How Much Is Our Native Vegetation Worth To Us, The Residents Of Australia?

NATURE & CONSERVATION

By Liz Sanzaro

Some might say, very little, but what they may not realise is that entire ecosystems depend on our original native vegetation. Others understand the importance and are embracing native vegetation in many ways. An interesting example is the native warrigul greens, which is a leafy green plant that is a replacement for spinach, and is now so popular it can be found in the plant section at Bunnings. Recipes for how to prepare it abound on the internet, where chefs of celebrity status have provided their own spin on the recipe. Macadamia nuts are also a fully Australian food, just better known generally for a longer time.

In terms of what we have left of the original native vegetation, that supports our indigenous wildlife, we might only have a strip of land beside a road. In Croydon along Mt Dandenong Rd, there is a special section between Carcoola Rd and Murray Rd. A sign on the land declares it to be State Significant Roadside vegetation right in Maroondah, something to be very keen to protect.

However in Drouin, land that had been grazing land is now being offered to developers under a new State Government initiative called a Special Precinct Plan or SPP. This SPP over-rides the local environmental strategy of Council of Baw Baw, and the consequences are a disaster for all of us collectively.

Naturopath

By Kathryn Messenger

Whilst most people will experience reflux with extreme fullness occasionally, often with overeating (think Christmas day!), for some people this is a daily occurrence.

What’s going on?

We need to appreciate what we have left in terms of original vegetation, and protect as much as possible. Often road sides provide the best examples of our native cultural heritage in terms of the original growth of plants in that specific region. Clearly the road making itself will have removed a linear strip, and if the surrounding land is owned by locals, the other side of the road reserve will often be farming land, like dairy, sheep, crops, like canola, barley or market garden crops, sometimes there may be no native vegetation left at all.

Because the developer, is allowed to maximise the investment, they are allowed to use the land right up to the boundary. Clearly this land is in the shadow of the roadside trees, and once the land is cleared, these external roadside trees, if retained may suffer from windshear, causing them to blow over in ever increasing wind speeds, across the now barren land so the roadside vegetation is perceived as a threat and then removed to ensure safety in the dwellings. Here is the result.

Croydon Conservation Society stands with Drouin’s trees group, in condemning this wholesale destruction of what actually belongs to us, through our State Government, roadside vegetation land. Some Councils have developed their own roadside management protection plans, to ensure there is no loss of these precious strips of significant roadside vegetation, which provides habitat, biodiversity, shade on the road, important in extreme hot weather, slowing of wind, carbon sequestration, and not forgetting the health benefits of the view and clean air to everyone.

Along with wholesale vegetation removal at some of the level crossing removal projects, we are losing the habitat, biodiversity and benefits of trees, right at a time where we are looking at ways to prevent further human destruction of our natural heritage.

Croydon Conservation Society has a very interesting website, explaining many things relating to conservation, from the value of a single tree (not monetary) to explaining fracking, to acidified oceans and everything else of local interest. If this interests you, you might like to support us by becoming a member, through the contact us tag.

In healthy digestion, food enters the stomach via the oesophagus through a valve called the lower oesophageal sphincter, which opens only to let food in, then it closes again. Reflux is when this sphincter opens at other times and lets food or stomach acid through, often causing a burning pain in the oesophagus or an acid taste in the mouth.

Why stomach acid is so important?

The acid in your stomach plays a very important role in breaking up foods, killing bacteria (along with other foreign substances like bugs). The stomach is an amazing organ in that the acid can destroy human cells and will burn anywhere else in the body, but the lining of the stomach prevents it from destroying the stomach itself.

The problem with antacids

What most people do when they have reflux, is to take an antacid. This makes sense, of course, since at first glance, the problem is too much acid in the oesophagus. What can happen here though, is that further problems develop because they haven’t treated the cause. The acid is really important in breaking up foods and low stomach acid can lead to reduced digestion. This means that the food sits in the stomach for longer, placing increased pressure on the sphincter, which in turn can lead to increased reflux.

