The Living Links Committee invites you to the

LIVING LINKS CONFERENCE 2024

to

THANK YOU

with a celebration of volunteer achievements and to share the amazing work that has been achieved in the Dandenong Creek Catchment.

Hear from other environment volunteers, Friends Groups and experts about what they have learnt along the way.

Followed by FREE lunch and optional Tatterson Wetlands Guided Walk.

We are seeking expressions of interest from group members who wish to present their learnings at the conference or host a table discussion.

Please contact Sam at servicepartnerships@melbournewater.com.au or 0457 953 005 by April 8^th 2024.

Date: Sunday 5th May 2024

Time: 10am – 1pm (followed by lunch & optional walk)

Where: Tatterson Pavillion, 400 Cheltenham Road, Keysborough

Catering: morning tea & lunch are provided.

Register by 14th April 2024 at: Living Links Conference 2024 | Humanitix

Just confirming that our next working bee will be held at the Goat Site on Heathmont Rd, opposite the Heathmont 3rd Scout Hall.

Apologies for the inaccuracy of our calendar – our meeting point will be at the Goat Site (not end of Allens Rd as stated in the calendar).

Looking forward to seeing many people there – the weather looks excellent for some bush care work!

Hi everyone, I hope you all had an enjoyable, restful and fun Christmas/ New Year. Please see below our Heathmont Bushcare calendar for 2024.

You will see that our first working bee of the year is at the Lobelia and Alisma Swamps at HE Parker reserve. We will meet at the end of Pett Court, Heathmont, at 10.00am.

If you are new to Heathmont Bushcare, you are very welcome. We look forward to meeting you. Please bring some gloves and a mug if you would like to join us for a cup of tea/coffee after the working bee.

Will.

Sadly, due to low numbers, Roger has decided to cancel the Heathmont Bushcare Christmas gathering, scheduled for the evening of Sunday 3rd Dec.

At this stage, the forecast looks OK for our working bee on the morning of Sunday 3rd and will therefore continue as planned – meet at the end of Pett Court at 10.00am.

To all members of Heathmont Bushcare, thank you for your wonderful efforts during 2023. I’ll look forward to seeing you all in 2024, but until then, wishing you all a very happy Christmas!

Will.

Maroondah is participating in the Great Southern Bioblitz (GSB), and you are invited to join too! The GSB is an annual, four-day, citizen science event focused on springtime in the Southern Hemisphere, running from Friday 24 November to Monday 27 November 2023.

Council will be running a number of nature discovery activitiesduring the four days to help you explore, discover and learn about the rich biodiversity that Maroondah is home to.

To learn more visit the Great Southern Bioblitz event page.

Wendy Catling (daughter of Pam) has a new exhibition opening at Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery this week – “Dear Neighbour”. The opening night is 6pm on Thursday 16th November and all are welcome. 

Since 2021, Wendy Catling has captured photographs and collected texts that reflect subtle undercurrents of life in Ringwood, her home suburb in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia, through a period when the impact of social, technological and environmental factors continue to challenge the collective psyche.

More details at: https://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/Explore/Whats-on-in-Maroondah/Events-calendar/Dear-Neighbour

Keep the date free!

·       Heathmont bush carers are invited to a Xmas BBQ

·       When: Sunday evening 3^rd December from 5.00 onwards 

·       Where: 31 Eden Valley Road Warranwood

·       Food and drink: Meat, vegetarian food and salads will be available.  Also beer and wine available.

·       BYO: A small plate of your liking – if you wish

·       RSVP:  1^st December to rogsuelord@bigpond.com

NB  As we have our last working bee that day suggest we finish early and save our cakes and treats for the BBQ

Celebrate the centenary of the naming of Heathmont in 1923.

Heathmont Bushcare and the Heathmont History Group invite you to help celebrate 100 years of the naming of Heathmont by visiting each of Heathmont’s nature reserves during the weekend of 9th and 10th September.

Visit as many reserves as you like – why not take the dog and the kids for a walk outdoors and visit a reserve you’ve never been to before. Who knows what you might find?

• Wombolano Park
• H.E. Parker Reserve
• Heathmont Park
• Dexter’s Bush
• Scott Street Reserve
• Dandenong Creek Trail

• Herman Pump Reserve: 
  • Saturday 9th Sept: 1.30pm to 4.00pm: Rock hunt and painting, treasure hunt, story telling under the pines, nature play area, chalk art on the path and a free sausage sizzle.

