banksia
bulletin
issue number 038 — spring 2010
Friends of Bayside 2010 contact list Bayside Environment Friends Network Coordinator: Barbara Jakob Mobile: 0408 032 963 Email: baysidefriends@gmail.com Friends of Balcombe Park Coordinator: Joan Couzoff 26 Balcombe Park Lane, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 1060 Friends of Bay Road Reserve Coordinator: Michael Norris (Southern Ward Councillor) 5 Deakin Street, Hampton 3188 Phone: (03) 9521 0804 Email: menorris@ozemail.com.au BRASCA Coordinator: Janet Ablitt 4A Fairleigh Avenue, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 6646 Friends of Brighton Dunes Coconvenors: Elizabeth McQuire 34 Normanby Street, Brighton 3186 Phone: (03) 9592 6474 and Jenny Talbot 71 Champion Street, Brighton 3186 Phone: (03) 9592 2109
Friends of Long Hollow Heathland/ Friends of Table Rock/ Friends of Gramatan Avenue Heathland Sanctuary Coordinator: Ken Rendell 33 Clonmore Street, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 4452 Friends of Merindah Park and the Urban Forest Coordinator: David Cockburn 72 Spring Street, Sandringham 3191 Phone: (03) 9598 6148 Friends of Native Wildlife Coordinator: Michael Norris (Southern Ward Councillor) 5 Deakin Street, Hampton 3188 Phone: (03) 9521 0804 Email: menorris@ozemail.com.au Friends of Ricketts Point Landside Coordinator: Sue Raverty 5 Rosemary Road, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 2103 Email: sraverty@westnet.com.au Friends of Watkins Bay Coordinator: Moira Longden 73 Dalgetty Road, Beaumaris 3195 Phone: (03) 9589 2725
Friends of Cheltenham Park Coordinator: Valerie Tyers Phone: (03) 9588 0107 Email: valerietyers@hotmail.com
Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc President: Ray Lewis ray.lewis@greypath.com Mobile: 0408 308 768
Cheltenham Primary School Sanctuary Charman Road, Cheltenham 3192 Phone: (03) 9583 1614
NED (New Environment Directions) at Elsternwick Park Coordinator: Neil Blake Port Phillip EcoCentre, cnr Herbert and Blessington St, St Kilda 3182 Phone: (03) 9534 0413 Email: neilblake.ecocentre@iinet.net.au
Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve Coordinators: Alison and Bill Johnston 4 Wellington Avenue, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 5459 Friends of George Street Reserve Coordinators: Val Tarrant 47 Bayview Crescent, Black Rock 3193 Phone: (03) 9598 0554 Email: vtarrant@ozemail.com.au and Pauline Reynolds 9 Reno Road, Sandringham 3191 Phone: (03) 9598 6368
St. Leonards College Conservation Group Contact: Luisa Ingram 163 South Road, Brighton East 3187 Phone: (03) 9909 9300 Email: Luisa.Ingram@stleonards.vic.edu. au
Cover photograph: Allocasuarina paludosa.
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Acknowledgements Thank you to all the people who have contributed to this issue of Banksia Bulletin. The editors encourage people to submit articles, however Bayside City Council reserves the right to edit or omit articles. Artwork, illustrations and photographs can also be submitted to feature in the publication. Disclaimer The views expressed in the Banksia Bulletin are not necessarily those of Bayside City Council or its representatives. Editors Amy Hough, Neri Brown, Mike Petit and Fiona Dodge Copy deadlines 2010/11 Copy deadlines are set for the first Friday of the month of release: Summer 2010 Friday 3 December for release end December Autumn 2011 Thursday 3 March for release end March Banksia Bulletin is published quarterly by Bayside City Council to service people interested in enjoying and protecting the local environment. If you would like to be added to the Banksia Bulletin mailing list, please contact Bayside City Council on 9599 4444 or email: banksia@bayside.vic.gov.au. Please indicate whether you would prefer to receive your Banksia Bulletin by post or via email. Corporate Centre PO Box 27 Royal Avenue SANDRINGHAM VIC 3191 Telephone: 9599 4444 www.bayside.vic.gov.au enquiries@bayside.vic.gov.au Hours of business 8.30am – 5pm Monday – Friday (except public holidays)
Printed on 100% recycled paper
banksia bulletin — spring 2010
In this ISSUE
From the Mayor
Two New Faces
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Friends of Balcombe Park Joan Couzoff
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Family Life Open Garden Day 2010 Friends of Brighton Dunes Dr Jim Willis Reserve Jenny Talbot
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Plastic, not fantastic Tom Walsh
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The Silent Hunter John Nacamuli
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Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve Alison Johnston
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Become A Bat Detector
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Australia day Environment Awards 2011
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Friends of George Street Reserve Valerie Tarrant and Pauline Reynolds Marine Care Ricketts Point Ray Lewis Spring Open Days George Street Reserve Pauline Reynolds Bronzewing Pigeon Planting Elizabeth Walsh
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Friends of Ricketts Point Landside Sue Raverty
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Open Space Strategy
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Blue Wrens Moira Longden
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Community Plan
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Enviro Kids
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A Tall Banksia Tale Diana Pearce
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Friends of Bayside Working Bee Times
What an exciting season for our Friends Groups as they see the many reserves, parks and foreshore areas that they have nurtured through the drought, literally spring to life after the good winter rains. The increased growth brought on by the wettest winter seen in many years, brings mixed blessings. Our Friends Groups simultaneously grapple with weeds and celebrate the abundance of local and indigenous species. If you have ever thought of volunteering some time with any of the groups, I’m sure they would appreciate an extra set of hands to tackle those weeds, as the pressure is on to deal with them before their seed sets in the next month or so. Details from the outcomes of the consultation stage of the Open Space Strategy are in the process of being collated and analysed. I encourage you to follow the progress of this developing strategy by visiting www.bayside.vic.gov. au/openspace. Visit this link to ask questions, provide feedback, share thoughts or ideas and read reports as they become available. The ‘give our streets the green light’ campaign is gaining great momentum state wide. We, at Bayside Council, have been busy writing letters to state and federal government leaders to encourage them to fund a rollover of street
