banksia bulletin
issue number 035 - spring 2009
Friends of Bayside 2009 contact list Bayside Environment Friends Network Coordinator: Barbara Jakob Mobile: 0408 032 963 Email: Barbara@bjakob.com.au
Friends of Long Hollow Heathland/ Friends of Table Rock Coordinator: Ken Rendell 33 Clonmore Street, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 4452
Friends of Balcombe Park Coordinator: Joan Couzoff 26 Balcombe Park Lane, Beaumaris 3193 Phone: (03) 9589 1060
Friends of Gramatan Avenue Heathland Sanctuary Coordinator: Ken Rendell
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.
Friends of Merindah Park and the Urban Forest Coordinator: David Cockburn 72 Spring Street, Sandringham 3191 Phone: (03) 9598 6148
Disclaimer The views expressed in the Banksia Bulletin are not necessarily those of Bayside City Council or its representatives.
Friends of Native Wildlife Coordinator: Michael Norris (Southern Ward Councillor) 5 Deakin Street, Hampton 3188 Phone: (03) 9521 0804 Email: menorris@ozemail.com.au
Editors Fiona Dodge, Nicole Teys, Katie Croft
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 Coordinators: 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 Cheltenham Park Coordinator: Valerie Tyers Phone: (03) 9588 0107 Email: valerietyers@hotmail.com Cheltenham Primary School Sanctuary PO Box 289, Cheltenham 3192 Phone: (03) 9583 1614 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
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 Marine Care Ricketts Point Inc President: Ray Lewis ray.lewis@greypath.com Mobile: 0408 308 768 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 St. Leonards College Conservation Group Contact: Tim Barlow 163 South Road, Brighton East 3187 Phone: (03) 9909 9300 Email: Timothy.Barlow@stleonards.vic. gov.au
Cover photograph: Donkey Orchid (Diuris orienti) by Pauline Reynolds
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banksia bulletin - spring 2009
Copy deadlines 2009 Copy deadlines are set for the first Friday of the month of release: Summer 2009 Friday 4 December for release end December Autumn 2010 Friday 5 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.
In this ISSUE
From the Mayor
New Environment Directions Neil Blake
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Buckets for Bayside Sarah Priestley
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New to the Crew Daniel Noonan
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Friends of Brighton Dunes Dr Jim Willis Reserve Jenny Talbot A coastal walk Janet Ablitt Friends of George Street Reserve Valerie Tarrant and Pauline Reynolds Sticky Longhead Friends of Balcombe Park Joan Couzoff Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve Alison Johnston
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Healthy Parks Healthy People 12 Sally Cockburn Merindah Park and the Urban Forest David Cockburn
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Indigenous Resource Garden 15 Jim Richardson Friends of Native Wildlife Education Project Elizabeth Walsh Porcupine Fish Ray Lewis
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Watch where you put your hands Peter Dedrick
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Friends of Watkins Bay – Adverse Weather Events Moira Longden
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National Tree Day
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Friends of Bayside Working Bee times
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Spring has seen Bayside receive some much needed rain for our street trees, parks and bushland reserves, that it is hard to believe the extreme summer weather experienced earlier this year could return in only a couple of months. During the period 11–18 October 2009, Bayside City Council participated in Fire Action Week, which encouraged residents to prepare their homes for the coming fire season and to make them fire safe – particularly those with properties near parks, foreshore reserves or native bushland areas. Bayside shares Victoria’s concerns for the upcoming fire season and while we do not have the same risks as rural areas, there are still important prevention actions we need to take. The devastating events of the Victorian bushfires in February this year made us all realise how important it is to be aware about the risks of fires. We live in one of the most fire-prone states in the world, with 13 years of drought, climate change and dry conditions. Although weather conditions on Black Saturday were unprecedented, it is likely we could see similar extreme conditions this coming fire season. Bayside is home to 17kms of foreshore and seven natural
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bushland reserves so fire prevention is still very important. As a community we all need to be aware of local fire restrictions and Total Fire Ban days and know what to do in the event of a fire. Once again, congratulations are in order as Bayside City Council has been recognised as an Australian leader in stormwater management for its groundbreaking new plan to clean and reduce the stormwater run-off from residential properties to Port Phillip Bay. Bayside won a national Stormwater Industry Association Award for its Clean Stormwater Amendment (C44) to the Bayside Planning Scheme. We are the first council to regulate to ensure that effective water-sensitive urban designs are integrated into our planning scheme and I believe other councils in the Port Phillip and Western Port regions will shortly follow suit. It is a wonderful achievement and a significant, long-term commitment by Bayside and the Association of Bayside Municipalities to protect our precious waterways. It will have lasting, positive effects for our environment and is an example of how local governments, under their own initiatives, can work together to achieve outstanding results. Cr James Long Mayor
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New Environment Directions Since February 2008, the New Environment Directions team from Central Bayside Adult Community Options has regularly monitored the bird life at Elsternwick Park lake area. More recently, we have also been measuring the water turbidity and the life within the water itself. Thanks to Jo Hurse, Bushland Team Leader and the bushland crew, we planted another 300 seedlings at an area adjacent to the lake adding to those we had planted last year. Firstly, everyone helped to mulch the area and then the hard work began. We now walk past feeling very proud of what we see and know we are contributing towards improving this valuable local resource. This community involvement and the meaningful participation of people with disabilities is thanks to the Port Phillip EcoCentre and its working partnership with Bayside City Council and Central Bayside