• Uambi Reserve: 

    Sunday 10th Sept:

• 10.00am to 12.00pm: Working Bee. All welcome. Come along and learn more about Heathmont’s flora and how to care for it.

• 12.00pm: Welcome to country ceremony performed by Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Ringo Terrick

• 12.00pm to 2.00pm: BBQ (paid) put on by the Heathmont 3rd Scouts group

• FJC Rogers Reserve:
  • Sunday 10.00am to 2.00pm. Members of the Heathmont History Group will be present to welcome you to the reserve and chat about the history of Heathmont ands its beautiful nature reserves. 

Family activities to complete on the weekend of 9th -10th September:

Spring is a beautiful time to visit Heathmont’s beautiful nature reserves. Whilst visiting, you could:

• Spot 9 insects
• See a butterfly
• Rest on a seat or a log
• Take photos of 9 leaves
• Shut your eyes for 2 minutes 
• Locate the tallest tree 
• Observe the clouds
• Find a plant which has an aroma 
• See 4 species of wattle
• Spot 4 different species of birds
• Listen for all the different natural sounds – how many can you hear?
• Take photos of 9 different wildflowers – upload them to iNaturalist
• Buy lunch from one of Heathmont’s many cafes and enjoy a picnic in a reserve
• Spot a toadstool or some fungi

https://www.actforbirds.org/bird-hunting/vic-2023

If anyone would like to sign the petition to help put an end to native bird hunting, please click on the link above.

Celebrate the centenary of the naming of Heathmont in 1923.

Heathmont Bushcare and the Heathmont History Group invite you to help celebrate 100 years of the naming of Heathmont by visiting each of Heathmont’s nature reserves during the weekend of 9th and 10th September.

Visit as many reserves as you like – why not take the dog and the kids for a walk outdoors and visit a reserve you’ve never been to before. Who knows what you might find?

• Wombolano Park
• H.E. Parker Reserve
• Heathmont Park
• Wieland Reserve
• Dexter’s Bush
• Scott Street Reserve
• F.J.C. Rogers Reserve
• Herman Pump Reserve. Activities organised for Saturday 9th Sept, between 1.30pm to 4.00pm, include a rock hunt and painting, treasure hunt, story telling under the pines, a nature play area, chalk art on the path and a free sausage sizzle.
• Uambi Reserve. Activity organised for Sunday 10th Sept between 12.00pm to 2.00pm include a BBQ (paid) put on by the Heathmont 3rd Scouts group, and a working bee beginning at 10.00am. All welcome. Come along, help out, and learn a bit about Heathmont’s native flora.

Stay tuned for more activities as they are announced. 

MAROONDAH SCHOOLS CITIZEN SCIENCE EVENT

Maroondah schools – teachers, students and families – are invited to participate in a special National Biodiversity Month event in September to help local plants, birds, insects and other species survive and thrive.

A special event as part of September’s National Schools Citizen Science B&B BioBlitz

Plant, insect and citizen science experts will help identify local flora and fauna species and guide participants on a bug and biodiversity quest. Learn how to take observations of local species, find out what they are, and how you can upload observations to biodiversity databases including iNaturalist, a free citizen science app! 

Special prizes for young biodiversity warriors. 

Deep dive into local plants, birds, bees and the ‘how to’ of citizen science.

When: Saturday, September 2nd,

         10:30am -12pm

Where: Eastfield Park & Tarralla Creek Wetlands,

          119 Eastfield Rd, Croydon VIC 3136

·      Find out how to take great close-up photographs and how to submit species’ observations 

·      Help biodiversity experts to fill the information gaps!

·      You might discover a species or find one that hasn’t been seen for decades!

·      Learn about citizen science links to STEM curriculum

·      Win an Optus Smart phone and fabulous macro lenses for your Smart device

·      PlantingSeeds experts, Madeline Taylor and Monique Burns, will deliver presentations and there will be fun activities for all ages!

Register here

Supported by the Eastern Alliance for Sustainable Learning, Environment Education Victoria, the CSIRO’s Atlas of Living Australia, Optus, & the Department of Education.

