SPRING ’09 NEWSLETTER
Welcome all. It’s spring time already and with good seasonal rains the landscape is very lush and our recent revegetation plantings are looking healthy too. National Tree Day was a success and the plants are looking well. We still have some more planting to be done on our Harris on Merri site.
As you have probably read in the local paper, the Whale season has been the best for years with numerous sightings along the coastline. There has been a large and loyal contingent of volunteer whale watchers rewarded with numerous sightings and identifying the whales in sometimes horrific weather. Penguin chicks have also been found in nests on Middle Island, early for this time of year.
There has been a good membership intake this year and thanks to all those members who are being active in supporting the group’s projects and activities. As a further reward to members, we hope to have a field trip to an area of significance in the final part of the year depending on the availability of funding (it’s a bit tight this year). We will definitely be having a clean up of the Merri by kayak/bbq in National Water Week.
Community Awareness & the Coast
Community awareness along the coast with sightings of marine phenomenon and reporting it to the relevant agencies can result in scientist rushing to the site to gain valuable scientific knowledge of specimens generally inaccessible to research.
Recent reporting of a pod of common dolphins in Port Phillip Bay and a blue whale washed up at Rye beach has led to great excitement along Victoria’s coast. Community tip-offs play a large part in making the most of these rare opportunities. Other things worth reporting include pollution, suspicious activities, interesting sightings and strange animal behaviour.
With community involvement we can start to unravel the mysteries of Victoria’s stunning marine environments and who knows, you might be the catalyst in the next scientific discovery. (Taken from Coast to Coast Magazine, Winter, pg 4, Ben Camm)
State Landcare Awards
Continuing on with the success from the Clean Beaches Awards where we won the Environmental Innovation Award earlier this year, we have reached the finals of the 2009 State Landcare Awards, The South West Maremma Dog Project, Coastcare Award Section. In nominating our group along with the Point Danger Committee of Management in Portland, we are seeking recognition for the world’s first trial where Maremma dogs are guarding colonies of native animals from predatory foxes (Middle Island - Penguins & Point Danger - Gannets).
Also at the awards ceremony will be another finalist Don Mc Taggart in the Individual Landcarer Award Section. Don, our Group Leader was nominated by John Amor, for his dedicated volunteer efforts within the WCLG. A small entourage of SW volunteers from Portland and Warrnambool are going down to attend the ceremony at Government House in Melbourne on September 8th at a special morning ceremony.
Your Chance to Contribute
Just a little more to add on to the Award ceremony - for the first time there will be a Peoples Choice Award this year. All final nominees will have an online profile that can be viewed at the Victorian Landcare Heroes website, at http://vic.landcareheroes.com . Go to ‘vote now’ for the one you think is most deserving. So please vote now for South West Maremma Dog Project, and your small effort may bring some profile and well needed sponsorship dollars to our great projects. Voting closes 8.00am Sep. 7th
Whale Watch Report
Mandy Watson, the Senior NRM / Biodiversity Officer at the DSE, has been reporting that this years whale season is ‘fantastic for SRW’s off SE Australia’. After a recent fly over between Logan’s Beach and Portland she sighted 27 SRW’s within two hours. There were:
- 4 cows and calves plus 2 single adults at Logan’s Beach
- one single adult off Levy’s beach
- 10 adults in a large mating aggregation at Port Fairy
- 3 other cows and calves in the Portland area
’The mating activities at Port Fairy were fascinating to see and I managed to get quite a few IDs from that group’ Mandy said. There were also reports of SRW’s at Lorne, Apollo Bay, Port Phillip, Gippsland and even off the coasts of NSW and Tasmania.
Meanwhile, we must thank the loyal brigade of Logan’s Beach volunteer whale watchers who are there daily in all weather conditions, gathering useful data for scientific purposes.
