banksia bulletin
issue number 037 — winter 2010
Friends of Bayside 2010 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
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 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 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 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: Luisa Ingram 163 South Road, Brighton East 3187 Phone: (03) 9909 9300 Email: Luisa.Ingram@stleonards.vic. gov.au
Cover photograph: Common Correa (Correa reflexa) by Pauline Reynolds
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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 Fiona Dodge, Amy Hough and Katie Croft Copy deadlines 2010 Copy deadlines are set for the first Friday of the month of release: Spring 2010 Friday 3 September for release end September Summer 2010 Friday 3 December for release end December 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
Breakfast with the Birds Elizabeth Walsh
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Oral History Making History Michael Norris
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George Street Reserve Valerie Tarrant and Pauline Reynolds
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Orange-bellied Parrots to be wiped out in wave of extinctions? REST – an unwanted guest Sarah Fowler
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Friends of Brighton Dunes Dr Jim Willis Reserve Jenny Talbot
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Cheltenham Park Ecological Controlled Burn Jo Hurse
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Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary - Summer Snorkelling Program Peter Dedrick
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World Environment Day Lance Truong
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A look at Table Rock Katrina Perret
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Spring Open Days
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Friends of Watkins Bay Moira Longden
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Family Life Open Garden Day 2010
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Friends of Bayside Working Bee Times
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Bayside City Council always looks at ways we can buy ‘green’ and conserve our environment, as well celebrating the natural environment with the community. Council has been recognised as the leading Victorian Council for investing in environmentally sustainable products at this year’s ECO-Buy Awards. We were winner of the Local Government Recycled Champion Award for spending an impressive 4.1 per cent of our total 2008-09 Budget on products containing recycled material. Did you know it was World Environment Day on 5 June? The Bayside Environment Friends Network coordinated three different events for World Environment Day (WED). The day aims to raise awareness and encourage the community to undertake initiatives that work towards the protection, management and restoration of our natural heritage. Bayside City Council is a proud supporter of the Friends Network and their efforts to preserve our natural environment. World Environment Day encourages the community to get involved in initiatives that work towards the protection, management and restoration of our natural heritage. I was very proud to see so many people in Bayside getting behind this important day (see page 16 for more on WED).
reinforced Bayside as one of the healthiest, safest and mostconnected places to live, work and visit. The initiatives – the Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan for Bayside, Bayside Walks, and the Tourism Strategic Action Plan were co-launched to celebrate and promote ways to improve Bayside’s health and wellbeing to key leaders and representatives in health, community, tourism and government sectors throughout Bayside and the State. Bayside Walks includes nine walks through streets, parks and suburbs of Bayside, encouraging the community to exercise while experiencing the beauty of Bayside with family and friends. The pack of nine walk cards, which incorporates maps and information about key sights including historical buildings, eateries and natural attractions, are designed for community members and tourists to conveniently carry as they walk. The Walks Cards are free and will be available from Council’s Corporate Centre and libraries. Bayside Walks offer inexpensive ways for people to improve their health and happiness. Wishing you all a safe and healthy winter in Bayside. Cr Clifford Hayes Mayor
Bayside City Council’s ‘Healthier Bayside’ launch of three major initiatives on Thursday 10 June
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1. Barbera Jakob (left) Coordinator of Bayside Environmental Friends Network with Sue Pennicuik* MLC and Andrew McCutcheon.
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Photograph by Phil Wierzbowski, Coast Action/Coastcare Facilitator.
*Sue Pennicuick spoke of Breakfast with the Birds in Parliament on 15 April 2010. She said the friends “do a wonderful job in drawing to the attention of the public to Bayside’s fantastic wildlife...”
Breakfast with the Birds The breakfast was held on Sunday 11 April at 8am beside the lake. The last day of school holidays would be perfect to share our enjoyment of the birds with the locals, children, and dog walkers – or so Bayside Friends of Native Wildlife in conjunction with the Bayside Environmental Friends Network thought.
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Cr Michael Norris soon led a 40 minute walk around the lake disseminating his enthusiasm for the local bird life, their habitats, and the history of the Elster Creek.
Nature has proven yet again that she has the final say. Our chosen date ended the record run of days with temperatures above 20 degrees with showers, and a temperature falling to 13 degrees between 10 and 11am, accompanied by wind speeds at Fawkner Beacon rising to 80kph.
Meanwhile our intrepid helpers set up brochures, wildlife displays, breakfast food and drink, and a fantastic display of transparent birds on poles that looked exceptional and realistic. This was all done with chilly fingers and wild windy weather. The blue marquee billowed, binoculars were handed out, and Ian took charge of his telescope at the side of the lake, training it on eastern swamphens delicately picking their way through thick rushes.