lighting. Replacing old street lights with new energy efficient technology would save significant greenhouse gas emissions – equivalent to more than 340,000 cars off the road for a year! Funding such an initiative is far beyond council’s financial ability. You too can get involved by signing the online petition at www.greenlightourstreets.org.au You may have heard that Bayside City Council has committed to developing a vision of the community’s aspirations for the next 10 years. This is called the Bayside 2020 Community Plan and is a process that is intended to guide decision-making by Council, other levels of government, business and non-profit organisations. Council has indicated that community ownership of the planning process is as important as the end product. There will be plenty of opportunities to be involved in this important process over the coming months, and ongoing participation is welcome. See our article on page 24 for more information on the Bayside 2020 Community Plan. I encourage you all to enjoy the onset of the season by exploring our beautiful heathland and foreshore areas while they are at their spring best. Cr Clifford Hayes Mayor
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Two New Faces We welcome Environmental Education officers, Kirsten Friend and Tom Walsh
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Kirsten
Tom
Spring has sprung and what an excellent time to make my move to Bayside City Council heading into the warmer months! Here I am day one and familiarising myself with the Banksia Bulletin and the fantastic array of “Friends Of� groups. As the new Environmental Sustainability Education Officer I am looking forward to getting to know all these passionate community groups and getting involved in assisting in preserving and promoting our natural environment. I have a background in sustainable waste management and community education, and a passion for green purchasing and all things Fair Trade. I have worked in local government for more than eight years and truly believe that councils are the most connected group to the community, and that we can all work effectively together to make those long term changes to create a more sustainable world.
My background is in Environmental Science, and I have worked in a number of diverse roles that have included tracking the movements of small mammals in Kosciusko National Park; studying the effects of drought on river red gums; and exploring the ability of artificial wetlands to treat waste water. I have engaged with people on environmental issues through an online radio program and have worked with volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds. As the Environmental Education Officer, I look forward to meeting and working alongside our Friends groups and everyone in the Bayside community who shares my drive towards environmental consciousness.
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Friends of Balcombe Park
Gompholobium huegelii Photograph by Pauline Reynolds.
Our most recent controlled burn in 2008, on the eastern side of Balcombe Park, has produced excellent regeneration and the good winter rain has also helped. Wedding bush has regenerated very well and we have found Prickly Guinea-flower (Hibbertia acicularis) and Blue Bottle Daisy (Lagenifera stipitata). Between the 2002 controlled burn site and wildfire areas a rare heathland pea, Common Wedgepea (Gompholobium huegelii) has been found. We welcomed new neighbours to our group and also two of Matt Hutchins’ friends from Canada joined our monthly working bee. During the past few months two local schools, St Joseph’s and Sandringham Secondary College, have spent time working in the park. We hope the wedding bush will be in full flower for our September Open Day. Joan Couzoff Coordinator Friends of Balcombe Park
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Family Life Open Garden Day 2010 The annual Family Life Open Garden day is just around the corner! Keep Sunday 24 October free for a fun day out to visit some beautiful and intriguing gardens around Brighton. Six unique gardens from Brighton’s ‘golden mile’ will be on show this year, from rambling treasuretroves and Victorian manors through to modern abodes with breathtaking views. The gardens will be open from 11am to 5pm, at the following locations in Brighton: • 1 Wellington Street • 27 Victoria Street • 26 Grosvenor Street • 285 New Street • 2A Seacombe Grove • 19 Seacombe Grove In addition to viewing the gardens, visitors can enjoy music provided by local school students and musicians, some fun activities for the kids, and useful information from major event sponsors; CopperRock,
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Victorian Lawn Installations and Citywide Services, who operate the Bayside Community Nursery. Guests may also enjoy the thrill of a ride in a vintage car available to transport guests from garden to garden. Indigenous plants, mulching and water-wise ideas will also be offered on the day via sponsors including the Bayside City Council’s Be a Bayside Water Saver. Now in its ninth consecutive year, this fundraising event is run by a team of dedicated volunteers, with all money raised going to Family Life – a local non profit community organisation that provides services such as counselling, support groups, training and community development in the Southern Metropolitan region of Melbourne. Entry is $22 or $17 for concession. For more information call Family Life on 03 8599 5433 or visit www.familylife.com.au
Photographs of some of the ‘Open Gardens’ by Pauline Reynolds.
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Friends of the Brighton Dunes (Dr Jim Willis Reserve) August 2010 Walking out of my local supermarket with my shopping, I asked the check-out girl (17 or 18 years old) what she felt about this winter. She shuddered, and said she couldn’t remember being as cold. As for the rain! Being decades older, I am happy with a cold, reasonably wet winter at last, the wettest winter in eleven years. The 14 year drought has broken. But, to keep it in perspective, our rainfall has only been average (instead of below average as it has been for years), and we haven’t had decent frosts like we used to get until the mid 1990s. This year we have had the coldest winter in 12 years, but the temperatures are still above average.