Adult Community Options (CBACO). CBACO encourages each individual to be a part of his or her community. This project is a wonderful opportunity to enable our clients to feel a part of the local community and to make a real difference towards its improvement. People are learning to identify bird species, skilfully use a camera, take measurements and the all important task of recording data (which includes dog poo!). Our records show the bird population changes with the seasons, with interesting birds such as Darters and White-faced Herons visiting. Swans bred on the lake last year. The Purple Swamp-hens are usually present in numbers varying from two
to seven, with the least seen between April and July this year. Perhaps the lake is an important drought refuge when inland waterways dry up in summer. There is always a surprise waiting for us… such as the mother Wood Duck and her brood of nine ducklings discovered in August this year. We hope our surveys will inform future planting to improve water quality and habitat in, and around the lake. Comments from the team: “I have learnt to measure water how clear it is.” James “I like to help with planting and it’s interesting seeing the birds and ducks.” Tabetha “I enjoy going to Elsternwick Lake - it’s lots of fun.” Phoebe “I enjoy seeing the ducks, birds and ducklings.” Robert “It’s good to watch the birds and I enjoy the planting days.” Andrew Neil Blake Coordinator NED
The New Environment Directions team at Elsternwick Park. 4
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Buckets for Bayside Over the past few years Bayside City Council has reduced the number of trees planted in response to the severe drought conditions. However, if planting numbers continue to decline, Bayside will experience a loss of amenity within our streets. From 2010, Council will return to planting a minimum of 1,400 trees annually.
provided with a bucket and
Young trees will be watered by Council, however, to give these new trees the best chance
in the cooler months and twice a
possible we need your help! Buckets for Bayside is a program that will help you help your street tree. When a new tree is planted in front of your home, you will be
the Caring For Your Street Tree information pamphlet. We need your help to support the tree in its early growth by giving it a bucket of grey water once a week week in the warmer months. With your help, we hope to provide a healthy urban forest for everyone to enjoy. Sarah Priestley Arboriculture Officer Bayside City Council
Dennis, Citywide’s tree planting specialist planting a new Kanooka (Tristaniopsis laurina) street tree.
New to the Crew Hi, my name is Daniel Noonan and I am the newest member of the Bushland team here at Citywide.* While I was completing my four year apprenticeship in Horticulture (parks and gardens) at Citywide, I grew to understand more about the diverse bushlands throughout Bayside and felt the need to know and understand more about them. Growing up in the dense bushlands of Beaconsfield, my interests have grown substantially, from landscaping my backyard to now looking after Bayside’s flora and fauna. After working in Bayside’s bushlands as an apprentice,
my first goal was to complete my apprenticeship. Now that I have reached that goal, my next goal was to become a part of Citywide’s Bushland Team and now that I have fulfilled that goal I couldn’t be happier. After successfully completing Year 12 at St. Francis Xavier College in 2005, I commenced work with Citywide as an apprentice on 3 January 2006. My previous work experience was working in a paper factory using large machinery where I needed to be on the ball at all times and precise in my work. I then worked at Beaconsfield Boarding Kennels & Cattery as a kennel attendant. My jobs
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included cleaning the enclosures, preparing food and medication, feeding the animals and of course playing with them, making sure their stay was as good as possible. Now that I am with Citywide, I am looking forward to meeting all the Friends of Bayside and working together to improve Bayside’s Bushlands. Daniel Noonan Citywide Bushland Team
*Editor’s note - Citywide Open Space is Bayside City Council’s Open Space & Trees contract service provider.
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Friends of Brighton Dunes - Dr Jim Willis Reserve This year celebrates the birth of the great naturalist Charles Darwin 200 years ago. It is also the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s The Origin of Species, the book that changed the world. It affected the arts and sciences and its repercussions continue to be felt today. Darwin’s great discoveries and intuitions were in South America. As for Australia, Darwin thought very little of our out-of-the-way continent, which he believed was at the tail end of everywhere. He writes in his Journal of Researches, “Farewell Australia! You are a rising child, and doubtless some day will reign a great princess in the South: but you are too great and ambitious for affection, yet not great enough for respect. I leave your shores without sorrow or regret”.
animals and the other plants and animals around it.
environmental wellbeing. The
Throughout July and August there have been particularly high tides in Port Phillip Bay. This is due to the fact that more water is coming into the Bay as a result of channel deepening at the Heads. A number of rare cool water coral reefs were blown up. The Port of Melbourne concedes a one-centimetre sea
of food dor fish, crabs
level rise (which translates into
On 7 July, on a beautiful still day, we were enchanted to see four dolphins frisking and fishing just off Green Point.
seagrass is an important source and visitors. Last summer, up to 14 Black Swans at a time were eating there. Seagrass stabilises sediment and it reacts very badly to disturbance. What about the effect of pollution of accelerating introduction of marine pests, what about oil spills? What about the dolphins?
