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Stop the Montrose Quarry Expansion

This issue of expanding the quarry that should have closed in 2015, if allowed, will cause a lot more issues for locals, including more pollution.  The possible pollution events plus the intention to modify Bungalook Creek at the site will affect the creek locally and downstream to our Dandenong Creek and could also be detrimental to the RAMSAR wetlands it eventually flows to.  The local onsite disruption will cause significant drawdown to the water table, leading to vegetation death such as essential habitat trees the Powerful Owl relies on.  The loss of endangered vegetation will also have detrimental effects to Bungalook Creek on site too.  This can also affect Dandenong Creek too, the water as well as the flora and fauna species in it, including threatened and also keystone species such as the Shortfin Eel.

Sarah Dutton (Heathmont Bushcare Member)

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2025 Final Working Bee alteration

Dear Heathmont Bushcarers,

Please note for your diaries that there has been a change of plan for our final working bee on Sunday Dec 7th.

This will NOT take place at Lobelia Swamp as scheduled.

Instead, we will meet at Uambi at the usual time of 10.00am where we will celebrate the conclusion of another successful year with a walk around Uambi, a talk by an expert (TBC), our AGM and morning tea.

If you are able, it would be wonderful if you could bring a little something yummy to share. A seat may also be a good idea!

Please help to spread the word to each other as not everyone will receive/ read this post.

Looking forward to seeing as many people there as possible!

Will.

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Montrose Quarry Extension

Hi everyone,

Please see below this communication from Heathmont Bushcare regular Sarah Dutton:

This morning (at Heathmont Bushcare’s Working Bee on Sunday 02/11/25) I discussed the issue of the Montrose Boral Quarry referral to the minister to expand and the community objection for many reasons including environmental.  I only just found out about this last week and many others only seem to have heard of this recent attempt to expand last week as well, even though it was submitted 6th October, 2025 and a decision to be made by the minister is to take “typically” 20 business days, landing tomorrow, 3rd November but it could be anytime.  So we are urgently emailing the minister our pleas to consider the importance of the necessity for an Environmental Effects Statement (EES).

The decision the minister needs to make is whether or not an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) is required.  If the minister decides not then Boral will plough ahead with their expansion which is expected to cause environmental damage and destruction at and around the site.  Part of this includes “relocating the existing discharge point upstream of the predicted drawdown areas to allow quarry water to be returned to Bungalook Creek”.  The “returned water” would be treated water.  As well as affecting the area, this can have effects to the creek that is a tributary of Tarralla creek that feeds into the Dandenong creek and so any effects caused can also affect Heathmont too.  While there can be effects to local vegetation, trees that are essential habitat to the Powerful Owl that could die and make the “vulnerable” ecological vegetation class (EVC) 17 more at risk, and there are more species that could be at risk such as the burrowing crayfish, the short-finned eel and the galaxia fish.  Effects to aquatic species in the Bungalook creek can have flow-on effects downstream in Dandenong creek, as can any pollution event that has more chance of occurring with interference to the creek that Boral wish to do.  There is also no guarantee the returning water will be at the correct level to really compensate either.

Attachment K discusses the Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem (GDE) assessment for Boral and does show that there will be effects but claims it will be minimal while we disagree.  It is not a risk worth taking and there is no proof of where this has previously occurred.

Attachment C discusses the Biodiversity Impact.  It seems to rely on very insufficient surveying of fauna.

While it is not necessarily related to an EES, it seems an important legal consideration to enquire why a cultural heritage management plan (CHMP) has not been triggered with it affecting an Aboriginal named creek within 200 metres with major works.  (Bungalook is Wurundjeri for Stringybark.)  It seems not legal if they have neglected to trigger a CHMP that is supported by the Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2018 and the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.  And I’m not sure how the treaty legislation affects this either.  

This is the link to the submission with the attachments: 

https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/environmental-assessments/browse-projects/referrals/montrose-quarry-extension

There is also the Facebook group “STOP MONTROSE QUARRY EXPANSION” for more info and suggestions for letter writing.  THere is also suggestions to write facebook posts and tag the minister too for more attention.

If you would like to support this please write an email and address it as follows:

To:

The Hon. Sonya Kilkenny 

reception.kilkenny@transport.vic.gov.au

Minister for Planning

Department of Transport and Planning,

Victoria

CC:

EPA Victoria

contact@epa.vic.gov.au

Yarra Ranges Council

mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au

Kind regards,

Sarah Dutton

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2025 Great Southern Bioblitz and nature discovery activities – 24-27 October

The 2025 Great Southern Bioblitz is just around the corner, running from Friday 24th October to Monday 27th October, and Maroondah is again offering a series of nature discovery activities to encourage you to participate!