At the moment (I write in late August) the Tea Tree are coming into flower, their faint honey scent is in the air, the native bees are on the move, the surviving Coast Wattles are richly covered. Paradise recovering. And the Blue Wrens sing.
In 1898 a Swedish chemist, Svante Arrherius, the first Swedish Nobel prize-winner, put forth the theory of the Greenhouse Effect, or global warming.
On 24 May 2010, I went to the Environment Friends meeting. Barbara Jakob had invited Bob Alyson - Rakali Watch Team (Earthcare St Kilda) to speak.
He worked out that the doubling of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would increase the average temperatures on Earth by 5°C to 6°C.
It was a fascinating talk – as indeed is any talk given by an expert in their field.
In the 20th century there was a 30% rise of carbon dioxide in the air that has led to a rise in temperatures on earth of 0.8°C. This needs to be addressed. It is scientific fact. To talk about a debate is as useful as having a debate as to whether the earth is flat.
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As we have worked over the past few months weeding, cutting back Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissum), pulling out Cape Ivy (Delairea odorata), we have been enchanted to see green, green and more green. The plants that have survived the final hot dry four years of the drought – that saw more and more tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum), Coast Wattle (Acacia sophorae), and even a tough old She-oak (Allocasuarina verticillata) die – are blooming and thriving.
In the past – a few years ago – we have seen Rakali footprints on the sandbar near Green Point at low tide, so let’s hope they are hanging on there, although Bob Alyson says overall numbers have been greatly diminished since 2005 because of two major flood storms that have destroyed feeding spots.
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The Rakali (water rat) is shy, and mostly lives in fairly unpolluted waterways. For 100 years the Rakali was hunted almost to extinction for its fur. Its hind feet are partially webbed and it has a charming white tail tip. One of the unique features of Australian cities is that the suburbs have trees and remnant vegetation, habitat for birds and small mammals, and not-very-many Rakali. Even in the most densely inhabited area of Bayside, the Brighton/Elwood section, it is known that three species of bat exist. In keeping with the dramatic beach changes at Portsea due to injudicious channel deepening, we have noticed that our high tides are continuously higher than they used to be, but are not a major problem yet. Our beach is a long way from the heads, at a good angle, and gently shelving with a lot of reefs. Dendy Street beach, with its dune system and reefs, its plant communities and its midden, is a precious natural remnant to be cherished. Thanks to our volunteers, and to the redoubtable Mark Rasmussen of Citywide, always ready to put in more than 100 percent.
Jenny Talbot Coordinator Friends of Brighton Dunes
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Plastic, not fantastic Plastic bags are arguably one of the most ubiquitous products of our society. Lightweight and cheap they provide us with a convenient method to transport our goods from the supermarket to our cars and then ultimately into our homes. Their useful life is measured in minutes and yet they have a lifespan that literally extends a thousand years beyond the brief duration of our relationship. Our efficiency at removing waste from our homes and from our sight makes it easy to forget that once discarded, plastic bags continue to exist. Plastic bags actually have the same half life as radioactive lead and similarly should also be completely avoided. Plastic bags are made from ethylene, a gas that is produced from the production of oil, gas and coal. Ethylene is made into polymers (chains of ethylene molecules) called polyethylene that is then used to make a range of items, including plastic bags. Just 8.7 bags from your local supermarket contain enough embodied energy to drive a car up to 1km! There are two types of plastic bags: the flimsy bags that you get at supermarkets, that are made with high density Polyethylene (HDPE) and can be recycled; just look for the collection bin located at many supermarkets; and
the thicker bags commonly provided by boutique and department stores, that are made from low density polyethylene bags and cannot be recycled. Did you know that of the roughly four billion plastic bags that Australians use every year, 50 to 80 million end up littering our environment? That only 3% of these plastic bags are actually being recycled? These discarded plastic bags are finding their way into our parklands, our waterways and ultimately the bay. It is estimated that worldwide plastic kills up to 1 million sea birds, 100,000 sea mammals and countless fish every year. Turtles, dolphins and killer whales can choke or starve from eating plastic bags that they have mistaken for jellyfish. Over time the abrasive action of waves and sand causes plastic to be ground up into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually they can become small enough to enter the food chain. There are areas of the North Pacific where these tiny pieces of plastic are six times more abundant than zooplankton, the tiny marine animals that form the foundation of the oceanic food chain. What does this means for the ocean life that depends on these tiny creatures? Well, next time you sit down to
The Silent Hunter This master of camouflage and fearless hunter of our reefs was found in some particular areas at Ricketts Point. Between 1978 and 2001, I had the opportunity to search and eventually find Blue-ringed Octopus at Ricketts Point. This distant cousin of our mussels does not have many enemies except for the local Conger Eel and the Giant Green Leather Jacket. However, in the last three years (even after searching for more than four hours one day), I have had no luck in finding a single Blue-ringed Octopus. I believe that because our reefs have become a forest of kelp and the mussel beds seem to have disappeared along the reefs from Beaumaris and Brighton, the Blue-
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eat, imagine that for every spoonful of delicious food you consume you must also eat six spoonfuls of plastic. Bon appÊtit. The truly tragic part of this story, the truly amazing testament to the durability of plastic, is that once it has killed it remains to kill again. For over 1000 years. But thank goodness we are able to get our groceries home safely. It is true that there have been a number of initiatives to reduce the amount of plastic bags that we use. Some stores now charge you extra if you want to use a plastic bag and many supermarkets now offer reusable bags for purchase. These initiatives have indeed had a beneficial effect; plastic bag use has dropped (interestingly the sale of bin liners has increased), but there is still more work to be done. Plastic is still showing up in the bellies of dead Albatross chicks. Their parents have been feeding them plastic items that they have mistaken for food. Next time you’re in the supermarket, take a closer look at the products that you are buying. Is the amount of packaging excessive, recyclable or even necessary? Is the item wrapped in so many layers of plastic that it
more closely resembles a Russian Matryoshka doll rather than something you can actually eat? Do you notice that even if you refuse plastic bags at the counter how much plastic you are still taking home with you? It is partly a misdirection that retailers attempt to frame the issue of plastic waste as the sole responsibility of the consumer. Supermarkets, for example, have immense influence on the way goods are packaged and by focussing attention on the consumer they are diverting attention from what they themselves should be doing. Yes, the consumer does have a role to play; we should be reducing our personal use of plastic whenever we can. But when supermarkets are our sole means to meet some of our basic needs, we are still at the mercy of the choices they make on how our food is wrapped and delivered before being presented to us for purchase. So, in addition to reducing the amount of plastic we are personally responsible for using, we need to place pressure on these larger organisations to remove non-recyclable plastic as an option. Tom Walsh Environmental Education Officer Bayside City Council
Photographs by John Nacamuli.