Amazingly, over a dozen brave people were clustered at our rendezvous beside the lake at 8am, before the tent was erected.
On our arrival, the south end of the lake had been empty of birds, but soon after the eurasian coots and dusky moorhens appeared, followed
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by P62, the tagged – and widowed female Black Swan with her brood of two maturing cygnets. The welcome swallows swooped past and a willie wagtail flitted around after insects. The calls of magpies, magpie-larks and red wattlebirds carried on the wind, adding to an eventual list of 27 species for the morning. As more visitors arrived, the two Pats, Phil and Sarah, and others handed out hot drinks, fresh pretzels and apple slice. The visitors stayed on asking interesting questions and showing enthusiasm for our wildlife, both flora and fauna. Children were mainly absent from the park due to the wild weather and most dog walkers stayed in the centre of the oval rugged up to give their pets a hurried exercise regime. We spoke to 10 or so and helped one couple to give names
2. Sheltering from the elements at Breakfast with the Birds.
2 to unusual birds they had seen. Not surprisingly, most did not want to tarry despite the dog treats. Between 40-50 people passed through our tent during the morning, including our Mayor, Cr Clifford Hayes, giving encouragement to help arrange a similar event but in better conditions so children and dog walkers will be able to enjoy our company, the displays, and the birds. For those still there at 10.30am, a pair of masked lapwings dived and
Photograph by Kim Croker
3. A male chestnut teal (Anas castanea) at Elsterwick Park lake.
gyrated around over the lake in a spectacular display before landing near the tent. Perhaps they came to warn us of the 100kph gust that bent its legs and snapped a strut as we hastily decamped. With sincere thanks to: • Our wonderful bird photographers, especially Kim Croker and Andrew McCutcheon who also came on the day to share their knowledge. • The support on the day from Phil Wierzbowski of Coast Action/ Coastcare and Sarah Fowler
Photograph by Rod Binningham.
of Bayside Council, our Friends of Native Wildlife core group of Pat Carden, Michael Norris, Ian Parsons and Elizabeth Walsh. • The ideas, encouragement and many volunteer hours from Barbara Jakob of the Bayside Environment Friends Network and help from her son Ruben. We will definitely do it again.
Elizabeth Walsh Bayside Friends of Native Wildlife
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Oral History Making History In March last year a meeting made a little bit of the history of the Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary. How did it happen? We have been increasingly concerned about the larger woody plants proliferating in the Heathland, especially hedge, black and juniper wattles, and sweet bursaria. All are indigenous, but do they really belong on this site? The hedge wattle may, like tree lucerne, just be a relic of the Sandbelt market gardens; juniper wattle, like some bursarias, was introduced. The issue was urgent because of the ecological burn in April. So, as coordinator, I suggested the Council commission expert advice. They could not have responded better. No elaborate reports, just a meeting on site of the Friends, Bushland Crew, and Council staff with Jeff Yugovic. Jeff is a consultant botanist who works for Biosis Research as well as on his own account. He grew up in Highett and has known our vegetation most of his life. Jeff was one of the volunteers who, along with Gerry Kempson, Don Neale and Jason Stewart, weeded the Balcombe Park wildfire around 1990 that produced all that spectacular wedding bush. His first question was to Ron Leech, a Friend who lives next door. “How long had he known the Reserve?” “About seventy years.” “And what was it like?” “When we were playing hide-and-seek you had to crouch down not to be seen. There was only one big tree, the manna gum still up there by the Bay Road fence.” Jeff said he hadn’t come here until much later - about forty years ago! And it was still much as Ron said with most plants not much more than a metre high. The reserve should be heath with an occasional tree. So the talk turned to the species worrying us. The Bushland Crew said hedge wattle and sweet bursaria are doing well elsewhere in Bayside but juniper wattle is still scarce. Jeff responded that it was appropriate to use Bay Road to help rare heathland species like that but the other two should be controlled.
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1 1. A large silver banksia’s nodes indicate that it had been 24 years since the last fire in the Sanctuary. 2. Matt Hutching of the Citywide Bushland crew working hard.