 For more information visit the B&B BioBlitz website or email info@ps.org.au

Kind regards,

Madeline Taylor (she/her)

Citizen Science Coordinator

e: madeline@ps.org.au
m: 0449 712 013

https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinetaylorurbanecology/

Please note my workdays are Thursdays

www.ps.org.au
Follow Us @plantingseedsau

I acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which I work, and pay my respects to the Elders, past and present.

On Sunday 6th August, beginning at 10.00am, we would love everybody who can make it to meet at the goat enclosure, on Heathmont Rd near HE Parker, to help revegetate this site. It has been wonderful seeing the goats there, on and off, over the past 24 months or so, but now it is time for the community to get involved to help re-plant this plot of land.

Altogether we hope to plant 1400 little plants in this area and will need all the help we can get.

If you only make it to one working bee this year, try to make it to this one. Please feel very welcome to invite/ coerce all of your friends and family to this event!!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Hi Folks

In preparation for our planting at the goat site on 6 August we need to prepare the site for over 1400 plants – so it would be great if a few volunteers were available on 5 August between 11AM-12 NOON  to drill holes for the plants.  Please bring your digging implements – a power drill with auger is ideal!

Please feel free to ask/ cajole others who you think may be able to assist.

Yours,

Roger Lord

Hi All

For your urgent review!

As you may be aware, as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project  (LXRP), a planned hi-rail access point will result in the removal of, or damage to,  Sites of Biological Significance located along the Heathmont railway, just north of Heathmont Station.  Heathmont Bushcare has been managing one of these sites (named “the Station”) since its beginning in 1994.

A letter expressing Heathmont Bushcare’s concerns is under draft and is to be sent to the relevant State Government Minsters and other relevant authorities.

The main points of the letter and areas of concern/suggestion are provided below and aim to encourage that works avoid Sites of Biological Significance, or minimise impacts to them.

• There appears to have been insufficient review of the environmental values of the area, especially given existing expert knowledge of the sites and their biodiversity values;

• Heathmont Railway line is known for its diversity and extent of its orchid populations, and the subject sites are integral to this;

• Moving endangered plants elsewhere is not likely to be successful and these rare plants will in all likelihood be lost;

• Is there really a need for an access point at Heathmont? There are stretches of railway around the suburbs where access points are considerably further apart. There is already a similar facility 1.8km away in Bayswater North. As part of the process to demonstrate that reasonable steps have been taken to ‘avoid and minimise’ ecological impact we request serious consideration of whether that, or another site, might be a feasible alternative;

• If no alternative site can be found, and this must become an access point:
  • A reduced access point footprint should be considered and biodiversity losses avoided by keeping the project as far south as possible;
  • More creative footprints, as opposed to a simply rectangular one, should be considered, such that areas with native under-storey are avoided and the footprint is concentrated in the currently mown grass areas located to the south.

• Dialogue between the project designers and ecologists who have surveyed the sites’ vegetation must be ensured so as to optimise the accommodation of engineering and environmental objectives;

• There has been no consideration given to existing pedestrian thoroughfare that this access point will impact and how this can be catered for. The area has a lot of pedestrian use;

• The access point and its footprint, including access, fencing and hardstand areas will erode and destroy the amenity of the station area. Heathmont Station and the railway easement are known for their bushland character;

• Railway verges are important sites for remnant and now rare indigenous flora. Heathmont railway verges are no exception. When works such as level crossing removals are planned this needs to be considered and plans adapted accordingly. Once a species is gone, it’s gone. And we have lost many, many plant species already.

Please respond to this email if you any concerns with regards to the messaging proposed.  Your response by the 1 June would be much appreciated (heathmontbushcare@gmail.com). 

Thank you.

Heathmont Bushcare volunteers interested in assisting with this walk are welcome to attend (and if they wish to assist please contact Roger Lord to confirm – Mob 0429 189 583).

·        Date: Sunday 30 April, 2023 

·        Time: 10am to 12noon 

·        Location: H.E. Parker Reserve/Dexter’s Bush, Heathmont. 

·        Facilitator: Julia Franco – botanist and local resident 

Hi everyone, a reminder that the City Nature Challenge begins this Friday, 28th April. It’s a great opportunity for you to get out and about, and to explore Maroondah’s natural environment whilst contributing to citizen science.

As well, there are a variety of free talks run by very knowledgeable people.