ringed Octopus may have gone too. Perhaps defeated by either pollution or lack of prey with the disappearance of the mussels. These photos are all I have to remember this great master of camouflage that displayed such spectacular colour when disturbed. The Blue-ringed Octopus would try to escape when an adversary was too large to tackle, relying on his poisonous bite only as last resort if captured. There have been no known reports of any human being bitten by a blue ringed octopus in the last 10 years. John Nacamuli Bayside Resident
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Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve
We warmly welcome a new member of Citywide bushland crew, Liam Bucknell, who is now working with us each month. Bayside City Council’s annual program of Spring Open Days is now underway, with invitations to visit the various heathland reserves in Bayside. This year, for the first time, it was planned to include Donald MacDonald Reserve in the program with an offer of guided tours as part of our September working bee. On that day, Liam came well prepared with information and literature and there was a great roll-up of our own members, but, disappointingly, no visitors. There had been several days of heavy rain beforehand, wild winds the previous night and also it was Fathers Day. So, if we want to participate in the event next year, we’ll have to do some serious thinking about it! However, our members worked hard collecting litter and weeding in several revegetation plots between the memorial and Fourth Street, in the site of the 2004 controlled ecological burn, and then enjoying our usual morning tea break. A few days previously, in the same burn site, I briefly visited a group of Year 9 students from the Friends of Sandringham Secondary College who were planting trees and shrubs. Liam and Matt from Citywide were assisting and supervising them, together with their teacher. At our August working bee some of our members set out to tackle Cape Ivy, a very invasive weed, and were puzzled by its unexpected absence, then delighted to learn that it had been removed by another group from the Friends of Sandringham Secondary College. We’d like these students to know that we really appreciate their efforts! In the Reserve the flowering plants at their peak include Acacia paradoxa, Indigofera australis, Bossiaea cinerea, and Acacia sophorae. The latter is considered to be a coastal species that has invaded the heathland areas. The birds are very active, the most obvious and vocal being Red Wattle Bird, Noisy Miner, Grey Butcher Bird, Australian Magpie, Rainbow Lorikeet, And Crimson Rosella. The Rosellas are constantly visiting the nest boxes placed on the walls of our house and we hope they will again successfully raise some young ones. Alison Johnston Coordinator Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve.
Acacia paradoxa Photograph by Pauline Reynolds.
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Become a bat detector and help protect microbats Bayside City Council is a proud partner of the University of Melbourne’s research project on microbats (Banksia Bulletin Summer 09/10). The microbat project will help determine the distribution, abundance, habitat requirements and conservation status of insectivorous bats within urban and suburban areas, including Bayside. Research will help Council to make informed decisions to improve bat habitat. Be treated to a complete dusk till dawn experience sleeping overnight inside the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne – something usually unavailable for the general public – while also being able to enjoy the Ford Fiesta Moonlight Cinema while waiting for the microbats to come out. Through Earthwatch, a not-for-profit organisation, you can join the research team and get hands on in the fight to protect microbats and become a bat detector for an evening in the name of conservation. This year’s field research will focus on the long-term viability of microbats in Melbourne by focusing on female microbats; their breeding behaviours, reproduction, survival rates of babies, birth rates, death rates and roosting locations. Participants will conduct night surveys searching for bats with bat detectors and GPS; discover microbat habitats, nesting locations and fit radio collars; and, learn about the threats facing the microbats. Cost of participating in a research team is $89 and includes overnight accommodation, supper, refreshments and breakfast and the unique experience of contributing to this important ecological work. Funds raised from the microbat research nights will go towards further research. Melbourne’s Microbat research teams are scheduled for: • 5 November 2010 • 29 January 2011 (family team for children aged 10 and over) • 11 and 26 February 2011 To sign up for a team, call Earthwatch on (03) 9682 6828 or email earth@earthwatch.org.au Further information is available at www.earthwatch.org.au
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Bayside City Council
Australia Day Environment Awards 2011
Friends of George Street Reserve Friends of George Street and Citywide crews busy planting and the finished product.
