Newsletter January 2004.Pub

Upper Hopkins Landcare Newsletter February 2004

Contacts Edited by Louise Thomas, Department of Primary Industries Ararat

Technical advice: This bi-monthly newsletter is mailed to around 400 farmers in the following Landcare Groups: Upper Hopkins, Louise Thomas DPI Ararat, Fiery Creek, Buangor, Beaufort and District, Watgania, Willaura-Hopkins, Combined Willaura Groups, Ararat 5355 0526 Lake Bolac. To be added to the mailing list please call Ararat DPI 5355 0526. This newsletter can be emailed if or 0408 535 733 you prefer (its much clearer and looks good in colour!). Large print copies can also be made available. CMA grants and technical advice: Peter Forster Glenelg-Hopkins CMA Steep Hill Pasture 5355 0530 or 0418 802 875 Landcare Group Field Day Draws Facilitators: Una Allender: the Crowds Upper Hopkins 5350 4244 A field day was held in November on Ararat Rural City Environmental issues John and Helen Stevens’ property at Virginia Harris 5355 0200 Warrak, to look at perennial pasture Assistance for Community establishment in hill country. The day Groups: was a huge success with around 74 people viewing the pasture trial plots, which contain Thea Laidlaw CMA Beaufort more than 22 grass species plus chicory and plantain. Farmers came from as far away as to Ballarat 0417 337818 Seymour and Maryborough to see the trial. The trial came about after a local farmer Rabbits: Greg Akers DPI workshop held several years ago identified that perennial pasture establishment and Ararat 5355 0534 or 0418 persistence were major obstacles in hill country management. This is the “sister-site” to 599469 the grazing management trial in the Challicum Hills where another successful field day was Gorse Buangor-Ararat: held earlier last year. Between the two sites, researchers are aiming to come up with a Simon Martin DPI Ballarat 5336 6760 or 0408 594 785 range of pasture species sowing recommendations suited to the hills as well as optimum Indigenous Cultural grazing regimes for existing hill pastures in order to obtain maximum cover of desirable Heritage Management perennial pasture species. This will help prevent erosion and recharge to the groundwater Framlingham: Herbie as well as raising productivity in hill country. For further information or a copy of the field Harradine 5567 1236 day notes please contact Louise Thomas DPI Ararat on 5355 0526 or Darren Keating on Ballarat: Peter Lovett DPI Hamilton 5573 0739. 0409 391 475 Goolum Goolum (Horsham): Alan Burns 5381 2365 Conservation agreements, Woody Weed War on Waterways Day grants, technical advice: The Glenelg Hopkins CMA and the Department of Primary Industries are hosting Sue Mudford, Trust for a Woody Weed Control and Waterway Information day on the 17th February. The Nature tel/fax 5599 5223 day will commence at 9.30am and finish at around 1.30pm. Don’t miss your Pasture and sheep management: Darren chance to keep up with the latest control methods for Woody Weeds such as Keating DPI Hamilton Gorse as well as viewing ongoing gorse control sites on Middle and Fiery Creeks. 5573 0739 The day will start at the property of Bill and Gwen Twigg, Western Highway Farm Forestry: Martin Middle Creek - CFA Map 394 E6 (follow field day sign). We will travel between Clark DPI Hamilton the three sites by car convoy (diesel vehicles only please-car pooling can be 5573 0725 arranged at first site). Greening Australia The “Gorse Groomer” James Scholfield 5571 2806 Demonstrations and Talks include: • Live demonstration of the “Gorse Grooming” In This Edition machine (Weather dependant) • Nature Page p2 • Initial and follow up control options • Salinity Incentives p3 • Waterway fencing and stock access • Salinity results p4&5 • Sustainable management of waterways • Grass seed harvesting p6 Please RSVP to Simon Martin at DPI Ballarat on • Cultural heritage day p6 5336 6760 or 0408 594 785 or Peter Forster CMA Ararat on 5355 0530 by the • Another Find P7 13th February. Please BYO lunch but light refreshments will be provided. • Boundary Fencing p8 Page 2 Bird Watchers’ and Field Nat’s Reports

Joan Pitaro -Ararat and District Field Naturalists Irene Sturt, President Friends of

The Field Naturalists have had a break over the holiday period and our Lake Buninjon formal excursions will begin again in March. We thought that readers may be interested in the results, so far, of some studies that are taking place at At Lake Buninjon there Doug Hopkins’ property “Challicum”. Peter Homan from the Department are a number of waders, of Applied and Environmental Sciences, RMIT and his assistant Maryrose including Black winged Morgan are conducting studies of the vertebrates on the property. The Stilts, studies began in December 2002 and are intended to be long term. Studies Whiskered Tern Red-capped Plovers, Red- are done 5 times per year and each visit covers four nights. The results so shown above from necked Stints, and Sharp-tailed far have been rather interesting. Neville W. Cayley’s Sandpipers. Whiskered Terns Mammals- 16 species of mammal , 3 of these introduced ( excluding the book What Bird is swoop overhead. At first glance sheep) and the other 13 are native. 8 species of bats have been identified That? Angus and the Terns look similar to a with the most interesting being the Eastern False Pipistrelle as this species Robertson seagull but they have a black normally occurs in the wetter tall forests. A large number of bats are using Publishers, 1984 head and point their beak down Doug’s old garage as their nursery. Doug also has platypus in the as they fly, dipping into the permanent pool near his house and it is great to see these surviving in what water frequently. They also fly over crops in a is a seasonal creek. Black (Swamp) Wallabies are found and it has been noted that over recent years these wallabies have extended their range similar manner. A large numbers of Black Swans considerably. and Coots drift along and a small flock of Australasian Grebes bob up and down with their Reptiles - 7 species of reptiles have been observed, 3 snakes and 4 skinks. fluffy bottoms and longer necks making them The tussock skink has not been recorded previously in this area. Previous easy to pick from ducks. records are 100 km to the south east. It is quite possible that these skinks are reasonably common in this area but has not been found before In Willaura, a smallish garden in town can host because few studies have been done. unexpected bird life. A Collared Sparrowhawk

Amphibians – 6 species of frog have been seen or heard with the most paid us a very brief visit alighting on a gum tree exciting being the Growling Grass frog – a species that is fast disappearing. before flying off again. A Sacred Kingfisher has been around town and flew away from the edge Birds -60 species of birds have been recorded. The Barking Owl is rarely recorded in our area so it terrific to know that they are around. Some of of a small garden pond. While I was delighted to the other birds recorded are Crested Shrike-tit, Rufous Songlark, Olive - see him I do not suppose the little goldfish were backed Oriole and Brown Treecreeper. Brown Treecreepers are one of the very thrilled. It sits up on the overhead wires and species in decline and one of the requirements for their habitat is fallen in trees in town calling “ek ek ek ek” and has limbs and logs. Special thanks to Peter Homan for providing us with the been around now for several weeks. information for this report.

Left: During December a small visitor cools himself in a dog’s drinking bowl at Moyston. This little Right and above: Brolgas echidna stayed around snapped above by Una the house for several Allender on a farm visit last weeks before moving on week at Maroona Peter Forster’s Bird Notes A small group of elegant parrots has returned to feeding on phalaris seeds on the side of Jackson's Creek Road. When startled by passing vehicles they fly high into the air in a flash of yellow and continue for some distance before settling. These birds are regular visitors to this area (just north of “Crosskeys” corner). They are smaller than the common red- rumped parrots and slightly larger than the rarer blue winged parrots, both of which occur in this area.

Spotted on Port Fairy Road south of Dennicull Creek was a dead tawny frogmouth (grey morph). These large birds require a woodlands habitat to survive and small remnants occur on the west side of Port Fairy Road at this location (Rocky Point turn-off). The tawny Frogmouth would have been killed at night while chasing insects in front of vehicle headlights. While inspecting a tussocky wet grassland at Stoneleigh recently I disturbed a Latham's (formerly Japanese) Snipe. This is the first snipe I have seen since I was a teenager!!! They are strong and erratic flyers. It landed in front of us and was flushed twice more. Louise and I observed a male white browed wood swallow on the Hopkins River Road last week. The bird, which has a distinctive white brow and chestnut lower breast, was busy devouring a large insect. These birds are often seen in mixed flocks with masked wood swallows, arriving in windy weather associated with a cool change. Also noticed a small flock of Brown-headed Honeyeaters on Captains Creek. Page 3

New Salinity Incentives Louise Thomas DPI Ararat

Implementation of the Glenelg-Hopkins Salinity Plan has been given a boost by the arrival of some new CMA incentives through the National Action Plan (NAP) on Salinity and Water Quality. These grants are being targeted at the sites where they will have the greatest impact on recharge and discharge management. Landholders may be eligible (subject to site assessment and approval) for incentives to:

• Sow perennial pastures in priority recharge areas (ie. the Sedimentary Hills around Ararat, Maroona and Beaufort) • Plant blocks or belts of trees in priority recharge areas (ie. The sedimentary and granite hills) - trees can be farm forestry species or locally indigenous plantings • Fence saline discharge areas • Sow appropriate salt tolerant pasture species in discharge sites to increase productivity and water use

We have guidelines in place as to where tall wheat grass can be sown in order to Right: This site was sown to tall prevent unintentional spread. I will wheat grass several years ago and now provides valuable feed at this conduct a soil test to check salinity and time of year. Once established, tall soil structure to help determine the wheat grass can be rotationally right ground preparation and species to grazed over summer and should be sown. If soil salinity levels and other respond well to summer rainfall site considerations permit, the site may events. Keeping it short will also be sown to a salt tolerant productive help the feed quality remain high. species such as summer active tall fescue (for the less saline areas) or tall wheat grass with accompanying legumes such as strawberry and balansa clovers.

The incentives for sowing either perennial pastures or saline discharge sites are $80/ha for sowing and $1.60/m for fencing (on a land class boundary).

The rates for tree belts and blocks are $500/ha plus fencing at $1.60/m. If interested in having your site assessed for suitability, please contact Louise Thomas at DPI Ararat on 5355 0526.

*Please note: as with all of our incentives programs, these incentives are not given retrospectively.

Saline Agronomy Site Louise Thomas DPI Ararat

In early December around 14 farmers came to Stephen Heard’s property at Willaura North to see the remnants of this year’s spectacular growth of Balansa Clover on a salt affected paddock. The site at the crossroads of the Moyston Willaura Rd and Watgania Rd. was sown last autumn to Paradana Balansa and Dundas Tall Wheat Grass after soil tests indicated that the site would be suitable. The site previously had a good cover of sea barley grass with only a few bare scalded patches. The light clay soil has poor structure and Stephen applied both gypsum and lime to help correct this.

The Balansa took off in August and quickly became a lush carpet of excellent feed. It was not grazed prior to seed set as the fence was not up in time, however the clover after flowering and setting seed, made good dry standing feed which has since been grazed. Unfortunately the fantastic Balansa growth has swamped out the emerging tall wheat grass seedlings which can be quite weak competitors until they’re well established. Subsequently there’s very little tall wheat grass present. While the growth of Balansa was wonderful, the purpose in sowing down a site like this is to maximise water use year- round to reduce the effects of saline discharge and to maximise productivity. In hindsight we could probably have sown the tall wheat grass with a small amount of strawberry clover, waited for the tall wheat grass seedlings to establish well and then over-sown in autumn of the second or third year with Balansa. Sites like these often have good subsoil moisture for most of the summer, allowing growth of summer active salt tolerant pastures like tall wheat grass which can help fill feed gaps in summer and autumn. At the same time, the pasture is using water, helping to dry out the soil which then allows salts to be leached away from the rootzone by rainfall. The adjacent lunette has been separately fenced and planted with locally indigenous trees which are doing well. Page 4 A Diploma of Agriculture (TAFE) conducted by the University of Around The Traps Melbourne, Glenormiston Campus will commence in Lake Bolac in 2004. The first day will be held on Friday, March 26, 2004. In first by Una Allender semester the two units on offer will be "Develop a Whole Farm Plan" and "Plan Succession, Retirement and Estate". It is proposed that the Diploma Group would meet in Lake Bolac for one day every three or four weeks for face-to-face teaching with staff from Glenormiston. The study days would be a mixture of theory sessions and field trips. Further work would be completed at home in your own time using print-based and online learning materials. For further information contact Jennifer Jackson on 55578245 or email [email protected]

I am currently preparing a submission for an Envirofund Grant in response to expressions of interest from several landholders. We should know in March whether we have been successful or not. There is a range of funding available this year through the Glenelg Hopkins CMA and Louise Thomas has funding for fencing and sowing (where appropriate) saline sites. A leaflet “Salinity Partnership Projects” was sent out to many landholders recently – if you missed your copy please call Louise on 5355 0526. See article page 3.

Harvest is almost completed on the Southern Farming Systems trial site at Lake Bolac. Yields have been good with some varieties showing exceptional yields. Members will have recently received the annual “Having your say” survey. Please take a few minutes to fill this in and return it. Your information and opinions are important to the group. The annual members results day and AGM will be held in March.

A coordinated Group Foxoff Baiting Program is planned for the Ararat, Willaura and Lake Bolac areas in March with the aim of reducing fox numbers before Autumn lambing. Working with neighbours on a coordinated control program is the most effective way of reducing fox numbers and landholders are encouraged to work together by baiting simultaneously across the district. Poisoning should be carried out as one part of an integrated control program which includes fumigation and den destruction, shooting, and careful monitoring of fox numbers and lambing ewes. The person responsible for collecting the bait and carrying out the baiting program must hold a current Agricultural Chemical Users Permit (ACUP) and must bring their permit to the bait collection point. Having a certificate to show you have passed the Chemical Users Course is not sufficient. The ACUP can be obtained from ACUP Registrar, DPI Bendigo on 5430 4444 or you can find the application form online at www.dpi.vic.gov.au Further information on fox control can be found on the DPI website www.dpi.vic.gov.au

We are starting to get a good range of water Notes on Salinity Readings (p5) sampling data from the area. While these samples by Louise Thomas DPI Ararat are just opportunistic “one-off” grab samples (and Many of the smaller tributaries were dry on this water testing run, even not continuous monitoring data) they do provide a reasonable overview of the ranges of salinity many of the spring-fed ones which run for much of the year. Top of the which can be expected in certain areas. Some charts this month for salinity were Lake Buninjon and the combined sites have been sampled more regularly than Good Morning Bill and Nekeeya Creeks which feed it, each registering others – I have now included a column on the close to 18,000EC (µS/cm). Lowest recordings included Middle Creek at right of the table showing the number of samples 400 EC (µS/cm) and the Upper Fiery Creek at Raglan at 800 EC. The the data is based on, which gives you an idea of Hopkins salinity levels fluctuate considerably in the upper section of the how reliable the data is. Thanks to Una for river due to groundwater intrusion and rounding up the extra samples from the Wickliffe- levels are creeping up towards the Lake Bolac area. southern end. Landholders will need to keep an eye on salinity levels for the more sensitive stock. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for algae too, especially in stagnant pools in the river. You can expect the Fiery and Hopkins salinity levels to increase over the next I saw this nest under the few months before the break. The salinity could vary bridge while getting a considerably between sections once the rivers and creeks dry sample from the Hopkins to pools. Feel free to bring samples in to DPI for testing if at Labrador Rd. concerned.