What you actually want to do, is be sure that your stomach has enough acid, strengthen the sphincter, and heal the oesophagus if it has been damaged by the acid. Another important point is that your body produces less acid as you age, so extra care is required as time goes by.

How to increase acid production

Liz Sanzaro

president@croydonconservationorg.au www.croydonconservation.org.au

reflux - a sour in your mouth

So eating in a calm environment when you’re not in a hurry is a great starting point. Your body will also produce more acid when you think about food or smell food.

This happens when you walk past a restaurant, smell the food and your stomach starts gurgling – it’s increasing the stomach acid ready for digestion. Another way you can do this by stopping work or other distractions 15 minutes or so before eating and think about and smell the food you are about to eat.

What else can I do?

If you can follow your way to the cause of your health issues, you can go much further with your treatment.

Whole Naturopathy can help provide you with natural products such a bitter herbs and digestive enzymes, along with dietary advice for reflux and fullness.

Stomach acid is produced when your nervous system is in ‘rest and digest’ mode as opposed to ‘fight or flight’ mode, which I have talked about previously.

Sometimes it can be helpful to add acid by drinking lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in a little water just before you eat. Be careful not to drink too much water with meals though, as this can dilute the acid in your stomach and make digestion harder, you’re best to drink water away from food by 1 hour. Bitter herbs can stimulate your body to produce more stomach acid and are best taken 15-20 minutes before eating. If you get really stuck, or are already taking medications to reduce your stomach acid, it can be helpful to take digestive enzymes with food so that your body has lots of acid with meals to digest them, then low acid in between. This can also help with other digestive issues such as fullness or pain. There are also some great herbs to heal the lining of the oesophagus if it has been damaged by the acid.

This advice is general in nature and not intended to be prescriptive. For individualised prescriptive advice, please see a naturopath or other health care practitioner.

Kathryn Messenger

BHSc (Naturopathy) kathryn@wholenaturopathy.com.au

Suite 1, 24/1880

Ferntree Gully Rd

Mountain Gate Shopping Centre

Ferntree Gully, Victoria

Accountant

By Warren Strybosch

Transfer Balance Cap (TBC) were introduced in July 2017 and set in place a limit on how much an individual could transfer from their accumulated superannuation account into their retirement pension account.

The first general transfer balance cap (GTBC) limit was set at $1.6 million and then this increased by $100,000 on 1st July 2021. The mechanism for the increase is covered in the income tax assessment act 1997 (ITAA) with inflation being the key factor as to when and how much it will increase each financial year. Based on recent inflation levels it is expected the increase on the 1st of July 2023 will be $200,000 and take the GTBC to $1.9 million.

For those who are yet to set up a pension and are likely to have assets in super exceeding $1.7 million at 1st July 2023, would want to consider setting up their pension after the 1st of July, 2023 to take advantage of the increase in the GTBC. Remember, if you exceed the GTBC, you are liable to pay tax on the excess transfer balance earnings (excess transfer balance tax). You also need to transfer any excess to a super accumulation account or withdraw it as a lump sum.

For most Australian’s they will not exceed their personal transfer balance cap (PTBC) of $1.9 million. If they are close to exceeding their PTBC, there are strategies that can be put in place to reduce an individual’s funds in their accumulation account and so avoid going over their PTBC. It is important for individuals who believe they might exceed their PTBC to seek financial planning advice ahead of time and not leave it until they are just about to retire.

For those who are already in pension phase, their PTBC could be anywhere from $1.6 million to $1.9 million depending on when they set up their pensions and how much they had in their accumulation account at the time. Everyone will be different and it is not a matter of simply adding $200,000 to your existing PTBC.

For those who are already in the retirement phase of their lives, a Transfer Balance Account (TBC) is required to track an individual's use of their PTBC.