The Environment Awards link to Council’s approach, programs and activities for educating and
Friends, Citywide staff, and the Hampton Rotary Club members who worked with them, are pleased with the success of the nature strip plantings outside the reserve in Tulip Street. The new plants are surviving well, and like the rest of the reserve, responding to the rains of August and early September. We hope that passers-by will enjoy being able to see close-up a variety of the wildflowers that flourish within the reserve. Volunteers at the monthly work parties have spent hours weeding
Photographs by Pauline Reynolds.
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Do you know of a City of Bayside resident or community group who has made, or is making, an outstanding contribution to the environment? If so, you may want to nominate them for Council’s Australia Day Environment Awards. The Environment Awards aim to recognise outstanding contributions to the environment and to help inspire others to take action on the environment.
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engaging with the community on environmental sustainability. An award will be presented to an individual and a community group. Council will consider nominations for achievement in the following areas: • Maintaining and restoring the City of Bayside’s natural assets
Council will call for nominations in late October and nominations will close in mid-December. Nomination forms are available on our website www.bayside.vic.gov.au or by contacting our Environmental Policy Officer – Leanne Stray on 9599 4444.
• Using natural resources wisely • Reducing our everyday impacts • Responding to climate change Awards will be presented on Australia Day as part of Council’s broader Australia Day celebrations.
out invasive Panic Veldgrass (Ehrharta erecta) and undertaking in-fill planting with species from the Bayside Community Nursery. It is worth reflecting on the great contribution made by the nursery, since 1978, through its propagating program that enables us to add to the indigenous flora of the area. The spring flowering has again been splendid, with bronze and gold Egg and Bacon (Bossiaea cinerea) mingling with snowy white Beard Heath (Leucopogon virgatus) in the regenerating heathlands.
Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus pinifolius) is thriving with the buds in early September giving promise of a wealth of creamy white blossoms to come. A group of 20 or so members and friends from the Garden Circle of the Melbourne Lyceum Club enjoyed an exploration of the reserve that followed visits to the Native Resource Garden and the Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary. People, particularly those from other areas, were astonished and delighted to discover bushlands
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within suburbia where they could enjoy wildflowers and listen to native birds. They were also interested to learn something of the efforts within the former City of Sandringham and present City of Bayside that have led to the respect paid to our indigenous plant heritage and to the thoughtful management of the reserves. Valerie Tarrant and Pauline Reynolds Joint Coordinators Friends of George Street Reserve
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1 1. Spoonbill attack!
2. Undaria pinnatifida.
Photograph by Kim Croker.
Photograph by Ray Lewis.
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Some observations by Marine Care Ricketts Point We have had a cold winter with poor visibility underwater, but here are some recent observations by our friends group, Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc: • A pair of humpback whales close to shore off the Ricketts Point Tea House, in July. • A mother dolphin teaching her baby how to round up fish at McGregors Rock. • T he first (recorded) Golden Pot Bellied sea horse in the sanctuary, in late May. • A lso during May a family of Royal Spoonbills took up residence on the reef. • A rrival of exotic pests - a lovely reddish seaweed known as Grataloupia turuturu, and kelp - Undaria pinnatifada that we don’t want either. • O n two occasions we have had the rare privilege of being surrounded by shoals of salmon in their thousands, in only a couple of metres of water. • A fox foraging amongst the sea weed. Ray Lewis President Marine Care Ricketts Point
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Spring Open Days – George Street Reserve 1 The sun actually shone on us on a Sunday in midSeptember when we opened the gate of the marvellously regenerated burn area at the George Street Reserve. More than 20 people had guided tours through and everyone admired the beautiful spring flowers that are looking so wonderful after all the rain. All of the Bushland Reserves are showing the benefit of the extra water we have had this year. I can’t remember Bay Road Reserve ever looking so good and George Street is lovely too. Every reserve is well worth a visit!
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Pauline Reynolds Coordinator Friends of George Street Reserve
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The welcoming committee.
2,3. Visitors amble through the reserve.
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Photographs by Pauline Reynolds.
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Photograph by Kim Croker.
Bronzewing Pigeon Planting Despite that the Federal election was announced for Saturday 21 August (after we had chosen that date), it did not stop 21 enthusiastic environmentalists from helping at the Friends of Native Wildlife working bee. They ranged from three school students and their mothers, to people in their twenties, to pioneer Friends in their seventies. The Bronzewing Pigeon habitat planting at the south-west corner of the golf driving range at George Street and Talinga Road is thriving. The two year growth is taller than our trusty Citywide worker Matt Hutchins! Matt, for the third year in a row, supported the preparation, planting and weeding of the area. This time it involved two sprays of weeds and placement of a mountain of mulch before planting began. Why that mountain of mulch is there is something for our younger members to contemplate. Is it because we cannot trust that the spray will work, is it to keep the moisture in or, is it to stop weed seeds from germinating successfully? Around five hundred plants went into the moist soil under that mountain of mulch. Much energy was required to push and twist the Hamilton tree planters (a bit like pogo sticks) into the earth (and occasional rubble), to make holes for the new plants on the level and
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down the slopes, and to do that fast enough to keep ahead of the busy band of planters and waterers. The crystals used in the base of each hole are for water retention and to help support the seedlings to establish strong root systems. Some of the species planted will fill in the gaps from the first two plantings, and extend the area eastwards and northwards. Species included: • Common Tussock Grass - Poa labillardieri (main grass planted) • Spiney-headed Mat Rush Lomandra longifolia • Black-anther Flax Lily Dianella revoluta • Soft Spear Grass Austrostipa mollis • Bristly Wallaby Grass Austrodanthonia setacea • Spike Wattle - Acacia oxycedrus • Sweet Bursaria - Bursaria spinosa • Showy Bossiaea Bossiaea cinerea • Cherry Ballart Exocarpos cupressiformis The seeds from these plants provide food for Common Bronzewing Pigeons and their cousins the Brush Bronzewings. The former are found across Australia in most natural habitats. They also fancy wheat fields but in Bayside are rarely seen away from scrub and woodlands.