EC (µS/cm) highest Lowest Average Road where site 21-1-04 *visibly over last 3 over last 3 over last 3 based on # Stream accessed flowing years years years samples Billy Billy creek Warrak Rd dry 300 300 300 2 Captains Creek Tatyoon North Road dry 300 100 217 6 Cemetery Creek Warrak Road dry 1,700 300 921 10 Challicum Creek Porters Bridge Rd 12,900 16,300 300 9,420 10 Charleycombe Creek Old Geelong Road dry 4,600 600 1,533 6 Creek from Rocky pt Port Fairy Rd dry 5,200 3,800 4,425 4 Dennicull Creek south end of Dennicull Creek 10,400 10,900 2,200 7,278 12 Rd Drainage line Rockies hill rd - railway end dry 25,000 9,000 16,000 8 Fiery Creek Lucardies Rd (east) Raglan 800 1,910 200 742 9 Fiery Creek Ballyrogan Rd 3,200 9,280 500 2,962 11 Fiery Creek Yalla-Y- Poora Rd 2,500 8,910 700 3,160 10 Fiery Creek Porters Bridge Rd 8,200 10,350 1,400 5,113 9 Fiery Creek Runway Swamp Rd 3,100 14,520 2,100 6,632 5 Fiery Creek Ritchies Rd Bridge 3,000 14,350 2,000 6,734 5 Fiery Creek Streatham Reserve 3,300 7,940 2,200 5,348 5 Fiery Creek McCrow's Rd/Nerrin Nerrin 7,400 12,620 2,900 8,447 6 Estate Rd Fiery Creek Lake Bolac 7,100 13,500 3,000 8,482 6 Good Morning Bill Creek West end of Burrumbeep Rd dry 19,800 2,700 10,500 9 Good Morning Bill Creek west arm 2nd bridge Taits dry 2,100 100 675 4 Lane Good Morning Bill Creek east arm - 1st bridge Taits dry 6,500 6,500 6,500 1 Lane Good Morning Bill Creek and Willaura Moyston Rd 11,400 12,450 300 7,896 12 Nekeeya Creek combined Good Morning Bill Creek and Buninjon West Road 17,800 39,000 300 13,190 10 Nekeeya Creek combined Gorrin Creek Dobie Road dry 800 100 400 4 Green Hill Lake at Height Gauge rec reserve 15,200 19,110 2,900 8,922 14 Hopkins River Warrak Road 11,500 17,800 1,000 9,345 11 Hopkins River Dobie Road 7,400 11,300 1,300 6,750 8 Hopkins River Old Geelong Rd dry 12,120 1,900 7,652 9 Hopkins River Jackson's creek Rd 9,700 11,900 1,500 5,995 11 Hopkins River Burrumbeep Boundary Rd 7,600 11,700 1,500 5,701 11 Hopkins River Tatyoon Rd 4,800 8,900 1,300 4,460 10 Hopkins River Robertsons Bridge 4,100 8,950 1,200 4,704 14 Hopkins River Labrador Rd 5,800 9,700 2,700 6,208 12 Hopkins River Helendoite Rd 6,900 10,800 1,200 6,231 11 Hopkins River Rossbridge 8,900 13,700 2,700 8,337 12 Hopkins River Delacombe Way 12,600 16,400 7,500 11,523 10 Hopkins River Bald Hill Rd Ford 13,500* 1 Hopkins River Willaura Golf Club Rd 12,300 15,870 8,100 12,214 5 Hopkins River Back Bolac Rd 12,900* 18,400 7,900 13,295 6 Hopkins River Major Mitchell Rd bridge 14,900* 23,240 8,400 14,304 5 Hopkins River Major Mitchell Rd reserve 14,800 22,700 8,500 14,572 6 Hopkins River Wickliffe - Glenelg Highway 13,600* 18,780 7,800 12,867 6 Jacksons Creek Coopers Rd dry 13,100 4,000 9,050 9 Lake Bolac Fishermans Pontoon 10,800 10,800 9,600 10,208 5 Lake Bolac East Beach boat ramp 10,700 10,700 9,400 10,290 5 Lake Bolac South Beach Boat Ramp 11,100 11,100 9,500 10,360 5 Lake Bolac Overflow dry 0 0 0 0 Lake Buninjon reserve boat ramp 18,000 51,000 4,500 16,975 12 Middle Creek Willow tree Rd 400 650 100 299 9 Nekeeya Creek Taits Lane dry 900 100 525 4 Rossbridge Swamp drainage line Grange Rd dry 28,500 15,300 20,067 3 Three Mile Creek East arm Warrayatkin Rd dry 22,400 6,300 13,950 6 Three Mile Creek Warrak Road dry 3,300 400 1,914 7 Page 6 Cultural Heritage Workshop Louise Thomas Ararat DPI

Around 23 people participated in a December workshop at Ararat run by DPI and Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) to promote landholder awareness about Indigenous Cultural heritage management on farms. Lionel Harradine an Elder from Framlingham Aboriginal Trust and Gabrielle Brennan from AAV gave a great presentation showing the range of Indigenous cultural heritage site types which can be found across our region. Lionel has connections to Ararat through his wife who is of Djab wurrung descent. Tom Richards, Heritage team leader with Aboriginal Above: The group Affairs Victoria spoke in great detail about the “burial tree” found at Moyston visit the Moran several years ago. Carol Jackson whose farm the burial tree is on, said she felt it was a great privilege to have the site on their farm and they were keen to ensure the site property north of was preserved. The group then visited two farms to look at several examples of Ararat to inspect sites. The first site visit was to the farm of Mick and Coral Moran where there is a an oven mound. large oven mound or “hearth”. This mound resulted from years of build-up of Right: The cooking fire residues and contained rocks (used as heat retainers) which do not Forster’s Dennicull normally occur in the immediate area. Stone chips, the debris from stone tool Creek block has a manufacture and use are also found on the mound. Mick told the group how he wasn’t sure at first how he felt about having a site on his farm but that over time has magnificent scarred become increasingly interested in the site and the Aboriginal history of the area. The red gum. group was also fortunate to have Ron Howlett present who originally identified the site in his role with the former Crown Lands Dept. The group went on to Peter and Christine Forster’s farm at Dennicull Creek where a picnic lunch was enjoyed under a magnificent scarred red gum tree which is many hundreds of years old. Peter said that they are proud to acknowledge traditional ownership of the land and will make every effort to preserve their sites. Another workshop is planned for later this year Stay tuned for the next newsletter edition which will feature an article by Tom Richards on the Moyston Burial tree.

Right: Plant of the month. This lovely native plant shown at right is known as “Blue Devil” Win a $100 book voucher! Eryngium ovinum with its thorny flower heads. It Be in the running to win a $100 book voucher by can be seen on roadsides and in paddocks with filling out a short survey, designed to capture wool low grazing pressure and right now the flowers growers thoughts on managing native vegetation and are a magnificent shade of blue/purple. native pastures. The survey is part of a research project being run across central Victoria including the Ararat Hills region, aiming to identify better ways of Native Grass Seed managing native vegetation and pastures for wool production and biodiversity. Harvesting at Warrayadin The project is part of a Land Water & Wool initiative focusing on sustainable wool production in Australia. Land Water & Wool is a joint investment Pictured below are Greening Australia’s between Australian Wool Innovation Limited, and Land & Water Australia. James Scholfield (right) and farmer Kerry Ring 5355 0520 or call into the Ararat DPI office for a copy of the survey. Shea with the Bandicoot native grass seed Fill it in and return by the end of February, and you'll be eligible to enter the harvester which harvested Kangaroo grass prize draw. seed from this paddock at Warrayadin several weeks ago. Kerry says that he used to think of the Kangaroo grass as “useless” New Phone Numbers for but now sees it as another potentially Offices at Old Shire Hall valuable product from the farm. The seed is used in revegetation projects eg. roadside Barkly St Ararat projects and landscaping. For further information please contact Louise Thomas Reception: 5355 0520 DPI Ararat 5355 0526 Peter FORSTER Glenelg Hopkins CMA Waterways 5355 0530 Louise THOMAS Primary Industries Project Leader Ararat Hills 5355 0526 Jan DALGLEISH Primary Industries Corporate Admin Officer 5355 0520 Brian HOWLETT Primary Industries Pest Plant & Animal Officer 5355 0529 Hayley JOHNSON Primary Industries Native Vegetation Officer, 5355 0523 Daryl SCHERGER Sustainability and Environment Fire Project Officer 5355 0522 Peter KACZYNSKI Primary Industries Senior Apiary Inspector 5355 0527 Richard KEYS Primary Industries Animal Health Officer 5355 0524 David MARLAND Primary Industries Wool & SRI Co-ordinator 5355 0525 Clem STURMFELS Primary Industries Soil Conservation Officer 5355 0535 Jane MOORFOOT Primary Industries Project Support Officer 5355 0521 Greg AKERS Primary Industries Pest Plant & Animal Officer 5355 0534 Annette TAYLOR Primary Industries Administration Officer 5355 0531 Gabrielle BRENNAN Victorian Communities (Aboriginal Affairs) 5355 0528 Page 7

Another Interesting Find

by Louise Thomas DPI

A routine archaeological survey of the proposed Dennicull Creek Gravel pit extension site has discovered the presence of two Aboriginal scarred trees. According to Ararat Rural City’s Works Officer Dennis Hurstfield, the two trees have been fenced off and will be easily avoided by the extension of the gravel pit. As Herb Harradine, Cultural Heritage officer based at Framlingham says, developments are often able to proceed when cultural heritage sites can be Above: Ararat Rural City’s Works Officer Dennis Hurstfield and protected and he is keen to work with Virginia Harris (Natural Resource Management Officer) with one of landholders to achieve this. He can be contacted the scarred trees at Dennicull Creek Gravel extraction site. on 5567 1236.

Landmate Update Louise Thomas DPI Ararat Well over a hundred farmers have now taken advantage of the free labour assistance for environmental projects provided by the Landmate Prison Crew over the last few years. The crew have achieved an enormous amount in this time, particularly in tree planting and fencing. The work also provides prisoners with valuable skills training. As a result the crew are now very proficient at both fencing and tree planting and are highly valued by the local farming community. This year they are being booked up quickly and are currently committed until June. If you have a project in mind it is advisable to book in as early as possible to avoid disappointment. This year the crew will be available for high priority projects for either fencing or tree planting (not both). The Ararat crew work within a 50km radius of Ararat. They supply their own meals and supervision and farmers are generally encouraged to work alongside the crew. If getting assistance from Landmate with fencing, farmers must ensure that all stays and strainers are in place prior to their arrival. The crew will then put up the wire and steel posts. The more setting up of the site by landholders prior to their arrival, the more the crew will accomplish in a day. To apply for Landmate assistance, please contact Jan Dalgleish on 5255 0520 or call into Ararat DPI to collect an application form. Pre-1750 Vegetation on Your Farm Louise Thomas DPI Ararat We now have some very interesting maps on computer showing estimated pre - 1750 as well as present day vegetation communities for the upper Hopkins area. This is very useful in our work as it can help us to plan remnant vegetation protection works and to develop suitable revegetation projects. The maps could also be useful to landholders in developing the vegetation aspects of whole farm plans. Any landholders in the Hopkins catchment are welcome to ring me on 5355 0526 if they would like A4 sized maps of their farm and surrounds which show the vegetation communities both pre-1750 (estimated) and Above: Magnificent Native grassland on the current. You will have to bear in mind that they are Streatham Woorndoo Rd in November estimations only and should not be relied upon for specifics. It can be quite startling to see the difference in pre-1750 estimates and current vegetation maps and serves Draft River Health Strategy to highlight how precious our remnants are.

This document is now available on request from GHCMA Hamilton office (phone 5571 2526) and Left: an example of public comment would be welcomed to March a pre-1750 12th. The strategy will provide specific direction to vegetation class map (comes with the CMA to improve river health in partnership legend) note: with the community and Government agencies. railway and roads are post 1750! Page 8

New Boundary Fence Protects Trees Louise Thomas DPI Ararat

Two years ago, Kerry Shea needed to replace the roadside boundary fence on his son Matthew’s property near Ararat. There was a large amount of native vegetation along the fenceline and some eucalypts and grassland species had already begun regenerating inside the paddock. Kerry opted to take advantage of the CMA’s land class fencing incentives available in the Hopkins catchment for protecting remnant vegetation. He was then able to erect a new fence 20 metres inside the old one with the assistance of the Prison Landmate Crew. In some areas, the fence was taken out even wider to include the regenerating vegetation. Kerry was happy with the outcome as he has a new boundary fence, good stock shelter, and the vegetation has been protected. If you would like to discuss whether land class fencing grants might be applicable to your situation, please call Louise at DPI on 5355 0526. We will also consider fencing grants in some areas where there are opportunities for revegetation if the fenceline vegetation can be protected. Land class fencing incentives are also available for steep hills to manage grazing and retain cover.

*Landholders should contact the Ararat Rural City where vegetation removal may be required for fencelines prior to commencing. Any clearance over and above the Council’s interpretation of the exemptions will require a planning Kerry with the old permit, and environmental restoration works may be required if the permit is fence which needed granted. Landholders can contact Virginia Harris on 53550200 for further replacing. information or to arrange a site inspection.

It is recommended that landholders explore different options for re-siting the new fence to avoid unnecessary vegetation removal, which may also have the added advantage of reduced fence construction cost.