Darwin wrote, in the last few pages of The Origin of Species, “Analogy would lead me one step further, namely, to the belief that all animals and plants have descended from some one prototype”. So it looks as if the religions had a point – under the variation, all life is one. The science of Ecology, which has come into its own over the last four decades, takes a Darwinian view – animals and plants are not isolated events, they are manifestations of life within a context and they evolve and change. So if one harms an animal’s habitat or home (oikos), one harms the
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one metre of water coverage of flat beaches). Will this affect the beds of seagrass? The seagrass beds off the reef at the South end of Dendy Street beach have shrunk in size over the last year. Seagrass is a sure indicator of
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All of us who care about the environment and labour in our little tropic niches are anxious. We worry about the health of
Illustrations by Jenny Talbot
our wonderful bay. Will increased water flow interfere with the unique microorganisms which have kept the bay much cleaner and healthier than it should be with all the pollution? We are in the 13th year of ‘drought’ in and around Melbourne. I think, given the scientific facts, we should say we are in a period of human-induced climate change. Victoria is hotter (by at least one degree), drier, and even more prone to bushfires. What a pleasure it has been this winter to see the trees and grasses that survived last summer look green and flourishing. And now it is early spring again. The Boobialla (Myoporum insulare) are flowering, as are the Coast Tea Tree (Leptospermum laevigatum), the Coast Wattle (Acacia sophorae) and the Small-leaf Clematis (Clematis mircophylla) (with its small lovely pale yellow flowers and
its fuzzy frothy white seed heads known as ‘Old Man’s Beard’). As in all urban reserves, we volunteers spend time at virtually every working bee picking up dumped rubbish. It is astounding what people drop – lolly wrappers, pens, condoms, nappies, syringes and plastic, plastic, plastic. Every manufacturer should be made to make biodegradable plastic bags before we all sink under the morass. Most of the plastic bags will never properly biodegrade and fish and marine mammals will ingest the carcinogenic bits. The larger bits will strangle and choke them. In our area, we work by the modified Bradley Method of Natural Bush Regeneration. We hand weed so that we disturb the soil as little as possible. We weed from the good areas out, so that the indigenous plants can expand instead of being smothered by exotic weeds. These weeds
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mostly from South Africa and South America have no natural predators in our environment and so run amok. Most of the weeds can be used as mulch. We seed collect so that when we plant we use stock from our own genetic pool. The Bayside Community Nursery does a wonderful job in propagating plants for us and the other Friends groups in Bayside. Thanks to Carmen and Erika. As we are conserving a natural area, we only re-plant where there is no hope of natural regeneration, at the edges of the reserve, in particular. We do not use poisons for many reasons, including that we believe the damage done to the microorganisms in the soil, and the existing flora and fauna is too great. Whatever the soil you are working with, it is the basis of everything. Our dedicated, incredibly hard working and knowledgeable staff from Citywide, Mark Rasmussen, is adamant about the importance of soil and brings his expertise and enthusiasm to bear on any problem we encounter. This year we planted our seedlings from May until mid June, as soon as the weather became cooler, to give the plants a few months of coolness and a bit of rain to establish themselves before the heat. For the last few weeks we have been weeding Kikuyu Grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), and cutting back and taking out Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) wherever we can. Jenny Talbot Coordinator Friends of Brighton Dunes
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A coastal walk I walked the coastline between Half Moon Bay and Jetty Rd with mixed feelings. This is the stretch that the Black Rock and Sandringham Conservations Associations Inc (BRASCA) has been caring for, for the past 40 years. Last year, at the end of summer, I was dismayed to see so many old Tea Trees (Leptospermum laevigatum) lying dead, the ground beneath was almost bare. As Australia now produces more carbon emissions every year, I see no reason to expect that we shall escape from further escalating drought. We are always overwhelmed by the size of our area of care, so we work selectively at smaller parts to plant, weed and water. It was a sunny day – from our winter planting, which was around the Love St car park and below I know the soil to be moist from the top 34cms but no more. It is bone dry beneath that, but surprisingly, the carpet of New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) was flowing onwards, covering the ground with shining green. The drought resistant Sea-berry Saltbush (Rhagodia candolleana) has increased and is actually suppressing the weeds. I used to think that exotics having no predators would win the battle. Now I see Rhagodia 8
