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

Dear Heathmont bushcarers,

Regrettably, due to the ongoing Covid 19 situation in Victoria, there will be no Bushcare working bee this Sunday 5th July. We hope that by September we can all meet again at Uambi.

In the meantime, stay well and perhaps take the opportunity to visit some of the bushland in Maroondah. I attach a link to Maroondah Council’s interactive map of walking trails and bushland in Maroondah.

https://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/Explore/About-our-city/Maps-of-Maroondah/Maroondah-interactive-transport-map

Hi All

Hope you are all well.

With Covid -19 restrictions now partially lifted it is allowable that we can gather for outside activities (with no more than 20 people) and have a working bee.

So if you feel like getting out and catching-up, come and join us at Dexter’s (46 Dickasons Road Heathmont) this Sunday.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!

In light of the Covid-19 Virus and Stage 3 restrictions no further working bees will be held until further notice. Please take care everyone and we look forward to gathering again in the near future.

Hope you and family well.

Cheers

Roger Lord 
Team Leader Environmental Planning 
Maroondah City Council  Braeside Ave Ringwood
T 03 9298 4422 | M 0428 161 685 | F 03 9298 4345

Sign the Safe Climate Declaration by clicking on this link

Last Sunday 9th Feb, Heathmont Bushcare had a presence at the Local Sustainability Fair  which was sponsored by Transition Towns Maroondah. The fair attracted a sizeable number of people keen to learn more about how we can all lead more sustainable lives, and about what local people and businesses are doing to lessen their impact on the planet. Heathmont Bushcare’s stall was one of many and drew a constant stream of people interested to discover more about the work that we do in making Heathmont an even better place to live. Many were also keen to see how many of the insects, commonly found in the Heathmont area, that they could identify and what they could do to help establish insect friendly environments. You can also test yourself – see below! Many thanks to Gwyn for organising Heathmont Bushcare’s presence at this fair and for everyone who assisted on the day.

How many of the insects pictured here can you identify??

Insects – Links on how to help and answers to the identification quiz above.

Heathmont Bushcare Calendar 2020

In February of 2020, Melbourne is hosting the National Climate Emergence Summit in place of the usual Sustainable Living Festival.

To find out more information about this amazing event and to register for tickets, check out the link below!

https://www.climateemergencysummit.org/

Saturday 7 December, 10:30 to 12:30pm
Ages 7+  Tickets: $5
Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery
32 Greenwoood Ave, Ringwood

As part of the R & M McGivern Prize exhibition The Anthropocene kids can join artist Aviva Reed in a collaborative art/ ecology workshop. Learn about what connects us with the environment and each other as a way to build a stronger, healthier and happier world. Learn about ecologies by making art with watercolour, charcoal and paper and take home your very own creations!

Art and Ecology Flyer

Bookings: www.trybooking.com/BGIRY
Ph: 9298 4553

The R & M McGivern Prize is on at Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery and ArtSpace at Realm from 23 November 2019 to 1 February 2020.

Hold the date!!

Come celebrate 25 years of Heathmont Bushcare at Federation Estate (Ringwood) on Sunday 15 December 2019 between 12.00 – 4.00PM.

Lunch and drinks will be served.

To mark the occasion, please think about sharing your Heathmont Bushcare story(ies) and photos (if you have any).

RSVP: Please email Roger.Lord@maroondah.vic.gov.au to confirm your attendance and advise of any special dietary requirements before the 9th December.  Also, please email me your photos before this date.

Roger Lord

Flyer for Wanderslore Sanctuary Bushland Open Day!

Wanderslore Open Day Flyer