We then took a stroll and Jeff stopped by a large silver banksia, near a bench that remembers Eulalie Bennett, and explained you could judge the years since the last fire by the number of nodes, 24, spot on! That part of the reserve was last burnt in 1985 – far too long ago relative to the burn frequency recommended by experts. Since the meeting, the Bushland Crew, the Friends, and Sandringham College students have been reducing the amount of hedge wattle. My apologies – and thanks – to all for causing them such a tough, prickly job! A special thanks to Matt Hutchins, the crew member who works with the Friends. Weeding away, we’ve swapped ideas. One was that we should be collecting oral histories of our bush, partly to help with future management. That’s an important project which I hope will happen soon. But in the short term I’m glad I found a way for Ron and Jeff to share their memories.
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Another memory. I was recently told that Daintree Fletcher, the City of Sandringham’s first conservation officer, wrote about eutrophication – the introduction of nutrients such as dog poo (“a biological time-bomb” to quote another expert) – as a major danger to our heathlands. Removing large plants also removes nutrients that humans have introduced. Oral history, and expertise, have added new pages to the saga of the Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary. Michael Norris Coordinator Friends of the Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary
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George Street Reserve George Street provides important habitat for local birds. However, as we see some of them very rarely, it was a special occasion when Pauline Reynolds flushed a quail from a spot in the ground on the eastern side of the Reserve. The stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis), according to Frank Stewart, is dumpy, with a very short tail. The male is coloured brown with white streaks, and has an orange-brown throat and white stripe over one eye. The female is paler. The birds nest on the ground in a grass-lined depression and seven or eight eggs may result from breeding. If flushed, the bird will run, then if followed, fly low with a whirring sound. (See Frank Stewart, Birds of Bayside: Inland, Bayside City Council, Melbourne, 2005, p.1 and Plate A, opp. p.46). The writers of Local Birds of Bayside, (Michael Norris, etal Eds., Bayside
City Council, Melbourne 1995) note that two quail were reported on the Royal Melbourne Golf Club course in 1951 and on or over Barbara Salter’s garden, which was in Tulip Street, close to the Reserve. In 1994, one was seen is Cooke Street. There are also records of a brown quail (Cornutix ypsilophora). This year is the Year of Biodiversity, and the quail sighting was a reminder of the need to conserve our precious fauna and flora, and of the contribution made by the Reserve and all the other bushland areas in our city. They are home not only to communities of trees and heath, but also to local birds and other wild creatures. It was encouraging to walk beside the Tulip Street fence in early April and observe the healthy growth at the south end of the Reserve. Kangaroo apple (Solanum lacianatum) fruit were turning from
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yellow to pale orange and twiggy daisy bush (Olearia ramulosa) flowering prolifically. Many lime green correa bells (Correa reflexa) drooped from slender stems and healthy Acacia paradoxa bushes gave promise of wattle gold later in the year. Mats of kidney weed (Dichondra repens) cover parts of the earthen bank inside the fence and we expect that by the winter greenhoods (Pterostylis nutans) will be shooting. Dedicated weeders have worked on the third Sunday of each month and look forward to planting in autumn and winter. Volunteers are always welcome. Valerie Tarrant and Pauline Reynolds Joint Coordinators Friends of George Street Reserve
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Orange-bellied parrots to be wiped out in wave of extinctions? Did you know that Australia’s orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) is ranked alongside the giant panda and the siberian tiger as one of the rarest and most endangered animals in the world? From autumn to winter, the entire population of this tiny ‘grass parrot’ leaves its breeding grounds on the coasts of Western Tasmania to feed along the coastline of Victoria and south east South Australia. The orange-bellied parrot has been listed as critically endangered since 2006 and the wild population has dwindled to around 50 birds and declining, most likely due to low breeding participation by females.
wild, and important to maintain the focus on the wild population. The importance of volunteers cannot be underestimated for the survival of this species. The long-term monitoring data has been collected by an army of more than 100 dedicated volunteers over 25 years. Without these volunteers, we would not know how the species is faring. In the International Year of Biodiversity, Birds Australia and BOCA
Modeling suggests extinction in the wild within the next two to five years. The two national bird conservation organisations, Birds Australia and BOCA (Bird Observation and Conservation Australia), warn that the plight of the orange-bellied parrot is a wake up call that highlights the looming extinction crisis facing Australia. A recent report by the IUCN warned that we are in the grip of the sixth great extinction of species, comparable to the loss of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. In a recent review Birds Australia and BOCA found that there is insufficient data to determine the population status of the majority of Australian birds. As well as monitoring, funding research is essential to quickly detect trends and breeding success and therefore predict the decline of a species. It is essential that the captive breeding program be carried out to support the parrot’s survival in the Photograph by Chris Tzaros, Birds Australia
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are calling on all governments to recognise that we are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis, and to invest more in research, monitoring and on-ground conservation for threatened species protection and recovery. For more information on the orangebellied parrot, visit Birds Australia’s website www.birdsaustralia.com.au Printed with permission from Birds Australia.