and Tetragonia pushing weeds back and chocking the area.The Casuarinas (Allocasuarina verticila) persist, dropping their cinnamon coloured carpet around which also discourages weeds. The Boobiallas, neglected and little appreciated, prosper and nurture and shade their neighbours. Boobiallas are fire resistant as well as drought resistant. Hop Goodenias (Goodenia ovata) spring up where ever we release them from Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera). Many Coastal Wattles (Acacia saphorae) have sprung up and other smaller plants we have planted from our community nursery are surviving – so far. I come to the newly placed wide, white sandy beach near Southey St that BRASCA campaigned for three years ago. This will protect the fragile cliffs above them and the groynes will prevent the lateral drift from taking the sand to the north. We have broken this long stretch of coast into smaller pieces to plant, weed and water. We weed banksia bulletin - spring 2009
mainly African Box Thorn (Lycium ferocissimum), Cape Ivy (Delairea odorata) and Boneseed. Box Thorn has been removed in great quantities, Cape Ivy we weed in compact areas, removing all its roots. The happy part of this is that it does not return. I can revisit a place such as Royal Steps, where we weeded it and find it is no longer there. Boneseed was once covering all the cliffs. We did this section by section, the whole area. Now we enjoy our spring ‘Boneseed Sweep’ and check it for regrowth. Few stragglers remain. We never sprayed, preferring the most specific cut, scrape and spray, leaving the dying roots to hold the steep slopes until the new growth, usually Hop Goodenia, takes over. With ominous future, I am continually awed and amazed at the courage and tenacity of these beautiful and adaptable flowers and trees. Janet Ablitt Coordinator BRASCA Photograph by Pauline Reynolds
Friends of George Street Reserve Despite the long drought, this year’s springtime flowering has been splendid and we were happy the Melbourne Weekly Bayside featured the George Street Reserve, along with Balcombe Park, in a recent article. The photographer showed interest in the Showy Bossiaea (Bosseaiea cinaria), the Correas (Correa reflexa and Correa alba) and the delicate Common Beard Heath (Leucapogon virgatus) flourishing in the heathland. She also commented on the skeletal blackened Coast Tea Tree (Leptospermum laevigatum) which remains as a reminder of the history of fire in the area, and for some people has added to its fascination. Friends looked forward to the Spring Open day on 27 September. Visitors were able to enjoy the wildflowers,
especially the Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus pinifolius) on this fine afternoon. Many people have shown interest, and on a Sunday in late August Pauline showed 12 visitors around the reserve. On 17 August, a Bayview Crescent resident driving past George Street unexpectedly spotted a Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo. At 9:32am pictures were taken that showed the bird in flight, which later settled on a branch. At 9:33am, the bird looked up as it sat among a mass of branchlets. I, Val, am most grateful to our next
door neighbour who took the photos and presented copies for our collection. The August working bee was particularly enjoyable as Erika Anderson from Citywide brought tea, coffee and biscuits, reviving an old custom, and making a good opportunity for talk and relaxation. As usual, we welcome newcomers who would like to join us. Valerie Tarrant and Pauline Reynolds Joint Coordinators Friends of George Street Reserve
Sticky Longhead (Podotheca angustifolia) The Sticky Longhead was one of the fascinating plants featured in a segment on the Bayside Community Nursery on the ABC’s television program, Gardening Australia (8 August 2009). A member of the Asteraceae family, the Sticky Longhead has not been seen in the greater Melbourne area for over 100 years until it recently appeared at George Street Reserve after the 2006 wildfire.
The Bayside Community Nursery has since collected the seed and planted out a small seed orchard. For more information about the Bayside Community Nursery, or how you can become a nursery volunteer, please visit Bayside City Council’s website www.bayside.vic.gov.au/ environment_nursery or phone 9583 8408. Photograph by Pauline Reynolds banksia bulletin - spring 2009
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Friends of Balcombe Park
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Spring is fast approaching and quite a few species of heath are already flowering, including Showy Bossiaea (Bossiaea cinerea), the Erect Guinea Flower and the red and green form of the Native Fuchsia (Correa reflexa).
Kangaroo Apple (Solamum laciniatum) being the most dominant plant, however it also helps to protect the more delicate understorey, such as Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata) and Common Appleberry (Billardiera scandens).
The regeneration in the 2001 controlled burn area has improved significantly with many Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus pinifolius) linking up with the wildfire site near the mobile phone tower which becomes a mass of delicately scented ivory white flowers.
Recently an echidna was sighted on the nature strip on Balcombe Road between Balcombe Park and Royal Melbourne Golf Course. A pacific black duck was also seen with eight ducklings wandering up Balcombe Park lane towards the Royal Melbourne Golf Course.
