The goats have caused quite a sensation in their new, temporary home, along the Belgrave railway line close to HE Parker. They are already making a difference to the environment by chomping their way through the weeds at a great rate. Thanks to Gwyn Davies for these photos.
Got any great goat photos, or photos of the local environment that would look good on our website? If so, email them to heathmontbushcare@wordpress.com
Hi everyone,
Many thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who turned out to help erect the fencing for the goats this morning. They are happily installed in their new environment, and already making their presence felt on the weeds. Apparently they love Cootamundra Wattle and pampas grass! If you weren’t able to make the working bee this morning, please do pop down and visit the goats which you will find enclosed along the Belgrave railway line at HE Parker Reserve. There are 7 of them, so it would be great if everyone could keep an eye on them and make sure they are OK.
If you see anything concerning, please contact Roger Lord (Maroondah City Council) on 0429 189 583, or Colin Arnold (GrazeAway) on 0448 222 248.
Finally, please mark the date of our next working bee: Sunday 7th March at Uambi.
All the best,
Will. Harper.
–
Heathmont Bushcare
email: heathmontbushcare@gmail.com
Website: https://heathmontbushcare.com/
Looking forward to seeing everyone at our 1st Working Bee for 2021.
Date: Sunday 7th Feb
Time: 10.00am (although some helpers to assist with fence transportation/placement at 9.00am would be wonderful)
Place: Meet at 3rd Heathmont Scout Hall at HE Parker Reserve.
Some members of Heathmont Bushcare may well be interested in the latest from Conservation Volunteers Australia: https://conservationvolunteers.com.au/what-we-do/
Please see below for an email directed to Heathmont Bushcare. If anyone has an interest in the matter and would like to contact Alex, I have included his contact details below.
Hello,
I am writing to gauge the opinion of Heathmont Bushcare of the proposed Heathmont multi-level car park.
I have a number of concerns regarding the proposal, namely: – a multi-level carpark was never part of the Heathmont village master plan, which was approved with community consultation- a multi-level construction in such a prominent location would have significant visual impact, and detract from the village style character of Heathmont- the requirement for the removal of a number of established, native trees on the site which are an extension of the FC Rodgers reserve (the home of many rare native species of plants).- traffic flow at the Campbell street/Canterbury road intersection, which is problematic already.- the purchase of the land by council in early 2020 to facilitate the development, to the tune of >$4m, indicating that the development is a ‘done deal’ already.
Another resident and I are putting together a campaign to request adequate community consultation. I have (just tonight) started an online petition.
We are keen to hear your feedback and whether you’d be willing to support this campaign.
Kind regards,
Alex Kingsbury
alexbkingsbury@gmail.com
Dear friends of Heathmont Bushcare,
Hope everyone has had an enjoyable festive season and looking forward to a COVID restriction free 2021!
Following our pre Xmas gathering at Uambi and Colin Arnold’s (from GrazeAway) inspiring talk regarding how goats can help manage our bushland remnants, it is with great anticipation that we can commence this exciting project along the Heathmont Railway Line. The project will focus on the railway reserve land and non-fenced areas between The Greenway and Armstrong Road.
Our first working bee will be about setting the fence enclosure along the railway line between The Greenway and Armstrong Road; and releasing the goats (under Colin’s direction)!
Colin will be supplying the temporary fence panels (and goats).
As there is a bit of work here it would be much appreciated if some volunteers could turn-up earlier – say 9.00AM – to help deposit the fence panels along the railway line reserve so they can be easily setup after 10.00 – when hopefully we will have a few more to help. Also it would be very helpful if a few can bring a portable drill – so we quickly screw the panels together (screw bits will be supplied).
Dear friends of, and volunteers with, Heathmont Bushcare,
The year has been a very disrupted one and we haven’t been able to carry out many of the activities we usually would. However, we are hoping that usual working bees will resume on the 1st weekend in February. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who has continued to care for our local environment in 2020, and a very happy, safe and relaxing Christmas to you all.