Photographs taken by Miranda Green, Department of Primary Industries. 1. A male red eared slider turtle at Elsterwick park lake. 2. A 1.35kg female red eared slider turtle caught at Elsternwick Park lake.
REST an unwanted guest On 26 October 2009 the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) began an intensive program to eradicate all red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans) or REST from Elsternwick Park lake. The eradication of the REST from Elsternwick came after pairing couples were observed in the lake in the past 18 months. The REST is an invasive species native to North America and listed in the top 100 world’s worst invasive species by the World Conservation Union. It is a highly aggressive species and will compete with native turtles for food, nesting areas and basking sites. Because of this, the REST is considered an environmental pest outside of its native range. In Victoria alone it is illegal to import, keep, trade or release REST into the wild. However, over the past 10 years REST have been illegally kept in homes and when no longer performing as a household pet, they have been carelessly released into the wild. This has resulted in established isolated populations in various eastern suburbs, Elsternwick Park lake included.
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length of 19.5cm and width of 15.3cm. After an autopsy, between 60 and 80 eggs were found at various development stages. During the trapping program another two REST were observed, one mature male and one juvenile male. Due to these sightings, the DPI are developing further management options to capture the remaining REST. Please keep a look out for the remaining REST and if you see one please contact Bayside City Council on 9599 4444. Sarah Fowler Open Space Project Officer Bayside City Council. Printed with permission from the Department of Primary Industries
The eradication program began with the use of an experienced detection canine from Queensland to locate any REST activity around the lake. The detector canine can determine the presence of REST at a site, and helped with finding appropriate trapping locations. After two weeks of trapping, a large sexually mature female was captured on 9 November 2009. The female was captured in a small oblong opera trap on the western side of the lake and on the southern side of the footbridge. She weighed 1.35kg with a shell
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Friends of the Brighton Dunes (Dr Jim Willis Reserve) In April, we started our planting season.
autumn, winter, and early spring is the weather kind to plants.
For years we have planted as soon as the days shorten, the weather is cooler, and there is a bit of rain – sometime between the middle of April and beginning of May.
The aim of early planting is to get the plants well-established before they have to cope with heat and dry again.
“Spring” planting is not appropriate for our climate, but old traditions die hard. After the ravages of five to six months of inadequate water, and heat, conditions become more benign. Inadequate water and heat are the main controlling factor in our environment, and only in late
The conditions in Europe and Asia and India are so different from conditions in Australia, the driest inhabited continent, with its extraordinarily thin topsoils and highly inflammable eucalypts in the forested areas. In countries where there is cold weather, snow and lots of rain, there have always been spring festivals
to celebrate the end of fierce hard cold conditions. Our coldest weather cannot be called cold by French, English, North American, or Northern Chinese standards. People regularly die of cold in Russia, as they die of heat and fire in Victoria. Our problems here are heat and lack of water. Even in hot countries like India and South East Asia there isn’t anything like our water problem because of the monsoon. By planting in April, May and June the plants have time to grow a little and establish their root systems. My front lawn has been dead for four months. Over the last week or so, the grass has started to grow. Only plants well established in pots or that someone is prepared to water every week through the long hot summer, can be planted out successfully after July. In our reserve, which operates by modified Bradley Method, we only plant from our own genetic pool at the edge of the reserve where no natural regeneration will occur. We do not use poisons as in most places, natural regeneration will occur if invasive weeds are carefully taken out by hand. One summer a decade ago, near Green Point, I noticed that little boobiallas (Myoporum insulare) were coming up where the mowing of grass had stopped because no grass was growing in the dry. We fenced off the area, and about 25 boobialla are happily growing there.
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The bush reserves in Bayside are a treasure, a pearl beyond price. There is astonishing biodiversity here, so near to a megalopolis. Over recent weeks, the black swans have arrived to eat the seagrass off the south reef at Dendy Street Beach. Each day the numbers have been different. On 4 April 2010 there were ten. Nearly every time we work we see blue wren, pacific gulls and cormorants. There are a plethora of indigenous fungi, moss and lichens.
Citywide, particularly Jo Hurse and Mark Rasmussen, are endlessly supportive. They believe in working with the volunteers in a true partnership of caring professionals and ardent volunteers. Thank you!
original Aboriginal inhabitants of Port Phillip bay for at least 3000 years before Europeans arrived) has survived, and it is my sincere hope that it will continue to do so.