National Tree Day
Our group had a successful community planting day on August 2nd at the Granny’s Grave area of the Coastal Reserve. Having a National Tree Day registered site, we attracted 130 eager ‘planters’ who took no time to put in the 3,000 plus plants. It was great to see many families doing something together. A rare sight these days.
There were lots of giveaways, a Prius on display and a BBQ to round the day off. Thanks to WCC, Savings & Loans and Warrnambool Toyota for their generosity and to Kate McInnes and the site leaders for their skills.
Penguin Arrival Counts
Middle Island has been experiencing a double breeding season this year with a few fledglings being observed over winter with one chick weighing in at 500gm. This is said to be a very good sign as food sources must be in abundance close by. Last year for the first time since the fox massacre in 2003, the number of penguins tallied over 100, showing they will increase with our maremma and environmental programs in place.
Because of this activity, Kristie King would like to start the Little Penguin arrival counts a few weeks early this year. Plans are being made to start in September/October (weather permitting) with fortnightly intervals during the breeding season.
If you have previously registered with Kristie she will be contacting you soon with the time table and other details. If you would like to be part of program and help in the gathering of data used for scientific purposes, you can register by contacting:-
Kristie King
Little Penguin Arrival Monitoring Coordinator
Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group
Mobile: 0409531734
Email: kristieking14 at yahoo.com.au (Please replace "at" with "@" . This is so SpamBots wont find Kristies email address)
Participants do need to be reasonably fit and expect to get wet when crossing to and from the Island. As there are a large number of potential participants on Kristie’s mailing list, 12 monitors are usually selected for each count on a ‘first in’ basis. You will need to advise Kristie of your availability for that count and she will get back to you advising you of your acceptance. If you haven’t been on a count, try it.
As some of the participants say ‘this is an adventure worth experiencing”. At the end of the season, participation Certificates are issued.
Biodiesel Plant in Wetlands!
Where in Australia is a fat rendering plant (knackery) nestled in between a primal sand dune and a vast wetland/estuary system? Warrnambool of course! And do you believe that plant should be allowed to be given a permit to increase its size in order to construct and operate a biodiesel facility. No! That is the case as an application permit for this facility is about to go back to WCC in early September. At our April General Meeting we endorsed a letter of objection that was sent to the WCC. A decision on the application (for different reasons) was delayed.
Only one councillor, Jacinta Ermacora, is actively pursuing to halt the expansion while the others are yet to decide. Sadly, the DSE and the CMA have not been able to object to the proposal because of legal technicalities with the application. Surely common sense, tourism loss, a potential petroleum spill and the smell that already exists are reason enough to object to it -
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Some concerned community members have just formed a group to voice their objection in the hope of persuading the council’s decision against the expansion. Calling themselves the Merri Wetlands Protection Group, their aim is to stop the biodiesel expansion and encourage the long term relocation of the rendering plant. The new group has already pointed out that that an Environmental Effects Study should be completed before any decision is made. There is already some concern about the obligations of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan and the rail trail going past the plant. For more information and involvement ph John Shortcliffe 5562 7977.
Climate Change Awareness
It seems that everyday now we hear the word climate change and how it may or may not affect us. Scientist have predicted extremes in temperatures and weather patterns. The Victorian Governments prediction (for planning agencies) is a sea level rise of .8 meters by 2100, which if correct will obviously change our landscape around the coast and estuaries.
This impact has already got Councils and state agencies planning and accessing the coastal hazard risk of vulnerable areas.
Environmental, what do we do as groups and individuals towards future changes? I suspect that most of us have already started doing something like changing the light bulbs, shorter showers and stop using plastic bags. More people are starting to use public transport, walk or ride to work.Much more can be done.
Some Landcare groups in Victoria have already extended their activities into home energy audits, compost workshops and vegetable seed swaps. Assisting this process is coming from newly formed sustainability groups who in turn, are gaining support through existing Landcare groups, with members sympathetic to both groups. The sustainability members join Landcare and become members, and thus they are insured for public events and activities with obvious benefits for both groups in organising activities.