Although there has been a lack of rainfall, the burn site of 2008 is gradually regenerating with
Joan Couzoff Coordinator Friends of Balcombe Park
banksia bulletin - spring 2009
Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus pinifolius). Photograph by Pauline Reynolds
Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve Our main task at our August working bee was to plant tube stock of two species of trees, Acacia implexa (Lightwood), and Allocasuarina verticillata (Drooping She-oak). The excellent book by Rob Scott et al, Indigenous Plants of the Sandbelt, includes the following notes: “Lightwood is a graceful, reliable, long-lived wattle with attractive bark…Drooping She-oak, this is a beautiful and easily-cultivated tree…the golden effect of the dense male flowers is an attractive feature, as is the sound of the wind through the fine branchlets.” Earlier in the winter, we were particularly pleased to be able to plant out eight well-grown seedlings of Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus pinifolius). For several years now, Bill has been authorised by the Bayside Community Nursery to collect the seed from what is perhaps the only
Wedding Bush plant in Donald MacDonald Reserve. He sorts the seeds very carefully, and then passes them on to the nursery. Last year this bush was in very poor condition, and it produced fewer seeds, but this year it appears to be much healthier. Wedding Bush seeds are known to be very difficult to germinate. However the nursery staff were particularly pleased with their success rate this season. The seeds were scattered in trays on top of seed-raising mix, then treated in the smoke tent. Green material from local plants, including teatree and bracken was used to build up the smoke, then the trays were placed in the tent for exactly one hour. I was intrigued to learn that the selection of plant material, the build-up of smoke, and the timing seem to be crucial in the germination process. In previous years, periods of just
under, or over, 60 minutes were unsuccessful. After smoking, the seeds were lightly covered with sand and transferred to the roofed shade house. To retain the chemicals in the smoke they were not watered for two weeks. About 24 plants survived and developed to the stage when they could be planted out, and some were returned to the Donald MacDonald Reserve Friends group. We planted three of them near their ‘mother’ plant in the 1997 controlled burn site, and several others in the area of the 2006 wildfire. Wedding Bush is much more plentiful in some of the other Bayside bushland reserves. They are looking beautiful in nearby Gramatan Avenue Heathland Sanctuary. Alison Johnston Coordinator Friends of Donald MacDonald Reserve
Bill Johnston, dedicated coordinator of Donald MacDonald Reserve. Bill and Daniel planting tube stock at the Reserve. banksia bulletin - spring 2009
Photographs by Kim Croker 11
Healthy Parks Healthy People
There is irrefutable evidence that being exposed to nature is good for your health. For readers of Banksia Bulletin this is a no brainer, but we still have a way to go to get the message across to some members of the community who could most benefit for interaction with nature. I have grown up loving our Bayside parks and George Street Reserve was my childhood playground! I have been involved with Parks Victoria’s Healthy Parks Healthy People project for over a decade and I am now a proud Ambassador for the International Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress to be hosted by Parks Victoria in Melbourne next year. The whole idea of the Congress is to build bridges between parks managers and the broader
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community to work on how nature is good for the health of communities. This involves engaging a range of sectors including education, tourism, community development and in particular, the health sector. But it is a two way street: if we can foster people’s awareness of how beneficial parks can be for their health, in turn, they should be more willing to help us care for our parks and the environment in general. Education and access are the key. In Bayside there has, for a long time, been a practice of fencing off and locking people out of some parks deemed too sensitive for public access. While sensitive areas do need to be protected from harm, locking people out does nothing to build good
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relationships. Instead it is likely to foster resentment from those who interpret this as them being considered not trustworthy. At the June session of Bayside City Council’s meeting, the Councillors expressed their majority support to restore public access to the currently locked-off part of the George Street Reserve *(see Editors Note). So long as it is properly managed, allowing public access to this area will not result in the destruction of the flora. With improved perimeter fencing, chicane gates and appropriate paths, along with good interpretive signage and an education program, the flora should flourish and more people will be able to enjoy the health giving beauty that is currently only accessible to a few. The
Grange in Kingston is a great example of how a sensitive area can be managed so that all parties are happy. The Grange allows 24/7 public access and the flora remains well protected. I hope that the George Street project might be expanded to include local school children in helping to care for the park. After all what we want is sustainability and nurturing the next generation of park “friends” is as important as looking after the seedlings! Well done Bayside for your contribution to a healthier community by making parks more accessible. For more info on the Parks Victoria Congress visit www.healthyparkshealthy peoplecongress.org Dr Sally Cockburn Bayside resident *Editor’s Note: At the ordinary meeting of Council held on 23 June 2009 it was resolved that Council: 1. Consult with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the local community and other interested parties on the construction of a new path, as part of the Planning Application process. 2. Following consultation, construct a pedestrian path In the 2006 burn area at George Street Reserve. The path will have Net Gain Accounting principles applied and establish an offset if indigenous vegetation elsewhere on the site. The path alignment will be subject to advice from the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Planning Permit.