Please take a moment to view the video celebrating environmental volunteering in 2020 – see below.
Hi All
Hope you are keeping well and enjoying the increasing freedom of a COVID free Victoria.
It would be great to see everyone before the year is out and David and Will have kindly suggested gathering at Uambi on Sunday 6 December (10.00AM onwards) for a cuppa, cake and a catch-up.
David and Will have done a mountain of work at Uambi through the lock down period – so we could enjoy the fruits of their hard-work – and take a stroll along the now well established and signed trail.
Hope you can make it and looking forward to seeing you – please ensure you bring your own cup and wear a mask.
Best regards
Roger
With the welcome easing of restrictions, we are hoping to hold a small gathering at Uambi on Sunday 6th November. We are also hoping to have a briefing from Colin Arnold about an exciting new project being organised by Roger Lord.
Time: 10.00am -12.00pm
Place: Uambi. 24 Allens Rd, Heathmont. 3135
Thanks to Anthony Bigelow for these lovely macro shots.
Take a peaceful wander through Uambi and check out some of the beautiful wildflowers in bloom at the moment.
That’s right! Uambi is once again open to the public.
A considerable amount of work has been done to clear the paths of fallen trees and to fell trees that were leaning dangerously across the paths. Many thanks to Ben from the Trust for Nature for his work in organising the tree fellers to complete their work so promptly.
We’d love to see out (obeying social distancing instructions of course) and enjoying the wonderful natural environment of Uambi.
Uambi update. Friday 4th Sept.
During the recent storm, Uambi suffered considerable damage in the form of fallen trees.
Much work has already been carried out to clear paths. However, there are still several trees leaning dangerously across the paths. Contractors have been hired to fell these trees, and this work will be done as soon as they are available to do it. (Suddenly, they are very busy!)
We hope to have Uambi open again by next weekend (12th Sept).
Thank you for your understanding – we are doing all we can to open Uambi as soon as possible.
The Uambi Committee of Management.
Due to storm damage, Uambi is closed until further notice. Please do NOT enter.
We will let you know when it is safe to enter again – hopefully soon!
Heathmont’s remaining sugar gilders need help, and you can be part of the solution. This project invites residents to become stewards for wild life.
It wasn’t that long ago Sugar Gliders were a common sight in Heathmont, emerging at dusk and flying past you to their supper. With wildlife corridors critical for our native fauna to survive and thrive, yet due to urban pressures many are disappearing unnoticed.
Sugar gliders are a keystones species that will help us map remaining wildlife corridors. This project, spearheaded by First Friends of Dandenong Creek, and supported by Maroondah Council and Abzeco, records glider occupancy in specially designed, strategically placed nesting boxes. The boxes will be installed in reserves, schools and gardens. Trained experts will check their occupancy regularly and document the findings. Findings will inform a corridor strategy for the Heathmont area that First Friends of Dandenong Creek and Maroondah Council can use to protect, maintain and enhance our corridors. With increasing urban development, the unseen corridors they live and travel in are disappearing.
Residents can join a monitoring group or host a ‘nest box’ tree home for gliders in their garden. There are 100 new nest boxes to be placed. Monitors will connect with like-minded others in a biannual audit (depending upon COVID restrictions) of gliders in boxes. Furthermore, they will know that their findings will help inform a dynamic corridor development strategy.
If you are interested in supporting this work and can host a nest box in your garden or school, then please contact us at: ffdc1999@gmail.com
Please note, you must fall within the Sugar Glider survey zone, which is the area bordered by Canterbury Road, Heathmont Road, Dandenong Creek and Wantirna Road.
Wish to thank Hon. Michael Sukkar MP for supporting our application to the Federal Government’s Communities Environment Program
Anthony Bigelow
First Friends of Dandenong Creek
Many thanks to Nalini Scarfe for permission to use the gorgeous photos of sugar gliders seen on this page.
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.
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
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 