What has been happening in Warrnambool? In short, lots and lots.
- We are fortunate to have the SW Sustainability Partnership Inc, who are the driving force behind the Greenhouse Alliance. As mentioned in our Winter ’09 Newsletter, the GA has started a SMART LIVING series of workshops raising awareness and helping to build the capacity of our community and adapt to climate change. (enquiries to join future workshops 5564 8881 – Marty Gent)
- WCC have formed an internal Green Environmental Team (GET) to formulate ideas and have employed a full time environmental planner. They are currently writing a sustainable transport strategy paper with community input. Waste and energy audits are constantly being conducted with a strong environmental and biodiversity focus.
- Groups like SW Climate Change Forum www.swccf.com.au and Portland Sustainability Group www.energised.com.au/psg
- A Home Sustainability Assessment program has commenced which recommends sustainable improvements to your home or rental, and entitles you to an interest free Green Loan up to $10,000, to carry out the work. Contact local assessor and WCLG member, Sam Tuck for more details – 0400 391 160 – or visit www.environment.gov.au/greenloans
- Web sites like the Natural Strategies Group have produced a Sustainable Living Guide giving excellent tips and inspirations that can reduce our impact on the environment and increase our general well being. The site also advises on the availability of current government rebates and schemes.
Weed Warrior Program
The Weed Warrior program involving East & Merrivale PS’s and Warrnambool College have bred leaf hoppers in their classrooms this year and released them on our South Warrnambool Wetland sites. There has been a further reduction in the Bridal Creeper (Weed of National Significance) in the release sites. The students had a fantastic release day, and expanded their program by spending time with John Amor from Coast Action Coast Care learning about the Coast at Pickering Point, working with the Green Corps crew planting indigenous plants near the new boardwalk (thanks to Kate from WCC for organising that) and learning about the Orange Bellied Parrot. Biological rust, released last year, was observed in July and this will further reduce the impact of the creeper. The Biological control agents do take longer to work, but we are starting to see some results. Nicole Wood-Coordinator
Hooded Plover
Email from Birds Australia
The threatened Hooded Plover is one of the beach-nesting birds that live along the Victorian coast. The Hooded Plover breeds on ocean beaches over the summer and in turn is subject to increased threats during their breeding season, which has just begun. The first nests have been found on the Bellarine Peninsular, so our little fellers should be doing the same.
At Birds Australia we are gathering information about these birds in order to help manage and conserve this species into the future. To do this we need help from volunteers. We ask volunteers to monitor Hooded Plover nests and we will provide training, so no experience is necessary. We are particularly in need of volunteers to monitor nests on beaches near Warrnambool, Killarney and Port Fairy, If you are interested in spending your summer at the beach, while gathering vital information that will help us to understand this threatened species, then email Megan Cullen, m.cullen@birdsaustralia.com.au or www.birdsaustralia.com.au/beach
News In Brief
- WCC in conjunction with WCLG and others will be holding a ‘Dirty Weekend’ in October 10th with workshops on home composting, weed ID and disposal at the Warrnambool Community Gardens site on October 10th. See WCC advertising and WCLG updates for more info.
- SW TAFE now offer the Diploma of Conservation & Land Management ONLINE with practical workshops tailored to your learning.
- Barry Peter’s has informed us that his Environmental CD If You Live On My Island has been selling really well. His web site is worth checking out. www.barrypeters.com.au
- The South West Environmental Action Group has a new name and a new president, Heidi Wisniewski. They now call themselves the Warrnambool Environmental Action Group. For Sustainable House Day on Sep 13th they have organised 3 examples of sustainable homes in Warrnambool. Details are available on web site. www.sustainablehouseday.com/
Our AGM is to be held in November this year. Guest presenter for our October meeting will be an Al Gore trained Climate Change Ambassador, Bec Phyland