So, get your smartphone out, download the iNaturalist app, and explore your backyard, your street or any of your local nature reserves and parklands within Maroondah. Join in the 2025 Great Southern Bioblitz by using iNaturalist to make observations of the wild plants, animals and fungi you can find! Then be amazed at how the image recognition in iNaturalist, and its vast online community of naturalists, can help identify what you have seen!

The Great Southern Bioblitz is an annual citizen science event for the southern hemisphere and is a spin-off from the City Nature Challenge, where nature enthusiasts worldwide will be observing and recording wild flora and fauna living in their local area and uploading it to the iNaturalist app (see attached).

Over the four-day Bioblitz, Maroondah City Council is running six free Nature Discovery Activities, to help you discover and learn about diversity of flora and fauna that feature in our local natural environment. Our experts will guide participants in observing local examples of fungi, fish, water bugs, reptiles, spiders and moths. Numbers are limited however, so get in while you can by registering via the links below.

Maroondah is again teaming up with other metropolitan Melbourne councils to represent “Greater Melbourne” on the global stage. By joining in and making observations of plants, animals and fungi over the four days you can help boost Maroondah’s and Greater Melbourne’s statistics in the Bioblitz and contribute to broader scientific data that can help improve biodiversity conservation.

You can also track how Maroondah is going against other councils from across metropolitan Melbourne here.

You are invited to register for any or all of the free Nature Discovery Activities being held within Maroondah during the four days, where you can learn about different species from expert guides. Activities are expected to fill up quickly so please don’t wait to book your spot/s.

In the event that an activity is fully booked, you can ask to be added to the waitlist for any spots that may become available.

Nature Discovery activity – focus on fungi

  • Date: Friday 24th October 2025
  • Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
  • Location: Bungalook Conservation Reserves, Kilsyth South.
  • Guide: Melvin Xu – Mycologist from Field Naturalists Society of Victoria

Nature Discovery activity – focus on fish

  • Date: Saturday 25th October 2025
  • Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
  • Location: Dandenong Creek, HE Parker Reserve, Heathmont
  • Guide: Tim Fernando – Aquatic scientist from Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research

Nature Discovery activity – focus on water bugs

  • Date: Sunday 26th October 2025
  • Time: 10:00am – 12:00noon
  • Location: Dandenong Creek, Scott Street Reserve, Heathmont
  • Guide: Mel Klamt – Aquatic ecologist from Friends of Tarralla Creek

Nature Discovery activity – focus on reptiles

  • Date: Sunday 26th October 2025
  • Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
  • Location: Warrien Reserve, Croydon North
  • Guide: David De Angelis – Herpetologist from Abzeco Ecological Consultants

Nature Discovery activity – focus on spiders

  • Date: Monday 27th October 2025
  • Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
  • Location: Uambi, Heathmont
  • Guide: Ben Kurek – Arachnologist from the Entomological Society of Victoria

Nature Discovery activity – focus on moths

  • Date: Monday 27th October 2025
  • Time: 8.00pm to 10:00pm
  • Location: BJ Hubbard Reserve, Ringwood North
  • Guide: Luis Mata – Entomologist from the Entomological Society of Victoria

Making an observation in iNaturalist is easy! Making an observation valuable to science requires a little more care – try to make sure what you are recording is “wild”, ie not captive, domesticated, planted or cultivated (such as a pet or farm animal, or something that has been planted in a garden or farm), and take note of the advice provided in the attached guide to ensure you record the characteristics that are needed for others to independently identify what you have seen.

Please don’t stop there! – you can make valuable observations in iNaturalist for Maroondah at any time, Great Southern Bioblitz or not! All observations ever made in iNaturalist within Maroondah can be explored here “Nature in Maroondah”.

Cheers and have fun!



Anita Ransom 

Coordinator Strategic Planning and Sustainability

Logo-for-signatures.png
Maroondah City Council | Realm
T: 03 9298 4469 

Anita.Ransom@maroondah.vic.gov.au 

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A successful working bee and a Mindful Walking opportunity

Hi everyone,

Earlier this morning, in the beautiful warm sunshine of a glorious winter’s day, a band of enthusiastic Heathmont Bushcarers gathered by the side of the railway line near HE Parker Reserve for a couple of hours of weeding, banter and laughs. We tackled some Panic Veld grass, being very careful to avoid the Nodding Greenhoods, as well as clearing away a significant amount of Cotoneaster, Pittosporum Wonga Vine and Watsonia. It was a very successful morning and was followed, as always, by a delicious morning tea.

In other news, some of you might be interested in the Mindful Walking program run by Maroondah Council. Details are below:

Good morning,

Council is running it’s last Mindful walking program for 2025 and we’d love you to join us.