When I look from Brighton Beach across the bay to the glass and concrete towers of the city, a distance of perhaps 16 kilometres, I can’t believe that our one kilometre of foreshore and ancient midden (the beach was enjoyed by the
Jenny Talbot Coordinator Friends of Brighton Dunes
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Cheltenham Park Ecological Controlled Burn On Tuesday 30 March Citywide conducted a successful ecological control burn at Cheltenham Park Reserve. The burn was carried out to replace coastal tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum), which is classified as a weed in the area, with the indigenous ‘heathland’ species which have a far greater plant and animal diversity. The burn commenced at 9:40 am, and covered an area of approximately 1,300 m3 and was thoroughly controlled over the period. The fire intensity was rated at approximately 1330 Kw/m, which rates at a moderate intensity value. This is the appropriate intensity to stimulate the ecological processes within heathland ecosystems. The Burn Procedure document that the Bushland team followed was comprehensive and highly detailed, as a result, no significant events arose before or during the burn. Cheltenham Park Reserve is located on Park Road, Cheltenham. It is approximately 11 ha in area with 0.88 ha recognised as significant remnant bushland in the north eastern part of the reserve. This area is one of nine sandy soiled ‘heathland’ and coastal reserves that Council manage with the assistance of the Citywide Bushland team. It was the intention of the Bushland team to conduct an ecological burn in 1,300 m3 of heathland in the eastern
portion of the remnant vegetation, distinguished as management zones 129. In undertaking the burn two aims were achieved: 1. The removal of coastal tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum) that have overtaken the site. 2. Stimulate the natural ecological processes of the indigenous heath by conducting an ecological control burn. Historical information of the biological and cultural history of the reserve is available from the document published by Damian Cook, Management Plan for Habitat Restoration in Cheltenham Park Flora and Fauna Reserve, for Save The Bush in June 1992. Ecological burns are known to be highly beneficial to many Australian ecosystems. This is particularly relevant to the sandy soiled ‘heathland’ plant communities in the south eastern suburbs that actually require fire to survive, more so than most other Australian plant communities, because fire stimulates their life cycle. In the absence of fire, ‘heathland’ communities can alter or senesce and die, this can ultimately cause a reduction in plant diversity 1. This has occurred at Cheltenham Park Reserve and weeds such as coastal tea tree have overtaken in some areas. 1
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Adams and Simmons, 1991
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This fact is supported by the regeneration observed in heathland areas throughout south-east Melbourne. Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary, George Street Reserve and Balcombe Park Reserve are prime examples of heathlands that were dominated by a virtual monoculture of coastal tea tree. After fire events, these reserves have experienced spectacular recovery of indigenous vegetation. Fire stimulates the vegetation communities’ natural ecological processes. These natural processes are referred to throughout the text and include a myriad of different interactions with the environment that facilitate the ecosystem to function in a diverse and self perpetuating way. The natural ecological processes are broadly defined in the paragraph below. They may be simple, such as the encouragement of newly burnt root stock to grow, or complex processes, such as the chemical interaction of smoke from fire which triggers a seed’s dormancy. There may be other environmental processes that scientists are currently unaware of, including the potential stimulation of insects and soil fungus and their interactions with plants and animals. In a broad sense, plants are stimulated from fire in two ways: some will germinate from seed and others will germinate from tuberous rootstock beneath the soil. In the former method, the seed may lay in the soil or on the plant for many years, waiting for fire to trigger its dormancy mechanism, thus allowing it to germinate. The dynamic nature of ecological burns is that in many cases the parent plant that produced the seed may have died leaving no record of its existence. Thus after an ecological burn ‘new’ plant species may be found in an area. The most
interesting point regarding triggers of seed dormancy is that scientists do not currently understand all of the environmental factors that cause some seeds to germinate after a fire. In the second, broad method of plant germination after fire, vegetation may germinate from rootstock underground. A fire can destroy all of the vegetation above the ground but different plant storage structures such as tubers and thick basal roots are often undamaged by the fire. In many instances plants can be seen growing back from this underground vegetation within weeks of the ecological burn having taken place. There are additional advantages of fire in most Australian environments. Nutrients that are normally scarce in the environment are released and become available to seedlings. Fire also removes large amounts of living and dead material, reducing competition and creating light and space for growth of new plants.