More information below and at: https://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/Explore/Whats-on-in-Maroondah/Events-calendar/Event-Public/City-Nature-Challenge-2023?BestBetMatch=Nature%7C87fcc417-222c-4ba9-aedd-c130dcaa4ca6%7C75f2e849-ca12-45ea-bea3-77c411548445%7Cen-AU

Following on from our successful results in the 2022 City Nature Challenge, Maroondah is again participating in 2023 and invites you to help us make it bigger and better than last year!

What is the City Nature Challenge?

The City Nature Challenge is an annual global citizen science event coordinated by the California Academy of Sciences and the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, that was first run in 2016.

In 2022 Maroondah collaborated with 20 other Councils from across metropolitan Melbourne, along with the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, the Entomological Society of Victoria, and Scouts Victoria, to represent Melbourne on the global stage as “Greater Melbourne”.

In 2023 the “Greater Melbourne” collaboration now involves 27 Councils and 9 other organisations.

Participating cities “competed” to see who can make the most observations, find the most species, and engage the most observers in discovering the nature that lives in and around their city.

Watch the official 2023 City Nature Challenge video to view some of the amazing observations of wild plants and animals that people around the world have made in previous challenges.

2023 City Nature Challenge video 

How you can contribute

You can contribute to the challenge directly by using iNaturalist to log your observations of the wild plants and animals you can find in your local area – a nearby creek, a local reserve, or your own backyard – any time from Friday 28 April to Monday 1 May. 

Hi everyone,

Please take note of our updated calendar for 2023.

The Bedford Road level crossing removal projects (LXRP) is proposing a lay down area near the Heathmont Railway line site located north of the Railway Station and immediately south of the Scout Hall, known as site 29b in Maroondah’s Biodiversity report (Lorimer 2020). Refer attached.  Also, along the western railway verge here  there are some locally rare plants, including Tadgell’s Bluebell (Wahlenbergia multicaulis) and the last remaining population of the Salmon Sun Orchid (Thelmitra rubra) within this area.

I have attached a letter sent to residents regarding the project.

It woud be timely if Heathmont Bushcare members could raise their concerns about the proposal by contacting the LXRP via:

contact@levelcrossings.vic.gov.au or 1800 105 105

Remembering that this is the site where Heathmont Bushcare started its campaign in 1994!!

Cheers

Roger Lord 

Dwarf Galaxias are very small, scaleless, fish that are listed as Endangered in Victoria.

A fascinating little fish, they live in shallow, slow-flowing, swamp-like situations but are able to survive periods of dryness if the water body in which they live is also populated with burrowing crayfish. Galaxias utilise the holes of these crayfish in dry events. They can also travel quite long distances between pools, so long as there is very shallow, slow flowing water linking the pools.

Recently, up to 300 Dwarf Galaxias were released into the wetland at Scott St in Heathmont. Based on the cover of aquatic vegetation at this site, it is hoped that it will prove to be a suitable home for the Galaxias, which used to occur commonly in the Dandenong Creek before it was channelled post-war to reduce flooding.

It is very encouraging to see the indigenous vegetation, planted in recent years along the the banks of the creek as it flows through Bayswater along the Heathmont boundary, flourishing.

The re-introduction of the Dwarf Galaxia fish is another significant step towards the rehabilitation of this important waterway.

Maroondah council is asking for the Maroondah community to provide them with feedback on  “where, why and how you play and gather”.

The following is an excerpt from the council website:

“Whether it’s a play in a park, a walk with a friend, a family picnic, workout or an adventure in our bushland, we want to know what you enjoy, and what you think could improve your experiences in open space in Maroondah.

Your feedback will help inform our Play and Gathering Places Strategy, with the vision to provide inclusive places within our open spaces that aim to cater for all cohorts within our community. 

These places will aim to promote gathering, interaction, connection, wellbeing and liveability, that are thoughtfully and sustainably planned to honour Maroondah’s natural environment and culture. 

Complete our five minute survey and drop a pin on our interactive map to share your experiences with play and gathering in Maroondah.” https://yoursay.maroondah.vic.gov.au/play-and-gathering-places?tool=survey_tool#tool_tab

Additionally, there will be a ‘Heathmont 100-year celebration’ to be held at HE Parker on Sunday 26th Feb. As well as enjoying the festivities on this day, this may well be an opportunity to talk to our councillors about the Village Green proposal.

More details here: https://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/Explore/Whats-on-in-Maroondah/Events-calendar/Celebrate-Maroondah-Heathmont-100-year-Celebration-Family-Fun-Day