Right: Kerry with his new fence 20m inside the old one. The box trees and native grasses are regenerating inside the fenced area which will provide shelter and add value to the roadside remnant. This option also reduced Old fence the re-fencing cost considerably as no tree lopping/removal was required, and the Landmate prison crew were able to assist with Regenerating vegetation can be labour. seen in the rear of the photo

Is your address on our label correct? Do you have a new road number? Please ring Department of Primary Industries in Ararat on 5355 0520 if you would like to make any alterations to our mailing list. Postage Paid Ararat, 3377

Upper Hopkins Landcare Newsletter February 2004 Upper Hopkins Landcare Newsletter April 2004

Contacts Edited by Louise Thomas, Department of Primary Industries Ararat

Technical advice: This bi-monthly newsletter is mailed to around 450 farmers in the following Landcare Groups: Upper Hopkins, Louise Thomas DPI Ararat, Fiery Creek, Buangor, Beaufort and District, Watgania, Willaura-Hopkins, Combined Willaura Groups, Ararat 5355 0526 Lake Bolac. To be added to the mailing list please call Ararat DPI 5355 0526. The newsletter is also available or 0408 535 733 by email which saves paper and allows you to zoom in to read it. Email addresses are kept confidential in the CMA grants and technical distribution of the newsletter. Large print copies can also be made available. advice: Peter Forster Glenelg-Hopkins CMA 5355 0530 or 0418 802 875 Upper Hopkins Landcare Group Facilitators: Landcare Photo Una Allender: Competition Upper Hopkins 5350 4244 Ararat Rural City Do you have a great photo of local Landcare Environmental issues work , our natural environment or a local Virginia Harris 5355 0200 Landcare issue in the district? If so it could Assistance for Community Roadside Yellow Gums at Warrak win you a fantastic full colour tree book - Groups: Leon Costerman’s Native Trees and Shrubs of Thea Laidlaw CMA Beaufort to Ballarat 0417 337818 South Eastern Australia (we use this book as our “tree bible”). There will be second and Rabbits: Greg Akers DPI third prizes of books on local Grampians flora and fauna. Just send in your photo entry Ararat 5355 0534 or 0418 to Louise Thomas DPI Shire Hall Barkly St Ararat, 3377 by Friday 21st May with your 599469 details and a return address so we can send your photo back. Judging will take place on Gorse Buangor-Ararat: Monday 24th May and winners will be advised by phone. Winning photos will be shown Simon Martin DPI Ballarat in the next edition and will be displayed on the walls of the Shire Hall building Barkly St 5336 6760 or 0408 594 785 Ararat. If you have any queries please call Louise on 5355 0526. Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management Framlingham: Herbie Harradine 5567 1236 Gorse Control Day Ballarat: Peter Lovett Simon Martin DPI 0409 391 475 Goolum Goolum (Horsham): A farm walk was held in February to look at Alan Burns 5381 2365 some innovative methods of gorse control Conservation agreements, on the Fiery Creek and was attended by grants, technical advice: around 14 interested local farmers. The use Sue Mudford, Trust for of the “Gorse Groomer” machine (see Nature tel/fax 5599 5223 photo below) was successfully demonstrated Pasture and sheep at Alistair Brebner’s property on the Fiery management: Darren Creek where gorse had taken hold of the Keating DPI Hamilton creek frontage. This machine chops the 5573 0739 woody gorse bushes into a coarse mulch Farm Forestry: Martin Clark and can clear large areas very quickly. This DPI Hamilton allows the regrowth to be sprayed and the 5573 0725 area to be maintained. To find out more Greening Australia James Scholfield 5571 2806 about gorse control options, please contact Simon Martin on 5336 6760. In This Edition Photos clockwise from top: *Farmers check out the Gorse Groomer in • Nature Page p2 operation. *Alistair Brebner and Chris • Bees and Trees p3 Jarrett look at the residues left behind by • the Groomer. *The all-important wash- Salinity results p4&5 down of the Groomer before it goes on to • Condition of our Local the next property to prevent transport of Waterways p6 weeds. *The Groomer makes short work • Armchair Landcare p8 of a large gorse stand. Page 2 The Nature Page Bird Observations, Yadin Pastoral Irene Sturt Pres. Friends of Lake Buninjon

Debbie and Robert Shea have been monitoring The water level at Lake Buninjon has been steadily falling but with still plenty of bird life around including ducks, waders, the bird life on their Warrayadin farm since the occasional Brolga and Pelican. With the onset of duck shooting 1980’s and have compiled a list each year of their and over 100 shooters at the lake on opening weekend, the sightings. In 2003 their observations included a numbers of duck species has dropped dramatically. The black first-ever sighting on the farm of a Diamond swans still sail across the lake majestically seeming to know that Firetail and a pair of Pink-eared Ducks. they are a protected species. Coots too are numerous. The shooters collected their rubbish, bagged it and left it by the The following were also seen at various times truck stop. However with no rubbish collection here it does not and locations around the farm in 2003: White- take long for foxes, cats, birds etc to disperse it over a wide area. winged Choughs, Hoary Headed Grebe, The Grampians Waste Management Group and Friends of the Silvereye, Crested Pigeon, Common Bronzewing, Lake are still looking at this problem and Black Kite, White eared Honeyeater, Blue- possible solutions. winged Parrot, Black Swan, Sacred Kingfisher, Around Willaura bird life has on the whole Southern Whiteface, Scarlet Robin, Yellow-faced been fairly quiet but the Black Cockatoos Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Silver call overhead (no, they are not a sign rain is Gull, Brown Flycatcher, Black-headed Sitella, coming) and the Restless Flycatcher is in Pelican, White-browed Woodswallow, White- town. This is a black and white bird which at winged Triller, Wedge Tailed Eagle, Singing Restless a quick glance looks similar to a Willie Bushlark, Dusky Woodswallow, Black Flycatcher shown Wagtail. However the Willie Wagtail (also a above from flycatcher) has a distinctive white eyebrow, Cormorant, Hobby Falcon. Neville W. and a black upper breast. The Restless The absence of various migratory birds such as Cayley’s book Flycatcher has a full white breast often with Fairy Martin, Cattle Egret and Pallid Cuckoo was What Bird is a yellow-buff wash across. Its distinctive call That? Angus has earned it the nickname of the “Scissors noted. Last year Flame Robins appeared early in and Robertson April, a few weeks earlier than had been noted in Grinder” They have different flight patterns Publishers, 1984 and tail movements. most years on the farm.

Peter Forster’s Left: this large nest in a River Red Gum near the Fiery Creek Bird Notes appears to belong to a whistling

The normally permanently kite watered Lake Burrumbeet near Right: a group of emus visit a Ballarat is rapidly drying. property near Moyston Ironically this process is creating new habitats for some of our rarer water birds such as Banded Stilts and Avocets. As the water recedes it provides large shallow grassed and wet areas ideal for waterbirds to feed and shelter in. Birds are being sighted that have never been recorded here before. At September 2003 the number of species totalled 120. (I have copies of this list if you need one.) This information reinforces the importance of ephemeral wetlands in conserving a variety of waterbirds and shows how well adapted the birds must be to find these opportunities when they present.

If you have a low lying area that fills with water in wet periods grants are available to fence and manage these areas separately so that when they are wet you can remove stock and allow breeding cycles to occur without interference.

Locally a light phase Boobook Owl has taken up daytime residence in a Weeping Myall (acacia) next to our carport. These birds are brown, with a darker facial mask and spots on the side and back. They are easy to pick from the white faced and fronted Barn Owl. Una reports that she recently spotted a pair of Brolgas grazing on an oat stubble along with a large mob of sheep just east of Mininera. Rod Davis also reported that he saw a Peregrine Falcon circle, swoop and pick up a rabbit near Jackson’s creek. Merv Fox reports that a pair of Blue-faced Honeyeaters have been sighted along the Cemetery

Creek. This area is almost as far south as they would normally be found. Boobook Owl With the dry season, warm weather and lots of bare ground and insects around it’s raptor spotting snapped by Una in season. Watch for Spotted Harriers, small light brown Kestrels, Black Shouldered Kites and the her garden common Brown Falcons. Stubble burns can attract a frenzy of raptor activity with Falcons and Kites swooping at amazing speed to catch Quail and other prey. I spotted a pair of Wedge Tailed Eagles in the Ballyrogan area recently and a Little Falcon flying low and fast along our driveway trees. A non-bird note…..A landholder in the Challicum Hills also recently reported a resident Koala in the trees on their driveway. Page 3 Planting Honey and Pollen Flora for Honeybees By Peter Kaczynski, Senior Apiary Inspector. DPI Ararat.

The usefulness of the Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera) as a pollinator of a large number of agricultural, horticultural and garden crops has been recognised throughout the world for a long time. Of all the insects that visit flowers honeybees are considered to be the most effective and efficient pollinator. The presence of bees in flowering crops will result in increased seed or fruit set through improved pollination.

In our area continual supplies of nectar and pollen are not usually available to bees on the one site throughout the four seasons. The lack of nectar at certain times of the year may result in starvation of the colony, while a shortage of pollen would reduce the rearing of young bees. Farmers and gardeners can increase the amount of nectar and pollen by planting suitable trees and shrubs. Nectar and pollen yielding flora could easily be included in farm shelterbelts, woodlots and ornamental plantings on the property and around the house. The following list is just a very small guide to suitable pollen and nectar yielding species for our area, most of which are locally indigenous - those that are not local are marked with an asterisk. The heights refer to flora growing in their natural habitat. Flowering times are also given.

Eucalypts: Red Stringybark. (E macrorhyncha) Flowers in February growing 12 – 35m. A very good source of nectar and pollen. Yellow Box (E melliodora) Flowers September – February grows to 12 – 30 m. A good yielder of beautiful honey. The bees do not gather the pollen. Red Gum (E camaldulensis) Flowers late spring and summer, grows to 12 – 45 m Heavy yielder of nectar and good quality honey. Manna Gum (E. viminalis) Flowers Jan-May, grows to 20m in open drier farmland, yields abundant pollen but nectar yield is variable. Sweet flavoured honey. Candlebark honey is Eucalypt blossom similar. e. ficifolia Messmate Stringybark (E. obliqua) Flowers December to February, is a much shorter tree in open farmland than it is in forests etc. Produces very dark honey with mild flavour. Long Leaved Box (E. goiniocalyx) Flowers March to May and produces abundant pollen. Grows to around 15m. Honey is dark. Yellow Gum (E. leucoxylon) Flowers May to September, medium sized tree, good nectar source and produces good quality honey. *Sugar Gum (E cladocalyx) Jan – Feb. Yields nectar and some pollen. Lovely honey. *Coral Gum (E torquata) Flowering November – January. Grows to 10m and yields nectar and pollen. *Red Flowering Gum. (E ficifolia) This lovely tree flowers in late summer and grows to 10m. It is a heavy yielder of nectar and pollen.

Wattles. Most of the wattles are useful for their pollen at a time of year when often there is little else flowering. Banksias. Silver Banksia (B marginata) Flowering October – March grows to 5-7m, yields nectar and pollen. The honey tends to be dark with a strong flavour. Paper Barks and Honey Myrtles. Two of the many species that are very valuable are the *Scented Paperbark (M squarrosa) flowering October – February, and *Moonah (M lanceolata) flowering summer and autumn. Both are very attractive to bees yielding nectar and pollen. Other ornamental trees and shrubs that are particularly attractive to bees are Bottle brushes (Callistemon), Grevilleas and Hakeas. These shrubs and trees all yield nectar and pollen and can form parts of garden plantings or shelterbelts. References: Beamish, L. A Guide to Indigenous Trees and Shrubs for the Ballarat Region, Dept. Conservation and Environment 1990. This book may not still be available in entirety but see Louise for individual species sheets.

Wool Growing and the Environment A Victorian “Land Water and Wool” project is addressing both productivity and environmental issues to aid better farm management. Detailed financial, vegetation and agronomic assessments are a key part of the project which encompasses three local Ararat Hills properties. In the photo shown at right are botanists conducting a native flora survey on John and Helen Steven’s property at Warrak. Once an accurate picture of the case study farms has been mapped and an assessment of the financial, productivity and native vegetation status is made, then a plan of action will be formulated that fits in with woolgrower’s goals for the next 10-15 years. Jim Moll, a senior agribusiness analyst with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, is the leader of the project. “This project will help woolgrowers assess the financial and whole farm impact of different management options designed to improve biodiversity on their farms. Importantly, any costs incurred by the wool grower and necessary funding of these management options, will also be calculated and highlighted to policy makers”. Page 4

The Willaura-Hopkins Landcare Group has recently purchased a Around The Traps small boomspray with a 50 litre tank suitable for use on either an ATV or ute. The group has also acquired a Potti-Putki planter Una Allender suitable for Hiko cells and a Hamilton tree planter suitable for forestry tubes. These items have been funded by a Small Equipment Grant obtained from the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services. Landcare group members will be able to use this equipment to assist with weed control, revegetation and other environmental works and it will be available for use on community projects such as the Hospital and Vicarage Swamp project. Use is free for landcare group members and others will be charged a nominal hire fee. Contact Graeme McCarthy if you want to borrow this equipment.

Work is progressing on the “Wetlands Walk” project with a graded walking track now in place around the Vicarage Swamp. Information signage is being prepared to inform visitors about the natural and social history of the area, and the importance of the wetland environment for survival of birds, reptiles and frogs. The lignum damaged by fire last year is regenerating well and several hundred trees will be planted at the east end of the Hospital swamp. The trees have been generously donated by Manna Gums, Ararat.

Southern Farming Systems: In a new initiative to add value for members, the Streatham Branch has launched a new BESTWOOL group. At a recent meeting Gary Hallam, DPI, Horsham led a discussion on nutrition requirements of sheep, including issues related to feeding through the Autumn Break and grazing of stubbles. This inaugural meeting allowed members the opportunity to discuss priorities for the group which cover a range of topics including reproduction and animal husbandry, soils, animal health and nutrition, pasture issues and enterprise management skills. The next meeting is on Friday 7th May at the Lake Bolac complex 9 am to 11 am. Topic is the Lifetime Wool Project which aims to develop practical grazing management guidelines, based on pasture and livestock monitoring, for pregnancy and lactation that will increase lifetime production of wool per hectare from ewes and their progeny without compromising wool quality. Anyone interested is invited to contact Una Allender (5350 4244) or Anthony Casanova (5350 6533)

Victorian Landcare Forum to be held in Bendigo 3rd & 4th June. The forum will discuss what is next for community landcare and provide direction to those responsible for ensuring landcare is supported in the future. Registration, catering and accommodation costs will be subsidised by the organisers. If you are interested in attending please contact Mark Hardy, Regional Landcare Facilitator 5571 2526 or [email protected] to register.

We are starting to get a good range of water Notes on Salinity Readings (p5) sampling data from the area. While these Louise Thomas DPI Ararat samples are just opportunistic “one-off” grab samples (and not continuous monitoring data) On this monitoring run the readings were either high or dry! As expected they do provide a reasonable overview of the at this time of year prior to the break, most waterways are dry or reduced ranges of salinity which can be expected in to discontinuous pools, with increased salinity levels. Most of the readings certain areas. Some sites have been sampled are now getting too high for many classes of stock (see below) and will be more regularly than others – I have now included likely to be causing losses in production compared with stock supplied a column on the right of the showing the number with fresh water. Springs should start running again soon but will take a of samples the data is based on, which gives you decent runoff event to bring salinity levels back down. Let’s hope it’s not an idea of how reliable the data is. Thanks to too far away. The upper sections of the Hopkins have only a slight flow Una for rounding up the extra samples from the from groundwater intrusion. This is the first time I’ve seen the river dry Wickliffe-Lake Bolac area. under the bridge at Rossbridge (since 2000 anyway), so when looking at readings, bear in mind that individual pools where I sampled may not necessarily be representative of the river in that area. In the upper reaches of the Hopkins there is a big jump in salinity reading in a short distance between Jackson’s Creek Rd and Burrumbeep Boundary Rd of about 5000 EC units, apparently from groundwater intrusion. Some of the Lower Hopkins readings are the highest we have recorded at those sites eg. Back Bolac Rd at 23,200 EC. Dennicull Creek is dry for the first time since I began monitoring 31/2 years ago. Lake Bolac is extremely low and salinity levels sneaking up. Lake Buninjon is almost at seawater levels (50,000 EC) and Green Hill Lake is at its highest salinity level since we started monitoring, at 28,800 EC. Feel free to bring samples in to us at DPI to check.