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Merindah Park and the Urban Forest Merindah Park and the Urban Forest owe their existence to the foresight of the early City of Sandringham, which created an urban forest reserve to act as a barrier between residential and industrial land under the first local town planning schemes in the early 1950s as the area experience it post war housing boom. For many years thereafter it remained as neglected, unfenced, vacant land, parts of which were used as rubbish tips and part as car park and access for the adjacent battery factory. In the mid twentieth century and well before the formal “Friends Groups� were thought of, local residents took the initiative of planting trees, shrubs and grasses in an attempt to soften the visual impact of the sites. They tended them through several drought years with bucket brigades and were rewarded by the development of a mature sample of Australian bushland with a log lined walking track. The current Friends Group evolved from the initiative of those early residents. Today the park and forest looks bare and unsightly, as environmental works remove toxic pollution caused by illegal waste dumping, domestic garbage land fill and in particular the high levels of extremely dangerous heavy metal toxins. Unfortunately these works
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have necessitated removal of significant proportions of this vegetation, including mature 50year-old trees in the urban forest. The works of necessity have also required severely limited access by visitors to both park and urban forest. The near one million dollar clean up is now near completion. The Friends Group is looking forward to involvement in the planning and making a substantial contribution to the replanting of the urban forest and the rejoining of the wildlife green corridor. This forest corridor is a vital link between green wedges to the north and south, allowing bird and other wildlife space to feed, breed and maintain genetic diversity. The group represents a range of different interests and users of the area, but with the principle objective of re-creating the forest vista of trees, shrubs and grasses selected for diversity and function from the wide range of available and suitable Australian flora, and to return the park open space to its former multipurpose passive recreation role. The Friends Group has been enlarged and strengthened in preparation for the work ahead. The overriding objective is to allow the community to fully and freely utilise both the forest and reserve. David Cockburn Coordinator Friends of Merindah Park and the Urban Forest
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Urban Forest showing a range of Eucalypts and Wattles before commencement of clean-up works.
Loss of vegetation due to removal of soil necessary to eliminate toxic compounds.
Indigenous Resource Garden The Indigenous Resource Garden was originally opened in 1988 as a Bicentenary project and is located near the rounded corner of Bluff Road and Royal Avenue, Sandringham. After considerable replanting and improved signage it was re-opened in 2007. However, as a consequence of the hot and dry conditions, which prevailed earlier this year, many plants did not survive and the garden deteriorated. Nevertheless, in recent times Bayside City Council has replanted extensively with plant types considered more able to resist extreme conditions and avoiding those plants which had failed to survive. The following varieties of plants were selected:
In addition, a new watering system with underground pipes for low pressure irrigation (drip feed) and controlled by a solar panel has replaced the original system of overhead sprayers which are more wasteful. Recycled water will be taken from the Elsternwick Canal and trucked to the garden so that the small wetland area will be better maintained during the hot summer months.
plants at the actual site. The original inhabitants of Bayside, the Boonwering/ Bunurong tribe, used indigenous plants for food, medicine and artefacts. The Garden will be featured as part of a Reconciliation Week in 2010 (27 May to 3 June). Jim Richardson BRASCA
It is intended that the restored garden will be in much better condition by April next year. Then children from primary and secondary schools will be invited to learn more about indigenous
Common Name
Latin Name
Sweet Wattle
Acacia suaveolens
Chocolate Lily
Arthropodium strictum
Cranberry Heath
Astroloma humifusum
Coast or Prickly Spear Grass
Austrostipa stipoides
Common Apple-berry
Billardiera scandens
Australian Binweed
(not indigenous)
White Correa
Correa alba
Black Anther or Spreading Flax-lily
Dianella revoluta var revoluta
Austral Indigo
Indigofera australis
Rush
Juncus species.
Common Beard-heath
Leucopogon virgatus
Spiny-headed Mat-rush
Lomandra longifolia
Fragrant Salt Bush
Podolepis jaceoides (not indigenous)
Blue Tussock Grass
Poa poiformis
Kangaroo Apple
Solanum laciniatum
Hairy Spinifex
Spinifex sericeus
Golden Spray
Viminaria juncea
Small Grass-tree
Xanthorrhoea minor
Convolvulus erubescens
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Friends of Native Wildlife Education Project One of main roles of Friends of Native Wildlife (FoNW) is educating the community about the value of the Bayside natural environment and especially local wildlife. To help achieve this, we applied for a Melbourne Water grant. The focal point of FoNW’s grant submission has been achieved. After 18 months and many hours of work, phone calls and emails, the group now has a logo and a website that is about 90 per cent complete. We also have a formal email address: bayfonw@yahoo.com.au and hope that the website and email address will help all our (Friends) groups share local knowledge with the next generation. Three VCE students included the FoNW website as part of their International Baccalaureate studies. They made good progress and our group has had some outside assistance to complete difficult areas in order to finalise the website page. We wanted to use a loose-leaf folder as education equipment when sharing local knowledge at community events (when PowerPoint presentations are not
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appropriate). Each core member of the group wrote information which was printed below beautiful photos from a number of our Friends and later laminated. We are most grateful to the photographers who have been acknowledged under the photos. Suggestions from a local teacher are helping us with student style sheets for education purposes. The symbiotic relationships between insects, mammals, birds and plants are our next endeavour. We are aware that the general public is interested in identifying our local fauna and flora. FoNW is hoping to use our website and loose-leaf material to promote wildlife information at local public events. We hope to interest student groups in particular. Citywide does excellent work with school groups. We hope to fill in the gap with other groups such as scouts/girl guides. Our first visit to a scout group encouraged Michael Norris (Coordinator) to gather photos and content for a good PowerPoint presentation which our group
banksia bulletin - spring 2009
intends to develop further. We are planning ongoing interaction with this particular group for their nature badges. Thanks must go to Val especially, but also Michael, Ian and Pat. We also acknowledge Kim Croker, Bernhard Jakob, Anne Sherlock and the three IB students from St Leonards. Elizabeth Walsh Friends of Native Wildlife
Porcupine Fish The Porcupine or Globe Fish (Diodon nithemerus) is common in Ricketts Point Sanctuary. I found this one (on a Saturday morning), just off Tea House reef in two metres of water. Porcupine Fish are very docile in cold weather; you can pick them up easily (and gently). They will puff up when feeling threatened, so much in fact that they will float near the surface for a while. They have exquisitely dulcet eyes when relaxed.