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The latter prefer denser and lower vegetation and are mainly birds of southern Australia’s vanishing coastal heathlands and scrubs. Brush Bronzewings have smarter plumage than Common Bronzewings because they do not have pale edges to the upper feathers. Neither species is as brazen as the closelyrelated Crested Pigeon, which was first seen in Bayside in 1994 and is now happily feeding in flocks, – showing off the spike on its head at ovals all over the city. Although Brush Bronzewings tend to be found in less developed areas, individuals will adopt a site in Bayside for weeks at time in the cooler months. Most recently, one was found at Long Hollow in mid July and was still there in late August, often feeding under Cherry Ballart. Long Hollow, along with Cheltenham Park (its former stronghold), still attracts Common Bronzewings, which may have bred at both sites in recent years. However, George Street is now the main area for the species in Bayside. So, thanks to Matt and the volunteers for helping the Bronzewings. A special thanks to Jo Hurse (Citywide and Bushland Nursery Team Leader) for her ongoing hard work and support of the Friends groups. Elizabeth Walsh Friends of Native Wildlife
Friends of Ricketts Point Landside
Lynda, Joan and Mark at the working bee. Photograph by Sue Raverty.
During the early part of this year, Mark Rasmussen from Citywide, had been busy clearing a large degraded section of bushland close to Point Avenue. We haven’t ventured as far north as this before. Most of our planting sites are located in the centre of the reserve, opposite the teahouse. This new site is ideally situated for revegetation with good access and visibility from Beach Road. Mark has also cleared a large area of Boxthorn, hidden away at the back of the centre of our site, next to the rear walls of the Beach Road properties. While this area is hard to get into, it is now quite open and ready for revegetation. As well as these two large areas, we have weeded and prepared six smaller bare patches along the footpath opposite the (Beaumaris Yacht) club. Mark has also trimmed back the vegetation overhanging the footpath. Some of these plants are unfortunately Boxthorn which can be a hazard to the pedestrians walking along this pathway. We are mindful of planting low growing plants close to the path so that this problem is minimised.
a green thumb to have success with Seaberry Saltbush, Correa alba or Bower Spinach. They are definitely very hardy plants. We have been delighted this year to welcome two highly experienced volunteers to our group. Joan Couzoff (Friends of Balcombe Park) joined us in January. She is enjoying finding out the differences and similarities between heathland and coastal species. We appreciate her help very much as she still has her own group to look after. Our other new member is Pat Wundersitz. Shortly after Pat arrived from South Australia, she sought out the environmental network in Bayside. We were very pleased that Pat chose to volunteer with our group. Not surprisingly, the plants Pat is familiar with in South Australia are either the same or not very different from those in our bushland.
During this years planting season, we succeeded in planting out all the new sites as well as infilling where needed, around the Banksias in the more formal area opposite the Tea House. We are expecting a good result due to the increased rainfall this season.
On a sad note, Joan Palmer, aged 84, has decided to retire form active volunteer work after more than ten years. Joan has been a regular volunteer with both Friends of Ricketts Point Landside and Friends of Watkins Bay since their inception. She will always be a committed supporter of environmental and humanitarian concerns. We hope Joan will proudly remember her contribution to the revegetation of Ricketts Point as she continues to enjoy the bushland and foreshore in the years to come.
All of our planted areas came through the dry season very well with very little loss. Experience has shown us where to plant the more sensitive plants to achieve a good strike rate. However, it is not necessary to have
Sue Raverty Coordinator Friends of Ricketts Point Landside
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Update on the Open Space Strategy The last two months has been a hive of activity. Here’s a snapshot of the consultation activities that have been completed to date: • 814 household surveys have been completed. This has been achieved through the random distribution of 5000 surveys to households across Bayside City Council. In addition surveys were available online, at the Council’s corporate centre and libraries. Thanks to everyone who contributed their thoughts and ideas to the project. The household survey is now closed for comment. Keep reading for some of the preliminary findings that are emerging from the survey. While the survey may have closed, if you have any ideas or thoughts you want to share, this can be done through the feedback form on the project website. • We have interviewed 167 people through on-the-street surveys. This involved talking about the project, the ideas that residents have about what they love about Bayside’s open space, and what improvements they would like to see. The results are being analysed and will contribute to our understanding of open space in the City of Bayside. • We have hosted six community workshops across Bayside focusing on community and location issues. About 40 people
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came to the workshops to offer their ideas and priorities for open space. The outcomes of each workshop are available on the project website. See www. bayside.vic.gov.au/openspace • We have hosted three listening posts across Bayside. The listening posts enabled local residents to engage and have a conversation with key CPG staff who are working on the project. This provided us with the opportunity to share information and hand out copies of the Bayside Walks brochure that has just been released by Council. There is still more to do. We are progressively interviewing key organisations that influence open space in Bayside such as State Government authorities and neighbouring councils. We have also just started to roll out surveys targeting specific organisations that have a direct interest in Bayside open spaces. These include sporting clubs, schools and other community organisations and groups.