Salinity Jargon, EC stands for electrical conductivity - the more salts there are in the water, the more conductive the solution is, and this is what the meter reads. My meter reads this in microsiemens per centimetre (µS/cm). EC multiplied by 0.64 will give you approximate parts per million. Once a waterway reaches 1500 EC ( µS/cm) many sensitive freshwater aquatic species can be affected. For stock drinking water: animal production decline may begin at 6000 EC (µS/cm) for weaners, lactating ewes, horses and beef cattle; 9,300 EC (µS/cm) for dry sheep; 3100 EC (µS/cm) for poultry. Sea water is around 50,000 EC (µS/cm). If you would like a sample tested, please take it to DPI Ararat, or if you live close by Maroona Primary School or Ararat Secondary College – they have meters too. If you have a query on management of salinity (either water, recharge or discharge areas) you can contact me at DPI on 5355 0526. Page 5 Salinity Readings for the Upper Hopkins and Fiery Creek Catchments 30/3/04 Louise Thomas DPI Ararat - Please refer to accompanying notes on page 4 Stream Road where site EC (µS/cm) highest Lowest Average based 30-3-04 *visibly reading reading reading on # accessed flowing over last over last over last samples 3 years 3 years 3 years Billy Billy creek Warrak Rd dry 300 300 300 2 Captains Creek Tatyoon North Road dry 300 100 217 6 Cemetery Creek Warrak Road dry 1,700 300 921 10 Challicum Creek Porters Bridge Rd dry 16,300 300 9,420 10 Charleycombe Creek Old Geelong Road dry 4,600 600 1,533 6 Creek from Rocky Point Port Fairy Rd dry 5,200 3,800 4,425 4 Denicull Creek south end of Denicull Creek Rd dry 10,900 2,200 7,278 12 Drainage line Rockies Hill rd - railway end dry 25,000 9,000 16,000 8 Fiery Creek Lucardies Rd (east) Raglan 1,300 1,910 200 798 10 Fiery Creek Ballyrogan Rd 8,600 9,280 500 3,432 12 Fiery Creek Yalla-Y- Poora Rd 10,600 10,600 700 3,836 11 Fiery Creek Porters Bridge Rd 10,500 10,500 1,400 5,652 10 Fiery Creek Runway Swamp Rd 4,500 14,520 2,100 6,277 6 Fiery Creek Ritchies Rd Bridge 4,400 14,350 2,000 6,345 6 Fiery Creek Streatham Reserve 4,300 7,940 2,200 5,173 6 Fiery Creek McCrows Rd/Nerrin Nerrin Estate 12,000 12,620 2,900 8,954 7 Rd Fiery Creek Lake Bolac 10,000 13,500 3,000 8,699 7 Good Morning Bill Creek West end of Burrumbeep Rd dry 19,800 2,700 10,500 9 Good Morning Bill Creek West arm 2nd bridge Taits Lane dry 2,100 100 675 4 Good Morning Bill Creek East arm - 1st bridge Taits Lane dry 6,500 6,500 6,500 1 Good Morning Bill Creek Willaura Moyston Rd *13,100 13,100 300 8,296 13 and Nekeeya Creek combined Good Morning Bill Creek Buninjon West Road *16,500 39,000 300 13,491 11 and Nekeeya Creek combined Gorrin Creek Dobie Road dry 800 100 400 4 Green Hill Lake Height Gauge rec reserve 28,800 28,800 2,900 10,247 15 Hopkins River Warrak Road *15,800 17,800 1,000 9,883 12 Hopkins River Dobie Road dry 11,300 1,300 6,750 8 Hopkins River Old Geelong Rd dry 12,120 1,900 7,652 9 Hopkins River Jacksons creek Rd *4,700 11,900 1,500 5,888 12 Hopkins River Burrumbeep Boundary Rd *9,300 11,700 1,500 6,001 12 Hopkins River Tatyoon Rd dry 8,900 1,300 4,460 10 Hopkins River Robertsons Bridge 7,100 8,950 1,200 4,863 15 Hopkins River Labrador Rd 9,800 9,800 2,700 6,485 13 Hopkins River Helendoite Rd 7,800 10,800 1,200 6,362 12 Hopkins River Rossbridge 11,100 13,700 2,700 8,549 13 Hopkins River Delacombe Way 14,000 16,400 7,500 11,748 11 Hopkins River Bald Hill Rd ford 18,300 18,300 13,500 15,900 2 Hopkins River Willaura Golf Club Rd 16,200 16,200 8,100 12,878 6 Hopkins River Back Bolac Rd *23,200 23,200 7,900 14,710 7 Hopkins River Major Mitchell Rd bridge dry 23,240 8,400 14,304 5 Hopkins River Major Mitchell Rd reserve 17,600 22,700 8,500 15,004 7 Hopkins River Wickliffe - Glenelg Highway 15,200 18,780 7,800 13,200 7 Jacksons Creek Coopers Rd dry 13,100 4,000 9,050 9 Lake Bolac Fishermans Pontoon 12,700 12,700 9,600 10,623 6 Lake Bolac East Beach boat ramp 12,800 12,800 9,400 10,708 6 Lake Bolac South Beach Boat Ramp 12,800 12,800 9,500 10,767 6 Lake Bolac Overflow dry - - - - Lake Buninjon reserve boat ramp 50,000 51,000 4,500 19,515 13 Middle Creek Willow Tree Rd dry 650 100 299 9 Nekeeya Creek Taits Lane dry 900 100 525 4 Rossbridge Swamp Grange Rd dry 28,500 15,300 20,067 3 drainage line Three Mile Creek Warrak Road dry 3,300 400 1,914 7 Three Mile Creek East arm Warrayatkin Rd dry 22,400 6,300 13,950 6 Page 6 Measuring Runoff in the Ararat Hills Dr Malcolm McCaskill DPI Hamilton

For a brief period on 21 December 2003, the Upper Hopkins River at Warrayadin ran almost bank-full following a thunderstorm. Why didn’t the rain soak into the soil, and what are the implications for land management? Some observations made as part of a CMA-funded research project can shed some light on this. The project measures the impact of hill country land management on water balance and water quality, and includes a field site on Yadin Pastoral Company. Rainfall was recorded by 2 adjacent automated rain gauges, one with a conventional horizontal opening, the other with its Above: Some of the debris opening at a 25o angle that matches the hill slope. Recorded rainfall was: washed downhill on a

neighbouring property during Daily Most intense 15-minute period the rainfall runoff event in Horizontal rain gauge 22 mm 12 mm December Angled rain gauge 27 mm 16 mm

Because rain often falls at an angle driven by wind, there can be quite large differences in rainfall between northern and southern aspects of a hill. Stream flow from the top 3 km2 of the Hopkins catchment, measured in a gully control structure, showed that over a 4-hour period, 9 megalitres (9 million litres) of water flowed through the structure, equivalent to 3 days of water consumption by the city of Ararat. This represented 3 mm of runoff across the catchment, or 14% of the rainfall received. It was also more than half the year’s flow. During its peak, the flow was so intense that some water bypassed the gully control structure and caused a large block of soil to slump into the gully. If the control structure had not been installed, the gully head could have advanced by tens of metres. Gully erosion is common in the area because of dispersive sodic subsoils. When subsoil adjacent to the bottom of a gully becomes saturated, it lacks strength and any overlying soil collapses into the gully.

Only a small amount of runoff occurred in 3 small catchments under summer deferred grazing. High levels of ground cover would have slowed the passage of excess water, allowing a high proportion of it to soak in Plant Of The Month shortly after the storm peak finished. However, on bare areas surface Grey Everlasting (Helichrysum detention is minimal, resulting in rapid movement of surplus water, and obcordatum) - this small shrub is found in high storm flows that contribute to gully erosion. some of the more intact stands of remnant vegetation, especially around the During light rainfall in May 2003, water was observed ponding above dry hills. If you’ve got it on your property it’s soil. This phenomenon is known as water repellency, and is common when a good sign because the mid-storey layer dry soils are wetted rapidly, especially where topsoils have a low clay of vegetation is often missing due to content. Organic waxes in the topsoil are responsible for the repellency. grazing. Related local species include High levels of ground cover can help overcome water repellency by storing Tree Everlasting (Helichrysum dendroidium) surplus water above the soil surface until it soaks in through preferential which is more of a large shrub/small tree. pathways. Both are good to include in local plantings to increase diversity. So why did so much of the storm’s rainfall run off ? • high-intensity rainfall • water repellent soils • insufficient ground cover in parts of the catchment • rainfall heavier on the side of the hill facing the rain • steep slopes

Since the storm occurred, the 3 small catchments have been fenced and grazing management treatments commenced. The project will be continued to measure the impact of set stocking vs summer deferred grazing on water use, runoff quantity and runoff quality. A field day is planned at the site later this year. For further information contact: Dr Malcolm McCaskill, PIRVic, DPI Hamilton, 5573 0900. The project is funded from the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. Page 7 The Condition of Our Local Waterways

New poster By Peter Forster Glenelg-Hopkins CMA

Every five years the State Government undertakes an extensive state wide “Index of Stream Condition” assessment. Sites are randomly selected on local waterways and detailed assessments are undertaken of vegetation both along the banks and in-stream, as well as bed and bank condition. In addition, impacts from livestock, rabbits etc. are noted. These assessments are made along a continuous 430m stretch of the waterway. Waterways selected in this area for assessment included Good Morning Bill, Fiery, Wongan and Gorrinn Creeks and the Hopkins Fiery Creek near Yalla-Y-Poora with River. good riparian vegetation So far we have completed assessments of 17 out of the 30 sites nominated in our local area. Many of the sections of creeks and river assessed have been completely dry including sections of the Hopkins River from Burrumbeep Hill to well south of Willaura.

Historically the index has indicated that the stream condition in our area has been rated “Very Poor”, “Poor” or in rare cases, “Good” condition.

One of the main reasons for this predominantly “poor” rating is that most waterways are not fenced to exclude stock. Stock can damage the bed and banks as well as trampling any vegetation present. Cattle are particularly bad for pugging the soil of the bed and banks The Hopkins river near Rossbridge while sheep are very hard on young plants, shrubs and trees. In my assessments so far I have noticed that there are no young or emerging trees and shrubs and the ones that are there are all the same age - Left: The very old. Hopkins River at Another reason for our streams scoring poorly is the fact that Jacksons the original native vegetation is frequently missing or Creek Rd severely modified by 150 years of grazing and pasture choked with improvement. Phalaris frequently encroaches on the riparian zone Spiny Rush displacing tussocks and other native grasses. Rabbits are increasing along waterways as the dry years continue. Wood collection activities mean very few logs remain on the flood plain and large woody debris has often been removed from in-stream areas. Gully erosion has frequently silted up former deep pools.

What can we do to improve creek and river health? • Put a permanent or temporary fence up to exclude stock and encourage natural regeneration of gum trees and understorey. Plant native tubestock if natural regeneration is unlikely to occur. Land Capability Assessment Get advice on what native species should in Ararat Rural City occur in your area. A land capability assessment project is currently being undertaken in the • Leave logs in the bed of waterways district to provide data for land capability maps at 1:25,000 (CD ROM) and on the flood plain. covering the pilot areas of Lake Bolac, Willaura (north), Moyston (west) • Control rabbits and foxes. and Ararat for agricultural versatility and rural subdivision. Land Hazard • Have an annual spraying program to maps are also being developed for mass movement, gully and tunnel control weeds such as gorse. erosion, sheet and rill erosion and wind erosion. Soil property maps for • Develop a stock watering system that topsoil depth, pH and soil sodicity will also be developed. For further minimises entry points on waterways or information please contact Nathan Robinson DPI Bendigo on 5430 4320 excludes stock altogether. • Make sure that you keep well away from waterways when spreading fertilizer. Page 8 Armchair Landcare Louise Thomas DPI Ararat

If Landcare activities seem too daunting when you have a large workload on the farm, bear in mind that back-breaking effort is not always required to achieve good things for the environment of your farm. Here’s a couple of suggestions that can have a big impact, but require little or no effort - and may even save you some work!

• Leave fallen branches and logs on the ground rather than heaping them up and burning them, as small creatures such as Fat-Tailed Dunnarts will make good use of them as habitat. These and other little marsupials require good ground habitat for their survival and are fast running out of places to go. It is distressing to see their habitat going up in smoke every year. If you must remove the fallen timber, think about dragging it into fenced off tree planting areas to improve their habitat value. A paddock of long grass is a Leave fallen branches and save much greater fire hazard than a few fallen branches. If worried yourself the work! about rabbits, then spread the logs out rather than heaping them up. • For free trees, try a bit of temporary fencing around remnant trees in the paddock, and spray to remove grasses and weeds in late winter. Tree seed already on the ground should then be able to germinate in spring without competition. A fence needs to be in place for at least as long as it takes for trees to be out of reach of stock. Permanent fencing is even better and might able to be funded by an incentive scheme if on a land class boundary. A cool burn is even better if you can manage it safely. You could even hand broadcast some seed at the same time to increase the number of species present. See me if you want some seed or specific advice. • In your previously fenced off tree plantations, try laying down a few old roofing tiles, pieces of old clay pipe, logs etc. for ground-dwelling reptiles such as the Striped Legless Lizard to hide underneath. It is amazing what diversity of native creatures will move in when such accommodation is provided! • When replacing either boundary or internal fences, think about re-siting fences to avoid having to remove vegetation. For most fences there should be a clear alternative to the existing line which minimises tree removal and can substantially reduce the cost. Make sure you check with council before removing any native vegetation - call Virginia Harris on 5355 0200. Also, check with us to see whether the new fences you plan to put up fit within our land class fencing incentive schemes and whether the Landmate Crew may be able to assist with labour - yet another saving!. • Take some time to quietly observe the birds and animals present in your existing tree plantations . Are there ways you could provide them with more shelter? This might involve adding some smaller trees and shrubs to existing plantations, or planning changes in layout or species for new plantations and shelterbelts. Enjoy the areas you have already created and allow these areas to inspire you to further endeavours! If short on inspiration, check out the neighbour’s plantations or feel free to ask us for advice.

Upper Hopkins Landcare Newsletter April 2004 Upper Hopkins Landcare Newsletter June 2004

Contacts Edited by Louise Thomas, Department of Primary Industries Ararat

In This Edition For further details please contact Kristy Youman (03) 5430 4334 .