The Porcupine Fish carries a highly lethal toxin called tetradotoxin in its skin, flesh and internal organs, so should be handled with great care, if at all. Ray Lewis President Marine Care Ricketts Point
But do not be fooled!
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Watch where you put your hands Marine Care Ricketts Point conducts quarterly surveys (in Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring) of the intertidal platforms in the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary.
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Our aim is to identify as many of the plants and animals as we can and to record any changes in numbers or diversity. When conducting our surveys, we follow some basic rules:
along the coastline from southern
• Wear proper clothing – a hat, shoes, sunscreen for protection from the elements.
Ringed Octopus is normally well
• Tread carefully - for our own safety and to avoid damaging the reef platform.
for several years without success
• Never put your hands where you can not see them.
Reef. That evening we saw three.
A reason for the last rule is the presence of the Southern Blue Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa). This species is found
the word Octopoda, which
Western Australia to eastern Victoria. A second related species inhabits northern waters. Despite being fairly common in the Sanctuary, the Blue camouflaged so you have to look hard to find one. I looked until one drifted past my feet as I was wading out to the Tea House The name octopus comes from means ‘eight-footed’. They are molluscs and, along with their close relatives the squid and
banksia bulletin - spring 2009
cuttlefish, are the most highly developed invertebrates (animals without backbones), with a well developed brain and eye structure. The Blue Ringed Octopus is, in general, solitary and territorial. It is not usually aggressive but will defend its turf when challenged. Both sexes grow to similar sizes but the male has a modified tentacle with a groove running along the edge with a grasping structure called the ‘hectocotylus’ at the tip. When mating begins, the male caresses her mantle with this tentacle. He then places his tentacle into the females’ mantle cavity and inserts the sperm packet
paralysis sets in and respiratory failure commences. Without immediate help, the victim will die. Mouth to mouth resuscitation and heart massage must be started straight away and continued until professional medical help is reached. There, artificial respiration and heart massage will continue until the poison can work its way out of the victim’s system. This usually takes about 24 hours and leaves the victim with no obvious side effects. Victims are aware of their surroundings throughout their
Blue Ringed Octopus (Hapalochlaena maculosa). Photograph by Ray Lewis releasing the spermatophores. The male dies (presumably contented) after mating. The female lays between 50 to100 eggs, each enclosed in a clear, transparent covering. She carries them around under the ‘skirt’ between her tentacles and guards them closely. She only has one clutch of eggs because she is unable to eat while protecting her eggs and dies soon after the eggs hatch. The infant blue ringed octopus is pea sized when it hatches. It matures quickly and soon grows to the size of a golf ball (adult sized) within the year. They are ready to mate the following year and then die. Life span is therefore about two years. The Blue Ringed Octopus is one of our most spectacular creatures,
but it is also potentially deadly. If the blue rings are visible, this is a sign the animal is becoming aggressive. The blue ringed octopus has two poison glands that secrete different types of poison through the saliva. One type is quite mild and is used to paralyse crabs and other prey when hunting. The other type is very toxic and is used as a defense against predators, including people. While the bite is not much more than a scratch, the poison is very strong and can kill an adult human within minutes. At first the victim feels nauseous, and then there is a loss of sight,
ordeal but are unable to respond in any way. They may appear dead but if aid comes quickly enough, they will survive. Because the poison is in the saliva, it can be ingested through the skin. Some people are reported to have experienced a tingling in their hands after touching rocks or water recently occupied by a blue ringed octopus. Bites generally have occurred when an octopus has been picked up out of its pool or stepped on. So, to avoid an unpleasant encounter, watch your step and if you see one, leave it alone. If this article has not put you off and you would like further information about the Ricketts point Marine Sanctuary or how to join Marine Care Ricketts Point, visit our website www.marinecare.org.au
touch, speech and the ability
Peter Dedrick
to swallow. In three minutes, the
Marine Care Rickets Point
nervous system stops working,
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Friends of Watkins Bay – Adverse Weather Events Most of our work this year has been completing our beach bed beside the path near the Reserve Road drain. Some of it used to be part of the car park, so occasionally we dig up pieces of road metal. In other places it is heavily compacted. We started planting in the 1990s then commenced again last year we finished it this year and have been delighted with the success of the plants. It is much more formal than we usually do in that it has a border of Cushion Bush (Leucophyta brownii). In other places such as the bank, which runs from the Beaumaris Life Saving Club to the exercise equipment, we have had considerable plant losses during the disastrous February high temperatures, especially the Coast Beard Heath (Leucopogon