A Big Thank You For Your Contributions! We thank everyone who has taken the time to provide their feedback, whether it was through the workshops, focus groups, household surveys, intercept surveys, listening posts or directly. Your contributions have provided us with vital information that is necessary
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to develop the Open Space Strategy. We appreciate the time you have taken and will endeavour to ensure that your future needs are represented in the final strategy.
Some Emerging Themes from the Household Surveys Below is a snapshot of some of the emerging trends arising from the household surveys. Please note that these are initial findings that will obtain additional depth once all community feedback is received.
Use of Open Spaces Most respondents listed the beach and the foreshore as their most frequently used open space. The space is valued for many passive and active sports and activities, as well as an overall appreciation of the coastal beauty and the escapism provided while still being located so close to the city. After the beach and foreshore area many listed small, quiet, local areas of open space as their second most used areas, indicating the importance of these areas particularly for reasons of proximity.
Preservation of Open Space Many residents have indicated the importance of preserving local and major parks and reserves. They also raised issues concerning encroachment by development and the increase in demand for public open spaces as the amount
of private open space decreases. Overall, there is a strong desire to preserve the natural feeling and vegetation along the foreshore areas.
Maintenance of Open Space Overall residents are generally happy with the open spaces in Bayside. Many expressed the importance of the diverse range of open spaces currently available. The range of recreational areas such as the foreshore, local parks, walking trails and reserves were seen as positive factors for living in Bayside. Further, the broad availability of open spaces was seen to facilitate both passive and active recreational choices that were seen to support physical and mental wellbeing within the community. There were some common areas where residents believed that there was room for improvement. Some examples included the number of rubbish bins and rubbish removal, maintenance of the beaches and seaweed removal, planting of vegetation in park and bushland areas, the maintenance of walking paths and tracks and the upgrading of playgrounds and sporting facilities.
Challenge of Shared Use of Open Space
includes places where dogs and people play; shared spaces for cyclists and pedestrians and spaces where there is conflict between organised sports and activities and passive recreational activity.
What Happens Now? Community issues arising from the focus groups, workshops, listening posts, household surveys, online surveys, stakeholder engagement and other activities forming the consultation program will provide the foundation for the strategy. Details from the outcomes of the consultation stage are in the process of being collated and analysed. Results from this process will be made available and uploaded on the project website as soon as it is complete.
Stay Informed Our project website continues to be updated, so please keep up to date with the project progress by visiting the site at www.bayside. vic.gov.au/openspace. Use the site to ask questions, provide feedback, share thoughts or ideas and read reports as they become available. Otherwise, please contact Hang Do from CPG on 9993 7888 should you wish to discuss any aspect of the project.
Feedback from residents tells us that there are some common areas where the shared use of open space is sometimes difficult. This
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Blue Wrens at Ricketts Point
These beautiful photographs of a pair of Superb FairyWrens, also known as Blue Wrens or Malurus cyaneus, were taken by Kim Croker at Ricketts Point in August 2010. The male (pictured above) is displaying prominently and singing to advertise his territory. The female (right) is challenging her reflection in a car windscreen as she guards her territory. Since 1 January 1991, I have been keeping an informal diary of Blue Wrens in Beach Park Beaumaris, mostly at Ricketts Point. At that time there appeared to be three family groups present, two at Ricketts point and one at Table Rock / Sea Scouts area. It is mostly a record of numbers of birds present, the nesting and raising of young, and attempts to observe the males moulting in and out of their nuptial plumage that usually takes about three weeks. One memorable year a male moulted from blue to blue maintaining his nuptial plumage all year indicating that he must have been at least four years old, an alpha male indeed.
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At the end of the breeding season males usually moult into a brownish plumage similar to females except they always retain a blue tail and a darkish beak and black eye. For nesting, the same bush was sometimes used three years in a row. Success rates chick to fledglings varied. Plants observed for nesting were Cushion Bush (Leucophyta brownii), Coast Daisy-bush (Olearia axillaris) and once a large, tall clump of Kikuyu Grass. Friends of Watkins Bay commenced in May 1996 and started planting dense thickets within the large open grassed areas, and also along the beach, especially in the area beside the Reserve Road drain which is adjacent to a former boat launching area. This little area amasses much seaweed and has Thick Coast Salt Bush (Atriplex cinerea) growing beside the carpark. The Wrens love the seaweed for feeding and the Saltbush for shelter and can often be seen or heard there.
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1. A male Blue Wren perched on Atriplex cinera (Coast Saltbush) 2. A female Blue Wren photographed through the windscreen of a car. Photographs by Kim Croker.