• Nature Page p2 • Taking good before and Photo Competition Extended Until Friday July 2 after photos p3 • Una’s “Around the The photo competition advertised in the last newsletter has now been extended to traps” column p4 the 2nd of July in order for a few more entries to come in. The competition is • Salinity results p4&5 for the best photo depicting a local landcare issue, Landcare works or an aspect of • Aboriginal Place Names our local environment. The prizes include a hardcover tree identification book p6 valued at over $50 with second and third prizes of local flora and fauna books. • Call before you cut p8 Entries can be sent to Louise Thomas DPI Shire Hall Barkly St. Ararat and will be judged in early July. Page 2 The Nature Page Plant of the Month Bird notes by Irene Sturt Louise Thomas DPI President of Friends of Lake Buninjon

This months featured plant is the Black Anther Flax With winter approaching the Scarlet and Flame Robins are Lily (Dianella revoluta) which is a strappy-leaved plant again around the area. The Males of the species are easily commonly seen on roadsides and reserves across the recognisable with their red breasts. On the Flame Robin the district. Farmers frequently ask me if this plant is a red extends right up its breast, while the Scarlet Robin has a weed - but it is actually a locally-native groundcover. shorter red breast and a black throat. The Scarlet Robin has a This plant is also sometimes known as Tinsel Lily or black back, the Flame Robin Spreading Flax Lily. The plant can look fairly plain a dark grey and both have for some of the year (see photo below) but in white on their wings. spring/summer/autumn has magnificent bright blue- Occasionally a Red-capped purple flowers and fruits. It makes a very hardy, Robin can be seen and its spreading plant for use in Landcare projects and name depicts its appearance would be available from some local nurseries. You with a red cap, black throat, could also try putting a few into an existing and red breast. As Peter plantation. mentioned in his last notes there is an increase in the number of Raptors around Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike shown and I have seen a number of above from Neville W. Cayley’s Eagles, often in pairs, book What Bird is That? Angus perhaps preparing to nest? and Robertson Publishers, 1984 Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes have been observed too. At Lake Buninjon water levels are still way down. The numbers and species of ducks are greatly depleted after duck hunting. There are still plenty of Black Swans, Black-winged Stilts, and Herons both White-faced and Pacific. Around the edges of the lake are Black-fronted Chats and European Gold finches.

Peter Forster’s Bird Sightings

Mid May, two nestling Musk Lorrikets were delivered to the Office from a local resident who discovered the birds while cutting a hollow tree for firewood. Musk Lorrikets are nomadic and common visitors to this district when eucalypts are flowering. Their breeding season is from August to December according to Neville Cayley’s ‘What Bird is That?’. I am not sure of the significance of the observation except to say that many of Australia’s unique fauna have evolved to breed when conditions are suitable and this may be another example of opportunistic breeding triggered by available food sources and ‘climate fit”.

Other observations recently include a Little Falcon chasing a White-Plumed Honeyeater at Jackson’s Skipton property. The bird perched on a post very close after White Throated Treecreeper shown giving up the chase around a redgum. A male Sparrowhawk on Jackson’s Creek Road above from Neville W. Cayley’s that was so small I thought I was looking at a Pallid Cuckoo! Two Brolgas were sighted book What Bird is That? Angus at Tucker’s (the Rockies) as well as a larger flock of 30 feeding on a cultivated paddock and Robertson Publishers, 1984 near Anderson’s at Willaura. We have several Bronzewing Pigeons living on Captains Creek probably feeding on acacia and grass seeds. Last Sunday I saw a White Throated Treecreeper at Hartwich’s property at Mt Challicum. These birds are often solitary, strongly territorial and tend to stay in the one area. They rely on rough barked trees to feed on and fly from tree to tree ascending the trunks to feed mainly on ants. The other treecreeper species I have seen in the district is the Brown Treecreeper, a family of them was sighted at Harrick’s property on the Hopkins River at Tatyoon Road summer 1993. These birds are slightly larger and darker than White Browed Tree creepers and will feed on the ground. They prefer lightly timbered country, woodlands or partly cleared land. They stayed on the red gum floodplain for several months adjacent to the bridge and I suspect they were nesting in a hollow redgum. (Both species rely on hollows for nesting.)

Joan Pitaro reports seeing Blue-Faced Honeyeaters just overhead at Ararat West Primary School. Page 3 Landmate Achievements By Jan Dalgleish DPI Ararat

The Prison Landmate Program has now been running for 13 years and is administered by the Department of Primary Industries in conjunction with the Department of Correctional Services. The program assists farmers and landcare groups in and around Ararat by providing labour to complete landcare projects . Landholders provide all the materials for the project. Works undertaken over This large-scale priority hill planting was achieved the past 13 years have included fencing for protection of remnant with the assistance of the Landmate Crew vegetation and fencing for vegetation corridors and waterways, tree planting, weeds removal and fumigation of rabbit warrens.

During 2003 the Landmate crew achieved some fantastic results throughout the Wimmera & Hopkins catchments. Highlights include planting 21,300 trees, erecting 72km fencing, cleared many hectares of gorse, fumigated a few rabbit warrens, and clearing over 65ha of Paterson's Curse.

These results were achieved by the crew in 203 work days. The Landmate crew operates under the supervision of Mr David McCarthy at present. David works well with the crews and achieves some great results. The crew assists landholders to complete larger projects that they would not normally undertake themselves.

The Landmate Program is currently being developed for July – December 2004. If you require assistance to complete landcare works please contact Jan Dalgleish on 5355 0520 for further information or an expression of interest form.

Keeping good photographic records of your Landcare works

Louise Thomas DPI Ararat

Never underestimate the power of good before-and-after photos for inspiring others to undertake landcare works as well as for your own sense of pride in your achievements. I attended a very good course at Creswick recently about using photographic records to demonstrate long term changes in the landscape. I thought I’d jot down a few notes which might be helpful for farmers who are doing lots of works - it would be great to collect a few more shots like the ones below. Photo monitoring could be useful for keeping long term records of saline sites, erosion control, revegetation works, remnant vegetation protection, landclass fencing of hills etc. A great suggestion made at the course was that some “before” photos (with details attached) could be included in time capsules for schools, towns etc.

Here are couple of tips for taking good “before and after” shots of sites:

• When choosing a location to take the photos - keep the “after” shot in mind...pick a point to take the photograph from where you will still have Aerial photos a good view once the trees grow or the landscape has changed. Perhaps are great for on the diagonal. Also try to incorporate some feature which would still monitoring be there in the long term (eg. A rock, fence post, stump, etc.). If your changes too camera has a date stamp, make sure its turned on. Use a compass to record the bearing towards the subject from your photo point. • Take the “after” shot from exactly the same point (keep an accurate record of exactly where you took it from) • Aim to take the after photos at a similar time of day, and preferably in good light, rather than when shadows are long or the sun is behind the subject • You may not need to take photos every year, every 3 to 5 years might be enough for most revegetation projects. For an erosion project it would be good to take photos at closer intervals to show each stage of progress.

Photo Courtesy Noel Hartwich A classic before and after shot - this one with a 38 year 38 years later…. time lapse. This is Mt Challicum in 1964 at left, just prior to pushing in the gully. At right is a photo taken at the same point in 2001 showing how the ground has been stabilised and well-maintained. A great photographic record! Page 4

“Making community landcare even stronger” was the theme for a 2 Around The Traps day Victorian Landcare Forum held in Bendigo recently. Keith Little and myself joined over 300 volunteers, facilitators and other Una Allender agency staff to discuss a broad range of issues. The ideal of Community Landcare, “local people deciding what needs to be done, and doing it” was the theme for some inspirational story telling about successful landcare projects. Workshops addressed strengths and successes as well as problems and concerns with everyone having an opportunity to have a say in providing some direction for the future of landcare. These workshops developed several major themes which will be addressed at a meeting on July 16. At that meeting Landcare people will be able to speak directly with government and non-government bodies who are in a position to provide funding or other assistance to achieve the aim of “making community landcare even stronger”. Keith involved himself with urban and rural-urban interface issues, which proved to be a major area of both concern and opportunity. I concentrated on farming issues and was able to contribute to discussions on how Landcare principles can be better integrated into broadacre farming systems. You will hear more after July 16 – in the meanwhile anyone wanting to contribute ideas or find out more can contact Keith Little on 5352 4160 or Mark Hardy (Regional Landcare Facilitator) on 5571 2526

We have received an NHT Envirofund Grant for our project “Upper Hopkins Biodiversity Corridors” This project will involve 7 landholders working on 8 sites to enhance biodiversity in the catchment and improve the quality of water flowing to the Hopkins River and Fiery Creek. They will plant over 8,000 trees and understorey species as well as 13 km of direct seeding.

Next meeting for Focus on Water 2005 "Heeling Walk" COMMUNITY MEETING will be held on Friday June 25th 7.30 pm at the Lake Bolac Hall Supper Room

Southern Farming Systems - Dates for your diary: Wed June 23 – “Subsoils: how are they affecting your production?” Field Day at Lake Bolac. (9 – 12) Free day with BBQ lunch. Tues July 13 – SFS Bestwool Group meet at Geoff McIntyre’s property Wed July 14 – Integrated Pest Management workshop in Lake Bolac with Paul Horne and Jessica Page, IPM Technologies Thurs August 5 – Cereal Canopy and Disease Management workshop in Lake Bolac with Nick Poole.

Notes on Salinity Readings (p5) We are starting to get a good range of water sampling data from the area. While these Louise Thomas DPI Ararat samples are just opportunistic “one-off” grab

The salinity of water in many watercourses has come down a little samples (and not continuous monitoring data) since last week’s rain, although the dilution effect had not really they do provide a reasonable overview of the impacted on downstream sections of the Hopkins or Fiery due to ranges of salinity which can be expected in certain areas. Some sites have been sampled insufficient runoff. Many waterways seem to have returned to near- more regularly than others – I have now included normal salinity levels already. It was of concern to note the turbidity a column on the right of the table showing the (suspended soil) in the Hopkins River at Warrak Rd and at Jackson’s number of samples the data is based on, which Creek Rd which indicate soil loss occurring, most likely from upper gives you an idea of how reliable the data is. catchment erosion. Interestingly this turbidity seems to settle out Thanks to Una for rounding up the extra samples and disappear by the time the river gets to Tatyoon Rd. While from the Wickliffe-Lake Bolac area. salinity levels higher than a couple of thousand EC units normally cause suspended soil to drop out of the water, this does not appear to be the case at these sites. Perhaps the flows are being slowed through this section enough to allow the soil to drop out. Una’s samples from the lower half of the catchment were taken before the rain last week so have highlighted these rows in grey - although a couple of sites that Una and I both sampled (before and after rain) didn’t show a major change in salinity due to rain anyway. On page 7, I have included a graph showing the three year highs and lows of data collected for the Upper Hopkins River. The data shown in the graphs for the locations south of Rossbridge are based on a lot less data since we have only been sampling this area for 12 months or so. Next edition will carry a graph summarising the Fiery Creek readings. Feedback welcome. Salinity Jargon, EC stands for electrical conductivity - the more salts there are in the water, the more conductive the solution is, and this is what the meter reads. My meter reads this in microsiemens per centimetre (µS/cm). EC multiplied by 0.64 will give you approximate parts per million. Once a waterway reaches 1500 EC ( µS/cm) many sensitive freshwater aquatic species can be affected. For stock drinking water: animal production decline may begin at 6000 EC (µS/cm) for weaners, lactating ewes, horses and beef cattle; 9,300 EC (µS/cm) for dry sheep; 3100 EC (µS/cm) for poultry. Sea water is around 50,000 EC (µS/cm). If you would like a sample tested, please take it to DPI Ararat, or if you live close by Maroona Primary School or Ararat Secondary College – they have meters too. If you have a query on management of salinity (either water, recharge or discharge areas) you can contact me at DPI on 5355 0526. Page 5 Salinity Readings for the Upper Hopkins and Fiery Creek Catchments Louise Thomas DPI Ararat (Greyed rows 7/6/04, others 11/6/04) - Please refer to accompanying notes on Page 4

Road where site EC µS/cm highest Lowest Average based on Stream 7-6-04 and reading reading reading # accessed 11-6-04 over last 3 over last 3 over last 3 samples *visibly flowing Billy Billy creek Warrak Rd dry 300 300 300 2 Captains Creek Tatyoon North Road dry 300 100 217 6 Cemetery Creek Warrak Road *900 1,700 300 919 11 Challicum Creek Porters Bridge Rd 13,100 16,300 300 9,755 11 Charleycombe Creek Old Geelong Road dry 4,600 600 1,533 6 Creek from Rocky pt Port Fairy Rd dry 5,200 3,800 4,425 4 Denicull Creek South end of Denicull Creek Rd *5,200 10,900 2,200 7,118 13 Drainage line Rockies hill rd - railway end *15,800 25,000 9,000 15,978 9 Fiery Creek Lucardies Rd (east) Raglan 1,800 1,910 200 889 11 Fiery Creek Ballyrogan Rd *7,600 9,280 500 3,752 13 Fiery Creek Yalla-Y- Poora Rd *5,900 10,600 700 4,008 12 Fiery Creek Porters Bridge Rd 7,600 10,500 1,400 5,829 11 Fiery Creek Runway Swamp Rd 4,250 14,520 2,100 5,987 7 Fiery Creek Ritchies Rd Bridge *4,400 14,350 2,000 6,067 7 Fiery Creek Streatham Reserve 4,100 7,940 2,200 5,020 7 Fiery Creek McCrows Rd/Nerrin Nerrin Estate 11,650 12,620 2,900 9,291 8 Rd Fiery Creek Lake Bolac 14,310 14,310 3,000 9,400 8 Good Morning Bill Creek West end of Burrumbeep Rd *9,700 19,800 2,700 10,420 10 Good Morning Bill Creek west arm 2nd bridge Taits Lane dry 2,100 100 675 4 Good Morning Bill Creek east arm - 1st bridge Taits Lane dry 6,500 6,500 6,500 1 Good Morning Bill Creek and Willaura Moyston Rd *10,800 13,100 300 8,475 14 Nekeeya Creek combined Good Morning Bill Creek and Buninjon West Road *10,600 39,000 300 13,250 12 Nekeeya Creek combined Gorrin Creek Dobie Road dry 800 100 400 4 Green Hill Lake Height Gauge rec reserve too low 28,800 2,900 10,247 15 Hopkins River Warrak Road *1,300 17,800 1,000 9,222 13 Hopkins River Dobie Road *2,900 11,300 1,300 6,322 9 Hopkins River Old Geelong Rd *4,100 12,120 1,900 7,297 10 Hopkins River Jacksons creek Rd *2,300 11,900 1,500 5,612 13 Hopkins River Burrumbeep Boundary Rd *1,400 11,700 1,400 5,647 13 Hopkins River Tatyoon Rd *2,000 8,900 1,300 4,236 11 Hopkins River Robertsons Bridge 6,000 8,950 1,200 4,934 16 Hopkins River Labrador Rd 7,700 9,800 2,700 6,571 14 Hopkins River Helendoite Rd 8,100 10,800 1,200 6,495 13 Hopkins River Rossbridge *9,700 13,700 2,700 8,631 14 Hopkins River Delacombe Way 16,100 16,400 7,500 12,111 12 Hopkins River Bald Hill Rd ford *18,600 18,600 13,500 16,800 3 Hopkins River Willaura Golf Club Rd 14,200 16,200 8,100 13,067 7 Hopkins River Back Bolac Rd *14,450 23,200 7,900 14,678 8 Hopkins River Major Mitchell Rd bridge *16,500 23,240 8,400 14,670 6 Hopkins River Major Mitchell Rd reserve 16,600 22,700 8,500 15,204 8 Hopkins River Wickliffe - Glenelg Highway 15,530 18,780 7,800 13,491 8 Jacksons Creek Coopers Rd *10,000 13,100 4,000 9,145 10 Lake Bolac Fishermans Pontoon 12,900 12,900 9,600 10,949 7 Lake Bolac East Beach boat ramp 12,880 12,880 9,400 11,019 7 Lake Bolac South Beach Boat Ramp 13,000 13,000 9,500 11,086 7 Lake Bolac Overflow dry 0 0 0 0 Lake Buninjon reserve boat ramp nrt 51,000 4,500 19,515 13 Middle Creek Willow tree Rd 500 650 100 319 10 Nekeeya Creek Taits Lane dry 900 100 525 4 Rossbridge Swamp drainage line Grange Rd dry 28,500 15,300 20,067 3 Three Mile Creek Warrak Road dry 3,300 400 1,914 7 Three Mile Creek East arm Warrayatkin Rd *3,400 22,400 3,400 12,443 7 Page 6 I recently discovered a great website from the Koori Place Names in our District Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages Louise Thomas DPI which contains a Database of Aboriginal Placenames of Victoria. It can be found at http://www.vaclang.ozhosting.com/search.asp Heres a summary of what I found when I put in the names of many of our local towns/localities. This list is not exhaustive and may be open to a bit of interpretation, but is certainly worth a look. Other existing place names which are the same as the traditional name but the meaning is not recorded include: Maroona, Nerrin Nerrin, Mininera, Buninjon, Challicum (Mt), Yalla-y-Poora, Narrepumelap, Mt Moornambool etc. Try entering your locality name in the database search to see what you can come up with. This website has some other very interesting features such as Aboriginal language maps of Victoria as well as Aboriginal flora and fauna names which could be of interest. The sources of information include early records by early Aboriginal Protector G.A. Robinson and others. There are frequent changes of spelling between records. If you know of any other local names and meanings it would be great to hear from you.