parviflorus) which had been doing well. Despite weekly watering and being one and two years old, all of them died quite suddenly, except one. On the other hand, beach plants such as Coast Saltbushes (Atriplex cinera), Karkalla (Carpobrotis rossii), Cushion Bush and Coast Daisy-bush (Olearia axillaris), seemed to be unaffected. Mulching with wet seaweed seems to have played a big part in their survival as well. I have wondered if we could plant these beach species all year. If you walk near the Life Saving Club, have a look at the Sticky Daisy-bush (Olearia glutinosa) which is growing beneath the
Friends of Watkins Bay 20
banksia bulletin - spring 2009
old Coast Banksia (Banksia integrifolia). This old tree is very fragile so we planted beneath it to stop people from sitting under it. On the other side of the Life Saving Club between it and the red brick toilet block, there is a lot of Sticky Daisy-bush growing in front of the cliff. We have been delighted with this plant and its success. A big thank you to Carmen and Erika for propagating Sticky Daisy-bush at the Bayside Community Nursery and making it available to the community along with all the other plants. On 26 April, there was a tremendous storm with a wild wind pushing the tide fiercely over
Beach planting near Reserve Rd drain (beside the path). the rock platforms almost up to the Tea House. It tore out cubic metres of sand and with it beach vegetation. The worst damage was beside the disabled persons ramp where Coast Banksia has been regenerating naturally for some years. At least 10 Banksias, some two and three metres tall, were torn out along with the sand. The ramp itself was pulled apart and washed up further along the beach. One could cry but you cannot argue with the sea. Some of the Banksias, which we have planted during the past five years, drought/climate change, have been struggling. Many of the imposing old giants have given up their struggle altogether. Perhaps they had reached the end of their life anyhow. Coast Banksia are such an iconic species in Bayside that it is hard to see them dying.
the end of Tramway Pde has had large limbs torn off in the wind. More sand, and with it another three Banksias have been lost beside the disable persons ramp.
Our beach bed near the Life Saving Club (looking inland).
However our beach bed near the life saving club looks very healthy and seems unaffected by storms and spray. Foot traffic in the summer is its main problem. Most of our group are keen gardeners and we applaud the Council’s care of our remnant bushland areas, Beach Park and the Community Plant Nursery.
Our beach bed near the Life Saving Cub (South) looking towards Table Rock.
Moira Longden Coordinator Friends of Watkins Bay
Our beach bed near the Life Saving Club.
On 25 August, another windstorm was raging. Later inspection revealed that the large old Banksia beside Beach Rd, near banksia bulletin - spring 2009
21
National Tree Day National Tree Day is Australia’s biggest community tree-planting event. It is day for all Australians to help out by planting native trees and shrubs at a Tree Day site in their local area. This year, Bayside’s National Tree Day site was held at Half Moon Bay, Black Rock on Sunday 2 August from 10am to 12noon. One hundred volunteers planted more than 2,000 indigenous plants with help from Citywide Bushland and Nursery staff. Schools Tree Day took place on Friday 31 July. Students planted 2,000 indigenous plants at various foreshore locations. Schools included: Koskta Hall Xavier Cheltenham Primary School Gardenvale Primary School, Hampton Primary School Brighton Secondary College Bentleigh West Primary School Moorabbin Primary School Brighton Beach Primary School Brighton Primary School
What a fantastic effort! Thank you to all the volunteers. For more information about National Tree Day visit planetark.com Citywide Bushland & Nursery Staff
National Tree Day Volunteers at Half Moon Bay.
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banksia bulletin - spring 2009
Friends of Bayside
Working Bee times for October to January 2010 Time/Day
OCT
NOV
DEC
JAN
Balcombe Park
Last Sunday 10am - noon
25
29
20
31
Bay Rd
2nd Saturday 10am - noon
10
14
12
9
BRASCA
2nd Monday 10am - 12pm
12
9
14
11
Brighton Dunes
Tuesdays 8am - 10am
6, 13, 20, 27
3, 10, 17, 24
1, 8, 15, 22
5, 12, 19, 26
Cheltenham Park
1st Sunday 10am - noon
4
1
6
3
Cheltenham Primary
Contact school 9583 1614
24
22
Donald MacDonald
1st Sunday 10am - noon
4
1
6
3
George St
3rd Sunday 10am - noon
18
15
20
17
Gramatan
1st Sunday 1 - 3pm
4
1
6
3
Long Hollow
Last Sunday 1pm - 3pm
25
29
20
31
Friends of Native Wildlife
1st Saturday 9.30am
Contact Michael Norris ph. 9521 0804
Ricketts Point Landside
3rd Tuesday 1pm - 3pm
20
17
15
19
Table Rock
Last Tuesday 12.30pm - 2.30pm
27
24
29
26
Urban Forest & Merindah Park
2nd Sunday 10am - 12pm
11
8
13
10
Watkins Bay
Last Wednesday 1pm - 3pm
28
25
30
27
Gardenvale Primary School
Contact Brigitta Suendermann ph. 9530 0328
Sandringham East Primary School
Contact Katrine Lee ph. 9555 5250
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www.bayside.vic.gov.au