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They appear to like dense plantings with bushes thick from the ground up into which they can retreat when foraging for insects in the open or on the lawn. Some of the significant dates in the diary are in March/April 2004 when the Table Rock group of Wrens disappeared. Also at Ricketts Point only one pair remained plus a sole male. Observations at this time became difficult because of health and mobility problems. However by August we were back to two breeding pairs. About this time numerous Black Rats were being seen during daylight hours, often foraging in the open rubbish bins. In December 2004 one pair of Wrens was showing much interest in the site of last year’s nesting, a large Daisy Bush, and the female appeared to be preparing to nest again. After being away over Christmas, I returned in January and went straight to check the Wrens. Nothing! Not a sight or sound of them. It seemed that no-one had seen any Wrens at Ricketts Point. Was this the end of our Wrens? I asked Dr. Clive Minton, a respected ornithologist, who lives locally, what he thought about such an abrupt disappearance. He uttered one word. “Predation!” He suggested that they would not desert an area at breeding time. At this time it was noticeable that White-
browed Superb Wrens had become fewer. They nest on or close to the ground in thick vegetation. In the meantime, the Black Rats continued to be obvious during the day. Some of us had been requesting Council to install vermin proof rubbish bins, and eventually new bins were installed in Beach Park. About June 2005 there were some reports of blue wrens in the Black Rock Gardens area near the life saving club, and occasionally being seen at Banksia Point, but none at Ricketts Point. It is not an exaggeration to say that we grieved for the loss of our Fairy Wrens. Then a wonderful thing happened on 13 January 2007, two years after they had disappeared. A Splendid Blue male was seen by Joan Baster at Ricketts Point and the next day a male and female were seen near the old launching ramp. Hallelujah! But on a dark note in the diary there were two Black Rats also present. However, the numbers have built up again and there appears to be two healthy family groups at Ricketts Point. We rejoice that they are back, but the Table Rock group never re-established. Moira Longden Coordinator Friends Watkins Bay
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Bayside 2020 Community Plan
Bayside City Council has committed to developing a vision of the community’s aspirations for the next 10 years. It is a process that is intended to guide decision-making by Council, other levels of government, business and non-profit organisations. Council has indicated that community ownership of the planning process is as important as the end product. The plan will support and develop ongoing community participation and is a once in a decade opportunity.
Enviro Kids Enviro Kids is a playgroup for pre schoolers coordinated by the Bayside Environmental Friends Group. Enjoy a stroll along the sand and discover some of the local birdlife of the Half Moon Bay Beach. Join us in song and play, and learn about this special piece of the Bayside area. Make a water bowl for the birds to take home. Bayside Friends are available to introduce plants and wildlife and answer questions. Our next meeting dates are; 12 November 2010, 10 December 2010 and 14 January 2011. Costs are $5 per child and $7 per family. Please bring waterproof clothing and gumboots. For more information and the location of meeting places please contact: Barbara Jakob Phone: 0408 032 963 Email: BaysideFriends@gmail.com
New discoveries and great activities for our Enviro Kids. Photographs by Barbara Jakob.
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The Community Plan will: • Build stronger and more engaged communities • I dentify areas where Council and the community can, and should, work better together • Provide a roadmap for building a better Bayside The Community Plan is multi-stakeholder and will provide an overarching community view that informs the Council Plan. The plan will evolve, with periodic reviews. Its main objectives are to: • Inform the Council Plan • Guide decision-making by Council and other bodies • Enhance effective advocacy by Council and others
• P rovide robust processes for the review and production of future Community Plans The Community Plan will provide a platform for engaging the community in creating a vision for the future and contributing to decision making. There will be interviews, surveys, workshops and consultations. These will be listed as they become available. In the meantime, you are most welcome to make submissions to Council in the form of emailed documents, printed documents and feedback to your local councillor.
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A Tall Banksia Tale While I was a volunteer at the plant nursery at the beginning of 2001, I discovered a Coast Banksia seedling that had established itself into the wrong tube (one of the grasses). Rather than pluck it out I took it home and nurtured it, and it grew! Eventually it was big enough to plant out and I realised that it was exactly the same age as our first grandson - so it became Lucas’ tree. Both the tree and Lucas flourished and when Lucas was a toddler he would look at ‘his’ tree and compare his height with it, so that when he was about two they were almost the same height. The next year the tree outgrew him so he would raise his arms to see how far up the tree he could reach and by the time he was four we had to trim the top off to try and contain the height a bit! Since then we have trimmed it again and the tree continues to flourish vigorously. We now get frequent small seedlings popping up in the garden, some of which are determined to survive. Two of these were clever enough to fall into a planter box full of good potting mix and with the recent good rains they have grown enough to be good-sized small trees. They have now been planted in Watkins Bay and hopefully they will continue their successful fight for survival. Lucas is now nine and is growing to be a strong healthy boy (we won’t be trimming him) and it is so good to think that ‘his’ tree is propagating more healthy trees. Diana Pearce Friends of Watkins Bay
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2 1. Banksia integrifolia. 2. Lucas’s tree Photographs by Diana Pearce.
Friends of Bayside Working bee times for October to December 2010 Time/Day Balcombe Park
Last Sunday 10am – noon
Bay Rd
2nd Saturday 10am – noon
BRASCA
Tuesdays 6.30am – 8.30am
Brighton Dunes
Tuesdays 8am – 10am
Cheltenham Park
1st Sunday 10am – noon
Cheltenham Primary
Contact school ph. 9583 1614
Donald MacDonald
October
November
December
31
28
Boxing Day (cancelled)
13
11
Contact coordinator (Janet Ablitt): ph. 9589 6646 26
2, 9, 16, 23, 30
7, 14, 21
7
5
1st Sunday 10am – noon
7
5
George St
3rd Sunday 10am – noon
21
19
Gramatan
1st Sunday 1 – 3pm
7
5
Long Hollow
Last Sunday 1pm – 3pm
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Boxing Day (cancelled)
Friends of Native Wildlife
1st Saturday 9.30am
Ricketts Point Landside
3rd Tuesday 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Table Rock
Last Tuesday 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Watkins Bay
Last Wednesday 1pm – 3pm
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Contact Michael Norris ph. 95210804 16
21
27
30
21
27
24
22
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www.bayside.vic.gov.au