Existing place name Traditional name and meaning

Ararat – Cathcart diggings Karangajaruk Meaning: not recorded Mount Langi Ghiran—Larngi djerin, Ararat - town site Butingitch Meaning: not recorded home of the black cockatoo Armstrong Widjibaboit Meaning: witji = rushes, ba = and; boit = grass Beaufort Yarram-yarram Meaning: waterholes Buangor Buangor Meaning: yuwang = granite gar = mountain Burrumbeep Hill Burrumbeep Meaning: burrum = muddy Carranballac Corrin corrinjer baluk (clan name) Meaning: sand people

Cathcart Ingoa Meaning: not recorded Challicum Hills Tallarmurre Meaning: not recorded Conical Hill Tomilgarn Meaning: not recorded Denicull Creek Deenigul Meaning: gal = dog

Eurambeen Yurrambin Meaning: white gum trees While locations along the Fiery Creek (just below the Hopkins River have many confluence of Charleycombe Ck) Parnginernin Meaning: not recorded different traditional names, the Hopkins River near Good Morning Bill Creek Bood Bood Yarramin Meaning: named after Aboriginal man, Burrumbeep was known as Good Morning Bill, whose traditional name was Bood Bood Tonedidjerer (uncertain Yarramin meaning) Green Hill Lake Warrayatkin Meaning: not recorded Lake Bolac Buluk Meaning: swamp, lake (from the the Djabwurrung clan, Bulukbara)

Lake Bolac - township Parupa Meaning: not recorded Langi Kal Kal Larngikalkal Meaning: the dogs' camping place Langi Logan Larngilogan Meaning: the home or run of Mr Logan Mount Ararat Gorambeep barak Meaning: not recorded Mount Gorrinn Djalibepin Meaning: challee = tongue; pep = white gum Mount Langi Ghiran Larngi djerin Meaning: home of the black cockatoo Mt Ararat: traditionally known as Mount Stavely Barrite Barrite Meaning: not recorded, country of the Gorambeep barak (uncertain Mingalac gundidj (clan) meaning)

Moyston Jaraughi-jakil Meaning: tjakil = lake/lagoon Nekeeya (Barton) Swamp or the “Morass” Mitye Meaning: not recorded Djabwurrung clan, Mitteyer baluk. Nekeeya also traditional name Mt Gorrinn: traditionally known as Djalibepin Raglan Geereep-geereep Meaning: a rough country Meaning: challee = tongue; pep = white gum Tatyoon Katjin Meaning: water Warrak Warrak Meaning: plains Woorndoo Woorndoo Meaning: wurn = hut, shelter Yarram Gap Yarram Meaning: big Page 7

CMA Notes Peter Forster Glenelg-Hopkins CMA

Old Soil Conservation Structures Many farms have soil conservation structures that were installed in the decades post Second World War. The GHCMA is currently developing an inventory of these old structures. If you have one on your farm and are happy to have me inspect the site and take notes on condition, current structural threats, erosion activity etc please ring me and I will visit at a time convenient to you. Any historical information you could provide would be extremely useful. Information we collect will be invaluable in determining the merit of different approaches to combating soil erosion. If your structure is unfenced and at risk from stock damage we can provide funding for a fence to protect it.

Ararat Geomorphology Study Last year a study of three areas (eastern slopes of Mount Ararat, southern slopes of the Skeleton Hills and the northwest slopes of the Challicum Hills) was undertaken to determine the effect that gully erosion in the upper catchment was having on the Hopkins River and other major tributaries in terms of river health. The study was detailed enough to calculate the volume of sediments Massive soil loss during lost and redeposited and the likely points of deposition. It has runoff event from the also identified areas where erosion is likely to be having the sedimentary hills biggest impact. As a result of the study $125,000 was made available by the Federal Government to reduce the impact of erosion on the Hopkins River. Funds are available for a range of works including gully battering, fencing, installation of drop structures, revegetation etc. Please contact me if you have a project in mind or you have gullies you are concerned about. The CMA can provide access to expert soil conservation advice.

Summary of highest and lowest salinity readings Upper Hopkins River 2000-2004 Louise Thomas DPI Ararat - see page 4 for notes

25,000

20,000

15,000 emens per cm i 10,000 cros i

m 5,000 EC

0 d d d d d d e d d e y d d d e e y a g g a r g v a a R R R R R R o R R r o o id r id f id e w R R g k ry n r o te r W b c r s h n e o B i b e d u la b k e o e a o d o s R l re ig a i l r d y s a d s b l C o d r b e c n t n r m il f B d H r o e u a b n o l R g a s o T o a le R o H o k ll R l D G n ts L e c c e ll e W d o B r la ld G a h e n l s p e H e a a B c h e O k e b B r it c l c e o D u it G a la M - J b R il r M o r e m j ff ru W a jo li r a k u M c B M i W Page 8 Kangaroo Grass trial on rabbit-ripped sites Louise Thomas DPI Ararat. Kangaroo Grass can be a difficult species to re-establish on a paddock scale from seed, which is unfortunate because intact stands of it are rapidly disappearing from the landscape due to soil disturbance and weed invasion. Earlier this year Greening Australia harvested Kangaroo grass seed from a Warra Yadin property. At around the same time, small areas of a nearby roadside were targeted to be ripped for rabbit warren destruction. This ripping has now been completed and as a trial to see if we can get the Kangaroo grass to grow on-site directly from seed, the harvested seed mulch has been spread thinly across four newly ripped sites. It Above: James Scholfield from is hoped that the seed will work its way into the ground and germinate late this year Greening Australia spreading grass when the weather warms up. In the meantime, germinating weeds will be sprayed seed on the rabbit-ripped sites with glyphosate to ensure they don’t smother the emerging kangaroo grass. Stay tuned for details of progress.

CALL BEFORE YOU CUT Virginia Harris Ararat Rural City In 1989, the State Government introduced the Native Vegetation Retention Controls - laws designed to curb the decline of native vegetation cover across the State. All native vegetation is now protected, and can only be removed, lopped or destroyed with the permission of your local Council. This includes all native plants, including trees, shrubs, groundcovers and grasses. Landholders planning to do any work that will impact on native vegetation, either on their own property, on roadsides, on crown land, or along water frontages, are encouraged to call myself, Virginia Harris, Council’s Natural Resource Officer on 5355 0200.

In many cases, the damage to native vegetation can be minimised or even avoided altogether. Where the removal of native vegetation is unavoidable, landholders will need to apply for a Planning Permit, and will likely be required to carry out some vegetation protection or revegetation works, to make up for the vegetation that is to be removed. This policy is called “Net Gain”, and is the guiding principle behind the Native Vegetation Retention Controls. The idea is to achieve an overall increase in the quantity and quality of native vegetation across Victoria, by protecting and enhancing existing vegetation or replacing any plants that are destroyed.

Council is required to refer Planning Permit applications for the removal of native vegetation to the Department of Sustainability and Environment for comment. In order to process these applications more quickly, local officers will often accompany me to on-site meetings to make an assessment and provide information on the vegetation.

There are some exemptions to these laws, which allow landholders performing certain tasks to remove native vegetation without the need to obtain a Planning Permit. However, these exemptions are complex and best discussed on site in relation to the particular proposal. Landholders and others who fail to comply with these laws are liable for prosecution and, in addition, may be required to carry out extensive restitution works to replace the vegetation they have removed. Council is also required to abide by these laws and any road maintenance works or other civil works are subject to the same restrictions that landholders face. Ararat Rural City Council wishes to work with landholders to develop strategies that minimise native vegetation damage and loss while ensuring an acceptable outcome for all involved.

Is your address on our label correct? Do you have a new road number? Please ring Department of Primary Industries in Ararat on 5355 0526 if you would like to make any alterations to our mailing list. Postage Paid Ararat, 3377

Upper Hopkins Landcare Newsletter June 2004 Upper Hopkins Landcare Newsletter September 2004

Contacts Edited by Louise Thomas, Department of Primary Industries Ararat

Ararat Rural City As part of WeedBuster Environmental issues Week the Department Virginia Harris 5355 0200 of Primary Industries Assistance for and Glenelg Hopkins Community Groups: Above: The “gorse grooming” CMA are organising a bus tour of Thea Laidlaw CMA machine clears a large area of gorse weed control projects in the upper 0428 991 444 earlier this year on the Fiery creek Pest Plants and Animals: Catchment. The tour will take in a Simon Martin DPI Ballarat range of roadside, waterway, rural and 5336 6760 or 0408 594 785 urban weed control projects between Beaufort and Buangor. Best practice methods Indigenous Cultural to control weeds while preserving waterway and native vegetation values will be discussed. Heritage Management Framlingham: Herbie The tour starts at Buangor at 9am Wednesday 13th October. The bus will leave Harradine 5567 1236 from the Cobb and Co Building opposite the Buangor Hotel. There will be a Ballarat: Peter Lovett refreshment stop at a Beaufort Café. Bus returns to Cobb and Co Building at 0409 391 475 approx. 11.45 a.m. Goolum Goolum (Horsham): Alan Burns 5381 2365 To assist with planning the tour please book a place on the bus by phoning Simon Grampians: Brendan Martin (5336 6760) or Peter Forster (5355 0530) by Monday 4th October. Edwards, 0409 391479 Conservation Magnificent Local Wattles now in bloom agreements, grants, The local wattles have been truly magnificent in flower this month, especially the Golden technical advice: Sue Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) below left, which also happens to be Australia’s floral emblem. Mudford, Trust for Nature Varnish Wattle (Acacia verniciflua) below right also looks spectacular at the moment with a tel/fax 5599 5223 paler shade of yellow. Both can be included in most of our local CMA funded tree Greening Australia projects. For a more comprehensive list of local wattles see Louise 5355 0526. James Scholfield 5571 2806 Highlights In This Edition

• Nature Page p2 • Direct Seeding p3 • Salinity results p4&5 • Photo comp results p6 • Wickliffe community planting day p6 Page 2 The Nature Page Plant of the Month Bird notes by Irene Sturt Louise Thomas DPI President of Friends of Lake Buninjon

Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) Water levels are steadily rising at

This is a very adaptable, hardy large shrub which is the lake but there is surprisingly suitable for planting in hill country as well as on the little bird life to be seen except basalt plains. In our district it is no longer very Black swans and a few ducks. common in farmland remnants, but can be found However many birds could be on some roadsides (eg. Dennicull Creek area) and is heard. A skylark hovered overhead very common in Langi Ghiran State Park. Its an with its liquid song pouring forth. important species for us to include in plantings Little Grass Bird shown In the distance the “t-thee-thee” above from Neville W. call of the Little Grass Bird, as because of its contribution to local ecosystems. Cayley’s book ‘What Bird is According to David Bellamy (at the website always hard to see, but That?’ Angus and distinguishable by its call. Black http://home.vtown.com.au/dbellamy/native/bursaria.html ) Robertson Publishers, 1984 the nectar is attractive to insects and birds while the swans hooting on the lake and prickly foliage forms a safe nesting site for many flying overhead. As usual, Willie small birds such as Wagtails and European Goldfinches, Wrens and White- wrens. He says that fronted Chats could be heard in the background. Also the spiders also like to spin loud squawking of the Masked Lapwing. The Masked their webs in the Lapwings, a brown and white bird with black markings and a foliage to trap insects prominent yellow wattle, have a habit of building their nests and birds in turn use in the most unsuitable places. One pair is trying to raise their the webs for lining family on a busy Hamilton roundabout. Another is nesting their nests. To include right on the edge of a fairly busy road near Willaura. They it in your plantings you simply lay their eggs in a scrape on the ground with the eggs will need to order it in blending into the ground colour. When disturbed they will try advance (preferably and lead the intruder away from their nests. Ducks are trying the year before) as they to cross roads with their youngsters in tow around the district are often grown from in the next few weeks. In Willaura a Kookaburra has been cuttings which take a heard and seen which is unusual for right in the town. while to strike. Peter Forster’s Bird Sightings Spring migrants are starting to arrive. Ian and Sue White on Burrumbeet Road spotted a Rainbow Bee Eater about mid August. I disturbed one quail (stubble?) in Kangaroo grass on the Bullock Hills which may be an early arrival or may have over-wintered if seed supplies were sufficient. Bill and Annette Taylor at Moyston west have a White Winged Triller in breeding plumage and another was spotted near the Ararat Racecourse on the Hopkins River flood plain. Keep an eye out from now on for other spring migrants arriving to breed or passing through to coastal locations (eg Rufous Fantails, various Cuckoos, Brown Songlarks and Singing Bushlarks). Pairs of Brolgas have been seen over a wide area south of Ararat (5 sightings in different locations reported) in the last two months especially in the Langi Logan area. I observed breeding behaviour (dancing) in several pairs. I am quite interested to know where they are breeding and would appreciate hearing from anyone with info. Dale Homburg has spotted a yellow form of the Musk Lorikeet in Dunneworthy Forest. It stood out from the flock so he is not expecting it to survive very long! Barking Owls with two young were spotted in the Ararat Hills Regional Park in June. The importance of hollows was emphasised when Geoff and Margaret Ryan, at Annies Lane, Ararat, showed me my first ever sighting of an Owlet Nightjar resting in a hollow log he had placed in a gum tree. You can easily improve habitat values in young plantations by adding natural or artificial hollows. At least 100 species of native birds and many animals, bats, insects etc require hollows for nesting and safe resting places.

Around Ararat there is sufficient native vegetation of high quality to support a small flock of White winged Choughs at Flint Hill Reserve as well as Sitellas and Grey or Clinking Currawongs; one of the latter was also observed in Geoff and Angela Laidlaw’s red gums on Langi Logan Road. They may extend their range from woodland to farmland in spring to rob nests. They have a slow, lazy but strong flight and are normally sedentary. One of the best places to regularly see them is feeding on the side of the Western Highway as you pass Mt Langi Ghiran. (My record sighting is three pairs on the roadside in July this year.) They are larger than Pied Currawongs and are usually alone or in pairs. The call is loud and ringing.