The ash bed that is created after the fire represents a perfect medium for young seeds to grow in. Animals also benefit from ecological burns because they prefer the diverse array of succulent younger plant growth. Surrounding unburnt vegetation is used as a shelter and the newly burnt area acts as a food source. The most diverse natural ecosystems have patches or ‘mosaics’ where the reserve is covered with various burn sites of different ages. These animals most likely interact with the plant life also, to stimulate the natural ecological processes. In summary, the 2010 burn at Cheltenham Park will be an interesting spot to visit over the coming months as we wait to see what plant species pop up!
Jo Hurse Citywide Open Space Bushland Team Leader
References 1. Cheal, David. No. 6 Fire Succession In Heathlands And Implications For Vegetation Management, Gov. Printer, 1996 2. Adams R. and Simmons D, Ecological Effects of Fuel Reduction Burning, Deakin University 1991
Before the burn shows a dense undergrowth.
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Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary – Summer Snorkelling Program “Summer Snorkelling Program” is really a misnomer as our program begins in November and runs at 9am each Saturday till the end of April the following year. We normally snorkel at three locations in the Sanctuary – McGregor Rock, at the northern end; Tea House Reef, out from the wooden access ramp; and Signal Reef, the white triangle marker near the Beaumaris Life Saving Club – each of these sites contains underwater ledges and caves, and a good range of marine life.
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Did you know there is brightly coloured coral in the Sanctuary, so there is no need to go north for a reef holiday? Our season begins with an introduction to snorkelling session when new members can seek advice about wetsuits, masks, snorkels and other gear from more experienced members. Each snorkelling session begins with a briefing about the route to be followed and possible risks (not that there are many). We also adopt the ‘buddy’ system under
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which snorkelers pair off and look after each other throughout the dive. This year, we averaged about 12 people per snorkel with more than 20 on a couple of occasions. More than 50 people participated in the program, ranging in age from 30 to 82, which shows that age is no barrier to enjoying the underwater environment. As well as introducing people to the wonders of our marine sanctuary, we also monitor the diversity of its marine life. On
Photographs by Ray Lewis 1. Marine Care Ricketts Point Summer Snorkelling Program. 2. Big bellied seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis)
occasions we have recorded between 25 and 30 different fish species including the Port Jackson shark which migrates to the Sanctuary from New South Wales waters in spring, before returning after Christmas. One of the incentives in learning to free dive is to be able to poke your head under a ledge and come face to face with a ‘PJ’. Other highlights have been large schools of snapper and Australian salmon (more than 1000 on some estimates) and the big bellied seahorse recently found by Ray Lewis. We have also enjoyed trips to other locations such as Blairgowrie Marina and Point Cook Marine Sanctuary (with the newly former Marine Care Point Cook friends group) and a dive to see the guns, located on the sea bed just north of the Cerberus. Snorkelling continues throughout the year for the more hardy, and properly equipped, members. The winter normally produces better visibility, although the range of fish life is less. Peter Dedrick Marine Care Ricketts Point
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Congratulations! The Marine Care Ricketts Point Education Centre was a finalist in the Education Category in this year’s Victorian Coastal Council’s Coastal Awards for Excellence, for its outstanding facility and delivery of marine education in Bayside.
For further information about the Marine Care Ricketts Point Education Centre or snorkelling in the Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, please visit the Marine Care Ricketts Point website www.marinecare.org.au
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World Environment Day You would think that on a day when the world is celebrating the environment (well at least Bayside residents anyway – World Environment Day was officially on 5 June), Mother Nature could at least provide some sunshine. It was not to be, however. Heavy grey clouds adorned the sky as people gathered at the Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary for Bayside’s World Environment Day celebrations. So, in the absence of a more genial Mother Nature, it was left to those assembled to keep the mood bright – which they delivered in spades.
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Thanks to the work of the dedicated volunteers who braved the cold and dreary weather to come early and help set up (at 8am no less!), celebrations were ready to begin by 9:30am. First on the agenda was the much-anticipated Environmental Playgroup. Children and parents alike marvelled at Bayside’s local flora on their exciting discovery walk around the Sanctuary. Their artistic skills were also put to the test, with the children creating paper ‘Correa reflexas’. This plant, though common throughout Victoria, has one special strand with red and yellow ‘bells’ that only grow in Bayside. Finally, no reputable World Environment Day celebration would be complete without some singing; the children also practiced their ‘bell song’ (representing the ‘bell’ shape of the Correa reflexa) in preparation for the Mayor’s visit.