Mindful walking is a natural way to unwind, de-stress and reconnect with yourself and is designed to help you find tranquillity and rejuvenation amidst the beauty of nature. Our Mindful Walking Program offers you the perfect opportunity to find inner peace to help improve your mental health and wellbeing.

Program Details:

  • Date: Tuesday 26 August to 16 September (4 weeks)
  • Time: 1pm to 2pm
  • Location: Yarrunga Community Centre,  76-86 Croydon Hills Dr, (cnr Barwon Ct), Croydon Hills
  • Cost: $30 for the four week program, a light afternoon tea with tea/coffee will be provided
  • Bookings are essential – Mindful walking program (Term 3) | Maroondah City Council
  • Additional Information: due to the nature of these walks, it is preferred that participants are over 18 years old.

During this quiet 45 minute walk, you will be guided through a series of mindfulness exercises and breathing techniques with our experienced instructor, Angela Harris. Angela has worked in the health industry for over 35 years and is a qualified hypnotherapist, mindfulness practitioner and meditation teacher. She is keen to share her knowledge and experience with participants.

If you’d like to know more about this program, please view our short Mindful walking video –  Mindful walking

Please note that comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate attire are recommended as we will be walking on both grass and gravel surfaces. Feel free to pass this email onto anyone else you think may be interested in attending.

If you require support to attend this program, please reply to this email or contact me on 9294 5737.

Kind regards
 
Fiona Burridge (she/her)
Community Wellbeing Facilitator

Realm, 179 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood

T 03 9294 5737  | F 03 9298 4413

Finally, I know they aren’t indigenous, but the Cootamundra Wattles are having their best season for some time, and they smell fabulous.

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Working Bee at Dexters

Hi All,

We have received the following from the Dexter family:

The Dexter family welcomes Heathmont Bushcare to Dexter’s Bush this Sunday 1st June.  They will kindly provide the usual catering for tea and coffee that Mick always provided.

If you can make it, it would be good to share some of your favourite stories about Mick.

Looking forward to seeing at Dexter’s at 10.00am

Will.

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In remembrance of Mick Dexter

Dear friends and family,

Mick died this week after a fall at home 2 weeks earlier. His wishes were for a private cremation, and then a celebration of his life. This will be held on 29 June in Ringwood, and you will be warmly invited to attend.

Please take a moment to think of Mick and your times with him.

We will send out more information closer to the date.

With love,

Sue, Jen, Rob, Jera and our families

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Sad News: Vale Mick Dexter

Our beloved Mick Dexter has sadly passed away.

Mick was a stalwart in the Heathmont Community and along with his wife Liz was much loved by all.

Mick and his beautiful Liz provided an incredibly generous contribution to the conservation of Heathmont’s unique biodiversity with the setting aside of land for a bush reserve.  This was a long journey of restoration that Mick and Liz embarked on over 4-decades ago and they have left a legacy for all of us to enjoy and love; and a piece of one of the most diverse patches of bushland in Maroondah.

Farewell Mick- it has been an honour and a privilege to have known you.

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Habitat Pod Building Session

Eco Warriors Australia is a not-for-profit environmental group based in the Yarra Valley.  With support from Maroondah Council, we are running two habitat pod building sessions at Warrien Reserve, Croydon North on Tuesday 8 April 2025.  

Details
Come join us for a fun session where we will be building habitat pods for our local wildlife. This hands-on activity is great for ages 8+ and no experience is necessary. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with nature and give back to the environment! We can’t wait to see you there!

When: 8 April 2025 (morning session: 10-11am and afternoon session: 12-1pm)

Where: Warrien Reserve, Croydon NorthDetails (morning session): https://bit.ly/4h1WAHs

Details (afternoon session): https://bit.ly/4hYIdVW

Best wishes,
Fiona

—

www.ecowarriorsaustralia.org

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Planetary Health & Reproduction Webinar

Tuesday, 26th November from 7 – 9pm.

It will feature three members from the VEFN Committee:

  • Dr Nadine Richings – speaking about the concepts of Planetary Health
  • Dr Laura Mumaw – covering how to take action at home with examples from Gardens for Wildlife Program
  • Jessica Gerger – demonstrating action on a community level with her work with Friends for Kororoit Creek

Further details are in the attached flyer.

Webinar Registration – Zoom

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Heathmont Bushcare AGM and Xmas Soiree

 When: 1st December 

Where: Uambi (enter Allens Road gate opposite The Boulevard)

Time: 5.30PM – 8.00PM

Guest speaker:  Nalini from Boobook Wildlife Shelter 

BBQ sausages and drinks provided 

Please bring a small plate 

  • Nalini will be selling her cards and calendars. Money raised from selling these items goes towards helping our wildlife, so please bring some cash if you would like to make a purchase