If you are travelling along Port Fairy Road look out for a Whistling Kite soaring overhead between Burrumbeet Road and Labrador Roads. There is a large nest in a red gum tree on Sally and Tim Phillip’s driveway with tail protruding which I suspect is the Kite’s. In previous years they have nested further north in Geoff and Angela Laidlaw’s Station Paddock (opposite Wills Hill Road). Page 3

Direct Seeding - Worth Persisting With! Louise Thomas DPI

While there’s a certain amount of luck involved in direct seeding native vegetation, the majority of success seems to come from good weed, rabbit and hare control, timely spring sowing and use of seed that you know is going to germinate. When you consider the small amount of work which goes into direct seeding compared with tubestock planting, it really is worth persisting with. How many have planted tubestock only to spend a lot of time at the chiropractor afterwards? On that point alone, its worth considering the benefits of direct seeding!.

There are some terrific examples around the area of direct seeding from last year, even some that was done a little later than the recommended sowing time, due to late rains. The site along Helendoite Rd sown by Trevor Perry has done very well with both wattles and eucalypts coming up.

One particularly good site which was sown last year is on the Hartwich family’s property “Mt Challicum” on a hill-slope which was previously a sheep camp. Like most sheep camps it was covered in capeweed, which when sprayed with glyphosate, created a good bare site for seeding (see left). The site was sown in late August (it was sown early in the hills to take full advantage of any spring rains) using fresh seed which had been locally collected and germination tested. A good crop of seedlings appeared fairly soon afterwards and were able to make good use of September rains and a few late spring/early summer thunderstorms. The whole spectrum of seeds sown appeared to germinate and some seedlings were quite large by the autumn break.

However, as often happens with direct seeding on sites like these, the capeweed came back in full force, and by June/July this year was well and truly smothering the shorter seedlings. The capeweed was removed by hand from around the larger trees to help avoid accidentally spraying them. The tree lines were then oversprayed by hand with a light rate of glyphosate, being careful to avoid spraying any visible trees. The capeweed has since died back (see above left) revealing quite a few seedlings, some of which appear to have been partly affected by the spray, but not killed. The capeweed seems to have shielded the smaller trees from some of the spray. Also, because it was winter, the trees were probably not growing as actively and therefore not as badly affected by the spray. Hopefully these trees will recover and take off during the spring minus the weed competition.

Wick wipers and shielded sprays are good alternatives to help minimise drift onto the trees. Alternatively you can carefully spot spray around the trees earlier in the season when the trees are more visible. Willaura Hopkins Landcare Group have a 12 volt 50L ATV/ute sprayer for loan, contact Tim Hill 5354

1429. If you are doing any direct seeding this year, go earlier rather than later if Above: Noel Hartwich with a possible and make sure your weed control is adequate. Please ring if you want drooping sheoak seedling direct advice on species, seed, seeder hire etc. 5355 0526. seeded last year Two Grampians Walks to Incentives Available for Managing Saline land and Look for Vulnerable Plants Recharge Tree Planting Parks Victoria is holding two walks in the Mt William area on Saturday 18th September to look for 2 plants Please see Louise if you have a project in mind for which are listed as nationally vulnerable, the Grampians managing saline discharge areas (fencing and Rice Flower and the Grampians Bitter-Pea. The walks sowing salt tolerant pasture) or for managing are on steep rocky bush tracks and require a good level of recharge areas (planting trees or sowing perennial fitness. A plant identification session will be held at the pastures) as in certain areas, incentives may be start of the day. If you are interested in joining them (this available. These incentives come via the CMA time or in future) please obtain further information from from the National Action Plan on Salinity and Water Quality. Technical advice is being provided Susan Hansen Parks Victoria on 5356 4381. by DPI, contact Louise on 5355 0526. Page 4 The recent GRDC Update at Dunkeld was a huge success. Around The Traps Farmers filled the bowling club to capacity and heard from several excellent speakers on a range subjects including plant nutrition, Una Allender herbicide resistance, stubble management, grazing grains, managing raised beds and soil health. Many of the presentations touched on issues of sustainable farming, in particular Telangatuk farmer, Tom Dunstan’s excellent presentation on how he deals with heavy cereal stubbles without routinely burning. Maarten Stapper, CSIRO Canberra, concluded the day with a thought provoking talk on “Soil health for plant health” looking at the role of soil biota, organic matter and the effects of chemicals on the soil. If you missed the Update, you will have another chance to hear Maarten, as he will be speaking at a combined Landcare / Southern Farming Systems gathering on 13th October.

Southern Farming Systems have been active recently with several workshops and a paddock walk looking at several issues including stubble management, pest and disease control, canopy management and weed control. Mike Fix from Fix Engineering attended the paddock walk to demonstrate and discuss weed control options using his innovative Hatzenbichler harrows. Southern Farming Systems Streatham Branch - Spring Field Day Friday Nov 12th **Note that the inaugural Ladies Field Day will be held on Nov 11th.

Soil Health for Plant Health - an evening with Dr Maarten Stapper, Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra. Wednesday 13th October. Maarten spoke at the recent GRDC update and his presentation titled “Improve your soils: Healthy soils grow healthy crops” was a highlight of the day. He is delighted to be invited back to speak to us. This is a rare opportunity to hear a leading scientist discuss issues of soil and plant health, biological farming principles and achievements as well as problems created with high production agriculture and some ideas for solving these problems and creating sustainable farming systems. 4.30 pm: Paddock walk at Graeme McCarthy’s property. Meet at the woolshed. (CFA Region 16 Map 435 B15) 6.00 pm: Maroona Hotel for Dr Stapper’s presentation to be followed by dinner. There is no charge for this event other than the cost of your meal. Those wanting to stay for dinner must let Una know before Friday October 8th so the Hotel has an idea of numbers. This event is a combined initiative of the Upper Hopkins, Willaura Hopkins and Lake Bolac Landcare groups and the Streatham Branch of Southern Farming Systems. Queries and bookings for dinner to Una Allender: Tel/Fax: 5350 4244 [email protected]

We are starting to get a good range of water Notes on Salinity Readings (p5) sampling data from the area. While these Louise Thomas DPI Ararat samples are just opportunistic “one-off” grab It’s been great to see some runoff at last, and some decent flushes of samples (and not continuous monitoring data) fresher water through the smaller creeks. For the first time in two years they do provide a reasonable overview of the there was water in almost all waterways (most flowing) sampled on this ranges of salinity which can be expected in run The highest salinity recorded during this run was the water in the certain areas. Some sites have been sampled more regularly than others – I have now included drain next to Rossbridge swamp at 28,800 EC (µS/cm). This waterway a column on the right of the table showing the doesn’t run often but is usually quite saline when it does. Lowest reading number of samples the data is based on, which was 100EC at Good Morning Bill Creek (west arm) running for the first gives you an idea of how reliable the data is. time in a while and very turbid (suspended clay). Hopkins salinity levels Thanks to Una for rounding up and testing the have come down and are now below the average recorded. Una spotted extra samples from the Wickliffe-Lake Bolac area. a tortoise swimming about in the Hopkins near the Major Mitchell Rd bridge during sampling! Fiery Creek levels are also below average salinity which is great.

On page 7 I have included a graph showing lowest and highest readings recorded in the Upper Fiery Creek catchment over the last few years. Some sites (especially in the lower Fiery are based on less data) so bear that in mind when interpreting the graph. Sampling has been done in both low and high flow periods. The Fiery Creek is generally quite fresh at Raglan but the salinity level almost always jumps markedly by the time it gets to Ballyrogan Rd. The creek is fed by many springs which account for the variation in EC levels along the stretch to Lake Bolac during non-rainfall runoff periods. It is not uncommon to see a low flow at one bridge and an increased flow at sites downstream.

EC (µS/cm) Highest Lowest EC Average Based on Road where site 3-9-04 EC recorded EC # samples Stream *visibly flowing recorded last 3 years recorded accessed last 3 years last 3 years Billy Billy creek Warrak Rd *500 500 300 370 3 Captains Creek Tatyoon North Road dry 300 100 220 6 Cemetery Creek Warrak Road *700 1,700 300 900 12 Challicum Creek Porters Bridge Rd *7,200 16,300 300 9,540 12 Charleycombe Creek Old Geelong Road *600 4,600 600 1,400 7 Creek from Rocky pt Port Fairy Rd 7,600 7,600 3,800 5,060 5 Denicull Creek South end of Denicull Creek Rd *5,500 10,900 2,200 7,000 14 Drainage line Rockies hill rd - railway end *12,100 25,000 9,000 15,590 10 Fiery Creek Lucardies Rd (east) Raglan *500 1,910 200 860 12 Fiery Creek Ballyrogan Rd *900 9,280 500 3,550 14 Fiery Creek Yalla-Y- Poora Rd *1,500 10,600 700 3,820 13 Fiery Creek Porters Bridge Rd *1,300 10,500 1,300 5,450 12 Fiery Creek Runway Swamp Rd *3,200 14,520 2,100 5,640 8 Fiery Creek Ritchies Rd Bridge *3,300 14,350 2,000 5,720 8 Fiery Creek Streatham Reserve *4,300 7,940 2,200 4,930 8 Fiery Creek McCrows /Nerrin Nerrin Estate Rd 3,600 12,620 2,900 8,660 9 Fiery Creek Lake Bolac 3,800 14,310 3,000 8,780 9 Good Morning Bill Creek West end of Burrumbeep Rd *10,500 19,800 2,700 10,430 11 Good Morning Bill Creek west arm 2nd bridge Taits Lane 100 2,100 100 560 5 Good Morning Bill Creek east arm - 1st bridge Taits Lane dry 6,500 6,500 6,500 1 Good Morning Bill Creek Willaura Moyston Rd *1,900 13,100 300 8,040 15 and Nekeeya Creek comb. Good Morning Bill Creek Buninjon West Road *1,700 39,000 300 12,360 13 and Nekeeya Creek comb. Gorrin Creek Dobie Road dry 800 100 400 4 Green Hill Lake Height Gauge rec reserve 15,300 28,800 2,900 10,560 16 Hopkins River Warrak Road *3,200 17,800 1,000 8,790 14 Hopkins River Dobie Road *3,500 11,300 1,300 6,040 10 Hopkins River Old Geelong Rd *4,300 12,120 1,900 7,030 11 Hopkins River Jacksons creek Rd *4,800 11,900 1,500 5,550 14 Hopkins River Burrumbeep Boundary Rd *4,300 11,700 1,400 5,550 14 Hopkins River Tatyoon Rd *3,500 8,900 1,300 4,180 12 Hopkins River Robertsons Bridge 2,200 8,950 1,200 4,770 17 Hopkins River Labrador Rd 5,200 9,800 2,700 6,480 15 Hopkins River Helendoite Rd 4,900 10,800 1,200 6,380 14 Hopkins River Rossbridge *7,700 13,700 2,700 8,570 15 Hopkins River Delacombe Way *8,900 16,400 7,500 11,860 13 Hopkins River Bald Hill Rd ford *9,600 18,600 9,600 15,000 4 Hopkins River Willaura Golf Club Rd *8,400 16,200 8,100 12,480 8 Hopkins River Back Bolac Rd *8,500 23,200 7,900 13,990 9 Hopkins River Major Mitchell Rd bridge *8,600 23,240 8,400 13,800 7 Hopkins River Major Mitchell Rd reserve *8,600 22,700 8,500 14,470 9 Hopkins River Wickliffe - Glenelg Highway *8,800 18,780 7,800 12,970 9 Jacksons Creek Coopers Rd *9,300 13,100 4,000 9,160 11 Lake Bolac Fishermans Pontoon 10,400 12,900 9,600 10,880 8 Lake Bolac East Beach boat ramp 10,600 12,880 9,400 10,970 8 Lake Bolac South Beach Boat Ramp 10,600 13,000 9,500 11,020 8 Lake Bolac Overflow dry Lake Buninjon reserve boat ramp 16,500 51,000 4,500 19,300 14 Middle Creek Willow tree Rd 200 650 100 310 11 Nekeeya Creek Taits Lane 400 900 100 500 5 Rossbridge Sw. drainage line Grange Rd 28,800 28,800 15,300 22,250 4 Three Mile Creek Warrak Road 7,800 7,800 400 2,650 8 Three Mile Creek East arm Warrayatkin Rd *15,100 22,400 3,400 12,780 8 Page 6 Landcare Photo Thea Laidlaw - our CMA Competition Results Community Facilitator

The Landcare photo competition has been finalised with first prize going to David Mitchell for his photos Thea Laidlaw has been showing rehabilitation of his creek area, second prize working with the CMA going to Keith Little for his photo of the racecourse in the Beaufort-Ballarat reserve plantings (shown below) and third prize going area for the past 18 to Sandy Lewis for her photo of roadside gorse issues. months and has David has won a copy of Trees and Native Shrubs of developed strong links South Eastern Australia by Leon Costerman while with groups and Keith and Sandy have won books on local flora and landholders in this fauna. Thanks to all who submitted photos. First and area. She has assisted third prize photos did not reproduce well in black and groups to obtain white and so are not shown but can be viewed at the funding, helped them Ararat DPI Office. organise field days, and provided valuable support for groups.

Thea’s boundaries have now extended, beyond Beaufort to take in Ararat and the Glenthompson area. She will shortly be located in the Ararat DPI/CMA office in Barkly St and in the meantime will be available on 0428 991 444 (new mobile). Please contact Thea in this area for help with accessing funding, group support and support for local issues.

Community Planting Day at Wickliffe by Una Allender

The people of Wickliffe, ably assisted by students and teachers from the Willaura Primary School, turned out in force to plant around 800 indigenous trees at the site of the now closed Your CMA Wickliffe Tip. The area already is showing signs of recovery with quite a lot of natural regeneration, and the planted trees will community enhance this even more. Commanding sweeping views of the representatives Hopkins and the Grampians, and with a walking track planned, the site will become a pleasant recreational area and a valuable Did you know that we have two asset to the township. of our local farmers on Glenelg Hopkins CMA committees who help ensure that The project was organised by Miep Wortel and the Wickliffe priorities from this region are included in the CMA's Recreation Reserve Committee with advice and financial decision-making? Debbie Shea, a local woolgrower assistance from the Glenelg Hopkins CMA. Even the weather at Ararat is your local community representative on cooperated with rain falling on cue to water the trees in. The the Land and Biodiversity Committee of the CMA. locally indigenous trees were supplied by Franklin Plant Native. Debbie contributes her valuable local expertise and time to this group to help ensure that local land and Willaura Primary students biodiversity issues from the Upper Catchment are at the planting day considered. If you have any queries or feedback about funding or local land and biodiversity issues please contact Debbie on 5352 1357. John Anderson (woolgrower/cropping farmer) from Willaura is your local community representative on the CMA’s Waterways Committee. John contributes valuable local expertise and time to decision making about waterways and wetlands of the region. If you would like to talk to John about issues to do with waterways or associated funding, drainage etc. please contact him on 5354 1238. Page 7

CMA Notes Peter Forster Glenelg-Hopkins CMA

This year Grants are available for fencing wetlands to allow for improved farm management practices that benefit both the landholder and biodiversity or wildlife. These wetlands can be non-permanent (that is have wet and dry cycles) or be permanent freshwater or saline lakes.