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It was hot tea and coffee all around as people waited for official celebrations to begin. Moods brightened further as the celebration’s younger contributors – the Second Years from Sandringham East Primary School – announced their arrival in a flurry of excited chatter and movement. After they were (somewhat) pacified by the delicious muffins prepared in advance, the Sanctuary’s coordinator Cr Michael Norris kept everyone entertained with a mini-poetry jam while we waited for celebrations to begin. Bayside City Council’s Mayor, Cr Clifford Hayes officially opened celebrations in a speech where he kindly thanked all the groups involved in making the day possible. He also highlighted the work Bayside City Council is doing with the community in reducing Bayside’s environmental footprint. Mayor Hayes was then thanked by the youngsters from the Environmental Playgroup, who performed their ‘bell song’ to a captive audience. Their hard work was rewarded with certificates and their very own potted Correa reflexa to look after at home. Next to speak was BEFN coordinator Barbara Jakob. She eloquently captured the spirit of the day with her opening words, “We celebrate that our natural world is beautiful.”
Photographs by Pauline Reynolds 1. Children of the Environmental Playgroup make paper Correa reflexa, an indigenous flower found in the Sanctuary. 2. Bayside’s Mayor, Cr Clifford Hayes (centre) presents a watering can to the George Senior Retirement Village to acknowledge their planting efforts. 3. Sandringham East Primary School’s ‘Land Art’ mural work was unveiled at the celebrations. 4. Children of the Environmental Playgroup discover the Sanctuary’s ‘Secret Garden’.
She then unveiled Sandringham East Primary School’s ‘Land Art’ mural, a stunning piece featuring two Bayside local animals, the Humming Bird and the Echidna, created using ‘ironed’ plastic bags. Finally, residents at The George senior retirement village were recognised for their efforts in planting the nature strip along the retirement home with indigenous flora. Fittingly, they were presented with not only a certificate for their fine work, but also a watering can, to ensure this work does not go to waste!
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Overall, the day was a fantastic success, and this is all due to the hard work and dedication of everybody involved. BEFN would also like to thank everyone who made the event possible, and hopefully we can make this a yearly occurrence! Lance Truong Bayside Environmental Friends Network
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A look at Table Rock Anyone who has been to Table Rock, Beaumaris will understand the tranquil effects of the coastal province. Located between Rennison Street and Keys Street, Table Rock provided its viewers with picturesque cliffs carved from black-rock sandstone and natives such as coast tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum), coast banksia (Banksia integrifolia) and the predominately grown coast daisy (Brachysome parvula). The cliffs of Table Rock provide a popular place for seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) to lie in the sun, along with pelicans and dolphins. One seal in particular was found in this area, a few months ago and made the rocky platforms his home for about five days before moving on. The Friends of Table Rock have been working with the Citywide Bushland Team to tackle the biggest invader known to Table Rock, bridle creeper (Aspargus asacragoides). We have found that digging out the bulbs has been most effective, although it is time consuming and must be followed up with spraying of re-shoots or hand weeding. There is also plenty of boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) around Table Rock that needs to be removed and
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the areas planted with indigenous species. There are a few revegetation areas well established throughout Table Rock that have been planted and maintained by volunteers, and more areas will be planted with indigenous species during the 2010 planting season. Unfortunately Table Rock only has a small Friends group, so it would be great to have some more volunteers to share in the breath-taking surrounds of Table Rock. The Friends of Table Rock meet on the last Tuesday of every month from 12.30pm – 2.30pm. We look forward to seeing some new faces, so come along to our next working bee. Katrina Perrett Bushland Team Citywide Openspace
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Spring Bayside City Council presents
Open Days Step into spring with Bayside’s bushlands! Sundays from 22 August 2010 to 24 October 2010 Bayside’s Environmental Friends Groups with Citywide Open Space are inviting you to shake off some of those winter cobwebs and visit Bayside’s heathland reserves for a true spring experience. See below for participating reserves and dates.
Bay Road Heathland Sanctuary
George Street Reserve
Bay Road, Sandringham (Melway Reference 77 B10) Sundays from 22 August to 24 October 2.00pm-4.00pm
George Street, Sandringham (Melway Reference 77 B12) Sunday 19 September – one day only 10.00am-12noon
Gramatan Avenue Heathland Sanctuary
Balcombe Park
Gramatan Avenue, Beaumaris (Melway Reference 86 C6) Sundays from 5 September to 26 September 2.00pm-4.00pm
Balcombe Road, Beaumaris (Melway Reference 86 C4) Sunday 26 September – one day only 10.00am-12noon
Donald MacDonald Reserve
Long Hollow Heathland
Stawell Street, Beaumaris (Melway Reference 86 B6) Sunday 5 September – one day only 10.00am-12noon
Reserve Road, Beaumaris (Melway Reference 86 D5) Sunday 26 September – one day only 1.00pm-3.00pm
Cheltenham Flora & Fauna Reserve
Don’t miss out on your chance to enjoy a guided tour of our diverse remnant heathlands where you’ll see wonderful species of heath orchids and flowering lilies.
