years.

2 RE-SOURCE I WINTER 2016 RE-SOURCE I WINTER 2016 3

Winter Weed WorkPaterson’s Curse (Echium plantagineum)

Paterson’s Curse is an annual herb 60cm high that is native to the Mediterranean, Europe and northern Africa. It was first introduced to Australia in 1814 as a garden plant. The plant starts to emerge in late Autumn and is in full flower by mid-Winter. Flowers are trumpet shaped, 3cm in length and vivid purple. Leaves are hairy, mid green and oval in shape.

Paterson’s Curse is poisonous to grazing stock, causing chronic liver damage. It also reduces pasture productivity by competing for light, moisture and nutrients with desired species.

Recommended control methods include:

■ Manually removing small infestations

■ Removing stock from infected areas to reduce spread

■ Spot spraying as soon as rosette appears with either non-selective glyphosate or selective Dicamba

■ Monitoring through Winter and follow up spraying if needed.

Other weeds to control though Winter are Boxthorn, Gorse, Horehound, Serrated tussock and Chilean needle grass.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Actively growing

Flowering

Treatment

FOR MORE INFO

Live Green EventsCut the cost of your energy bills6pm-7.30pm Thursday 2 JuneTullamarine Library58 Spring Street Tullamarine

Find out simple and low cost ways in which you can reduce your energy bills.

World Environment Day-Planting Day10am-12.30pm Sunday 5 JuneSunbury LandcareKismet Creek, corner of Elizabeth Drive and Prendergast Road, Sunbury

What a great way to celebrate World Environment Day! A free BBQ lunch will be provided.

Clever composting10.30am-12pm Saturday 18 JuneCraigieburn Library75-95 Central Park Avenue Craigieburn

Learn the tricks of turning kitchen food scraps and garden clippings into nutrient rich compost.

Back to Blind Creek10am-12.30pm Sunday 26 JuneEnter off Fullwood Drive Sunbury

Create wildlife habitat and reduce erosion along Blind Creek.

BOOK NOW

hume.vic.gov.au/livegreenworkshops

9205 2473

Call Council’s Sustainable Environment Department 9205 2200

hume.vic.gov.au/Pest_Plants