Park Road, Cheltenham (Melway Reference 86 H1) Sunday 5 September – one day only 12noon-2.00pm
For more information on Bayside’s Spring Open Days please contact Citywide Open Space, Ph 9583 6700 banksia bulletin — winter 2010
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Friends of Watkins Bay On Wednesday 26 May, Friends of Watkins Bay had their usual monthly working bee but this one was different. It was promoted by Bayside City Council through the Bayside Environmental Friends Network to encourage people to participate in working bees to help their local environment. Barbara Jakob, Coordinator of BEFN organised publicity by designing and distributing brochures. Barbara and Sarah Fowler from Council applied for funding from the Department of Sustainability and Environment Coastcare Victoria Community Grants Program, which was readily granted. Our little project was to plant 300 plants on a narrow strip of beach near the white wooden triangle (beacon) at Ricketts Point. This area was chosen by Jo Hurse, who manages the Citywide bushland crew, because it has suffered some erosion due
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to pounding from rough seas surging over the rock platform. This is a favourite area with visitors to observe birds roosting on the rocks. Currently there is a small group of royal spoonbills there most days. This little beach adjoins the car park so is accessible to less active people. It is a lovely calming view and sometimes one may see dolphins. The day was sunny with a strong breeze. To our delight 20 people attended, three of whom expressed a wish to join our friends group. Thank you to Helen, Hilda and Pat. In no time our 300 coastal plants were in, watered, and guarded with sticks and plastic shields. Later we shall mulch them with the abundant seaweed from the beach. Barbara organised a professional caterer and hot drinks and each participant was offered a small indigenous plant, Goodenia ovata as a thank you. The 300 plants
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were purchased from the Bayside Community Nursery and most were Atriplex cinerea (coastal saltbush). Our resident Superb Fairy-wrens watched proceedings from the existing saltbush. As always we were well supported by Jo Hurse and the Citywide bushland crew and Katrina who specifically looks after our group. Quite simply we could not manage without them. Thank you to everyone who helped from the Friends of Watkins Bay. Moira Longden Coordinator Friends of Watkins Bay
Family Life Open Garden Day 2010 Don’t miss the Family Life Open Garden on Sunday 24 October, in Brighton. Featuring gardens in Brighton’s “Golden Mile”, there will be a variety of styles on show, providing ideas and inspiration for all garden enthusiasts. The gardens will be open from 11am to 5pm, at the following locations in Brighton: • 1 Wellington Street • 26 Grosvenor Street • 19 Seacombe Grove • 2A Seacombe Grove • 285 New Street • 27 Victoria Street The day will also feature demonstrations and information from sponsors, including Bayside City Council’s “Be a Bayside Water Saver”, plus refreshments and music by local school students. Entry is $22 or $17 for concession. For more information call Family Life on 03 8599 5433 or visit www.familylife.com.au
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Friends of Bayside Working bee times for August and September 2010 Time/Day
August
September
Balcombe Park
Last Sunday 10am – noon
29
26
Bay Rd
2nd Saturday 10am – noon
14
11
BRASCA
Tuesdays 6.30am – 8.30am
Brighton Dunes
Tuesdays 8am – 10am
3, 10, 17, 24, 31
7, 14, 21, 28
Cheltenham Park
1st Sunday 10am – noon
1
5
Cheltenham Primary
Contact school ph. 9583 1614
Donald MacDonald
1st Sunday 10am – noon
1
5
George St
3rd Sunday 10am – noon
15
19
Gramatan
1st Sunday 1 – 3pm
1
5
Long Hollow
Last Sunday 1pm – 3pm
29
26
Friends of Native Wildlife
1st Saturday 9.30am
Ricketts Point Landside
3rd Tuesday 1pm – 3pm
17
19
Table Rock
Last Tuesday 12.30pm – 2.30pm
31
29
Watkins Bay
Last Wednesday 1pm – 3pm
25
29
Contact coordinator (Janet Ablitt): ph. 9589 6646
Contact Michael Norris ph. 95210804
A royal spoonbill (Platalea regia) feeding on the rock platform photographed near Watkins Bay at Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary, Beaumaris. Photographed by Pauline Reynolds.
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www.bayside.vic.gov.au