With Department of Primary Industries assistance gorse and other woody weeds are being targeted on waterways across the upper catchment from North Ballarat to Ararat and south to the Glenelg Highway.

In conjunction with this program grants are available to fence the waterway for stock exclusion and revegetate or protect remnant vegetation. In the upper Hopkins catchment (Ararat and Challicum Hills area) grants are available for erosion control works in combination with fencing for stock control and preferably revegetation with native species. Erosion control works could include gully edging and battering, drop structures, trickle pipes, in-stream rock gabions, diversion banks etc. A detailed technical assessment may be needed and funding rates may vary depending on the estimated public benefit. Please contact me if you have any projects that fit the above criteria or you have other projects in mind that improve environmental condition and native vegetation values.

PHOTOBOARD

Left: thick regeneration of Golden wattles on Hillside Rd after a fire went through around five years ago.

Right: historical shot - a sheep takes shelter from an impending dust storm (1983 Langi Logan -photo courtesy Forster family). Landcare AGM Dates for Your Diary Willaura Hopkins Landcare Group AGM will be held on Wednesday October 27th 8pm in the Willaura Hotel. Upper Hopkins Land Management Group AGM proposed date is Wednesday November 17th. A walk in the Bullock Hills to look at Peter Forster’s revegetation work will be followed by a BBQ and AGM. Buangor Landcare Group AGM will be held Wednesday 22nd September at the Buangor Hotel, 7.30pm. Guest speaker Bernard Noonan Soils officer DPI Horsham will talk about cropping. Meeting also to discuss future of group. Summary of highest and lowest salinity readings Upper Fiery Creek 2000-2004 (see notes p4)

16,000

14,000

12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000 EC microsiemens per cm per EC microsiemens

4,000

2,000

0 Lucardies Rd Ballyrogan Rd Yalla-Y- Poora Porters Bridge Runway Ritchies Rd Streatham McCrows Lake Bolac (east) Raglan Rd Rd Swamp Rd Bridge Reserve Rd/N errin N errin E state Rd Page 8

Free Mini-Posters Second Generation

A series of free mini Landcare Grants posters (A3 size) created By Laurie Norman Glenelg Hopkins CMA by Louise Thomas are available from the Ararat The Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority is DPI office. These calling for applications through the Second Generation posters include the Landcare Grant process, from Landcare Groups to Indigenous Trees of the undertake catchment protection projects including the Ararat Hills, Common control of weeds, and rabbits, revegetation projects Salt Indicator Species of including establishment and protection of remnant the Upper Hopkins vegetation and for Landcare Facilitators. Individuals are also Catchment and a new invited to apply, however projects need to have a high poster (pictured right) on community benefit. Roadside Native Grasslands. Applications close on Friday 12 November 2004. A poster “Indigenous Shrubs of the Ararat Hills” will be available soon. Further information and application forms are available from CMA Community Facilitator Thea Laidlaw on Call in or phone the Ararat DPI Office on 5355 0526 for a copy of the posters. 0428 991 444, Peter Forster CMA Ararat on 5355 0530 or Laurie Norman on 5343 2555. Lake Bolac Subsoil Field Day

Despite freezing cold weather a successful field day was held in June at Tony and Hugh McMaster’s property, Lake Bolac, to look at subsoil limitations to plant production. Around 30 people attended and heard from a range of soil experts. A new project which is looking at land capability in the Ararat Rural City was also discussed. Soil cores have been assessed from a range of sites across the area and analysed along with other site information to look at the suitability of land for agriculture and other purposes. Those who attended received results books & packs on assessing and managing soils - there are a few spare copies at Ararat DPI (ring Louise 5355 0526). Sponsors for the day included Southern Farming Systems, Ararat Rural City, AWB, Landmark, Westlake Fertilisers and ABB.

Do you have a new road number? Please ring Louise on 5355 0526 if you would like to make any alterations to our mailing list. Postage Paid Ararat, 3377

Upper Hopkins Landcare Newsletter September 2004 Upper Hopkins Landcare Newsletter November 2004

Edited by Louise Thomas Department of Primary Industries Ararat 5355 0526

This bi-monthly newsletter is mailed to around 450 farmers in the following Contacts Landcare Groups: Upper Hopkins, Ararat, Fiery Creek, Buangor, Beaufort and District, Watgania, Willaura-Hopkins, Combined Willaura Groups, Lake Bolac. To

be added to the mailing list please call Louise 5355 0526. The newsletter is Technical advice: also available by email which saves paper and postage (and it looks better in Louise Thomas DPI Ararat colour on the screen). Email addresses are kept confidential in the distribution 5355 0526 or 0408 535 733 of the newsletter. CMA grants and technical advice: Peter Forster Glenelg-Hopkins CMA In This Edition

5355 0530 or Bird Watcher’s Page..……………………………………...…………p2 0418 802 875 Landcare Group Facilitators: Ararat Landcare Group Wins Award………………….……..…….p3

Una Allender: Upper Hopkins Field day at Ballyrogan………………………………….…..……….p3 5350 4244 Una’s Around the Traps Column.………………………..…….….p4 Ararat Rural City Environmental issues: Salinity readings from waterways around Virginia Harris 5355 0200 the upper catchment…………………………………….….….…...p5

Assistance for Community Weed Initiative Launched at Buangor………………………..…..p6 Groups: Thea Laidlaw CMA Environmental Burn on the Western Highway ...…………...... p6 0428 991 444 CMA Notes…………………………………….……………………....p7 Pest Plants and Animals: Simon Martin DPI Ballarat November Photoboard……..……………….……………….……..p7 . 5336 6760 or 0408 594 785 Restoration of Black Lead Common ..…….……………………..p8 Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management Framlingham: Herbie Harradine Upcoming Field Day 5567 1236 Ballarat: Peter Lovett 0409 391 475 November 23rd 1.30pm Goolum Goolum (Horsham): Alan Burns 5381 2365 Low-input Grazing Systems for the Hills Grampians: Brendan Edwards, 0409 391479 Conservation agreements, grants, Come and hear the latest technical advice: Sue Mudford, findings from several Trust for Nature tel/fax 5599 5223 research projects on Greening Australia managing hill country James Scholfield 5571 2806 profitably and sustainably. CMA community representatives Land and Biodiversity Field day is being held at Debbie Shea 5352 1357 Ian and Susan Waterways John Anderson Maconachie’s property in 5354 1238. the Challicum Hills

Sustainable Grazing Systems for the Steep Hills project: Zhongnan Nie 5573 0791 See page 3 Native Grasslands Management These trial sites have generated Officer: Libby Woodward DSE a lot of interest for details Ballarat 5336 6615 Page 2 Bird Watchers Page

Bird notes by Des Brennan Bird notes by Irene Sturt Buangor President of Friends of Lake Buninjon

Along Mile Post Lane there stands a dead wattle A large number of Shelducks, Masked Lapwings with its naked arms reaching upwards. On one and Black Swans at Lake Buninjon with a Pacific of these roosts from time to time a Brown Heron and a Royal Spoonbill also seen. The Falcon, secure on his perch, head swivelling Spoonbill is a large white bird with a large black from side to side as he surveys his domain flattish bill, which they sweep from side to side below. Occasionally one or two Magpies or though shallow water scooping up small aquatic Crows share the perch, seemingly at home in creatures. Very similar in appearance is the Yellow the company of the Falcon. However, one day, Spoonbill, sometimes seen on farm dams. Several when a Kookaburra was seen to approach the small Red-kneed Dotterels near the waters edge. eyrie, a furious pursuit ensued. Wings flapping, ducking, diving, chasing until the Kookaburra I am waiting on confirmation from another bird was driven almost out of sight, whereupon the watcher that the small lone wader seen at the lake Lord of the Manor the last couple of days is a Sanderling, which are returned to his Intermediate Egret and usually only seen at coastal beaches. However to perch and continued Stilt, Green Hill Lake the inexperienced eye they are hard to distinguish his survey of the from the Red-necked Stint when in non-breeding ground below, plumage. Size is a good indication and I will call on presumably secure an experienced eye to check this out. in the knowledge he could remove a Quite large flocks of Straw-necked Ibis have been competitor for food seen flying overhead in a V-shaped formation with when he saw one! their necks and heads stretched out in front.

Peter Forster’s Bird Sightings

In the home garden I recently disturbed a New Holland Honeyeater nest while weeding a rosemary bush. The cup-shaped grassy nest with three eggs was unfortunately deserted after the disturbance. Also in the garden we have a small flock of very active Brown Headed Honeyeaters feeding in the outer foliage of the ironbarks and I can hear the characteristic churring call of Black Chinned Honeyeaters in the nearby Creek. Every morning and evening two Bronze Winged Pigeons fly in from up the creek and feed on last years wattle seeds on the edge of the driveway. With the crops beginning to mature a pair of Swamp Harriers have returned to the Langi Logan area. They are easy to identify by the white patch on top of the tail and the way they patrol the crops at about 10 metres height. It is worth monitoring their movements as they may be nesting in your crop if they persist in one area.

Max Wohlers reports that his re-instated wetland area now boasts a pair of nesting brolgas . This is a very exciting outcome of a good local environmental project completed several years ago, which included fencing and constructing a small bank to retain water. Nesting Brolgas have also been sighted near Streatham and north of Trawalla.

Dianne and Jack Moss report that they have 2 pairs of black-winged (pied) stilts on their dam. One pair have a nest with 4 eggs.

Bill Homburg recently returned from a trip to Europe. Needless to say he went armed with bird identification books, telescope and binoculars. Here is an edited list of some of his observations in Spain. I have a copy of Bill’s unedited observations which are of great general interest as a travel log of the region. Bill managed to spot Griffon Vultures, Black Storks, White Storks, Lesser Kestrels , Common Swifts, Great and Small Bustards (The Australian Bustard was also once plentiful on the plains south of Ararat but hasn’t been sighted for 100 years), Grey and Squacco Herons, Eurasian Spoonbills (similar to our Royal Spoonbill), Barn swallows and numerous Greater Flamingos.

Christine and I recently spent 10 days at South Mission Beach, North Queensland. This area is noted for bird watching and is the last strong hold of the Cassowary in Australia. We managed to see one on a disused walking trail well off the beaten track. My biggest thrill of the trip was to hear the eerie wailing night call of the Bush Thick-knee and then finding a pair of birds the next day at the edge of the rain forest. Another first sighting for me was a pair of Beach Thick-knees walking along the beach in front of our beach house. Page 3 Ararat Landcare Group Win State Weed-Buster Awards !

by Keith Little, President ALG

Several members of the Ararat Landcare Group travelled to Melbourne on Monday 18th October to attend the 2004 Victorian Weedbuster Award presentations. We were surprised and delighted when it was announced by Peter Harris, Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries that the Ararat Landcare Group had been judged as joint winner of the Public Land Category. Leila Croft and Keith Little accepted the Plaque commemorating the Award (see photo) and were congratulated by the large crowd in attendance. Field Day It was really encouraging to meet with many like- minded volunteers from all around Victoria, Low-input Grazing Systems including Dr David O’Sullivan from Mafeking, a for the Hills finalist in the private land category. For Profit and Sustainability

Together with winners of other categories and Tuesday 23rd November 1.30-4.30pm “Woody Weed”, resplendent in green costume, we were all photographed as a Group with Rob Gell, Ian and Susan Maconachie’s property in President of Greening Australia and Guest the Challicum Hills near Buangor

Speaker following the Award announcements. Come and hear the latest findings from The Award is a real honour for all members of several research projects on managing Ararat Landcare Group as it is state-wide and hill country open to individual volunteers as well as Groups tackling weeds on Crown Land. Special regard ∗ Promoting desirable pasture must go to John Graham who usually spends species through grazing three mornings each week using the Upper management Hopkins Landcare Groups spray unit to kill gorse ∗ Managing hill country profitably along Cemetery Creek and adjoining public land in a great weedbusting effort. He has been ably while increasing biodiversity assisted by Geoff Ryan, John Brown and Keith ∗ Benefits to the bottom line of Little. The ladies weeding group of Leila Croft, improving hill management Sandra Hawkins and Margaret Shea also spent ∗ Grazing management and its many hours hand weeding Cape Broom and other impact on the effective use of weeds on Cemetery Creek west of Banfield Street. rainfall on your property

Where? Thanks also go to State and Federal and Local Government agencies that have supported our Ian and Susan Maconachie’s property Group with financial and in-kind assistance. In 1827 Old Geelong Rd Ballyrogan particular Glenelg Hopkins CMA, DPI, DSE, Parks Fire Map reference 393 F6, Vic Roads Vic, Natural Heritage Trust Envirofund and the reference map 57 C8 Ararat Rural City. Meet at woolshed 1.30pm sharp.

Much of the gorse on Public Land in Ararat is For further information please contact now dead or dying, a significant effort for the Louise Thomas DPI Ararat 5355 0526 benefit of Ararat. Page 4 Around The Traps The recent Willaura Hopkins Landcare Group AGM saw Graeme McCarthy and Tim Hill retain their positions of President and by Una Allender Secretary/Treasurer. The group decided to concentrate on weed problems, with awareness and control of existing weeds and distinguishing native vegetation from weeds as the main focus. The group has recently purchased a 50 litre spray unit suitable for an ATV or ute, and a selection of tree planters. Contact Tim Hill on 5354 1429 to hire/borrow this equipment. Please also contact Tim if you know where the group’s new Potti-Putki is hiding – last seen at the Willaura Hospital Swamp tree planting day.

Guest speaker at the AGM was Debbie Shea who explained the new Grain & Graze program to the group. Grain & Graze is an ambitious four-year program to help farmers manage crop stubbles, use lucerne in cropping systems, reduce waterlogging in pastures and explore integrated pest management. This new venture will be managed locally by Southern Farming Systems, and will involve Corangamite and Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authorities along with four national partners. Debbie is chair of the local steering committee. Grain & Graze will be launched in Lake Bolac at the SFS Spring Field Day on November 12th by national chair, Ian Donges.

This year, as well as the main spring field day, SFS Streatham Branch is holding a Women’s Field Day on Thursday November 11th. The morning will be spent in the field followed by lunch in the marquee with a presentation from Julie Stafford (Taste of Life) titled “Paddock to Plate for Preservation” which will focus on growing and preparing good food, accountability in farming and the good health of the farm and the farm family. Bookings are essential for this day – contact Una Allender on 5350 4244.

A recent “Soil Health for Plant Health” seminar at Maroona attracted over 60 people with an interest in Biological Farming. CSIRO’s Maarten Stapper led the discussion with input from other agronomists in the field at the McCarthy’s property. Maarten also gave a formal presentation followed by dinner in the Maroona Hotel. The evening was a joint SFS / Landcare initiative. Una has copies of the notes for anyone interested. (More on this topic in the next newsletter)

The Upper Hopkins Landcare Group will hold a BBQ and AGM after a walk in the Bullock Hills to inspect Peter & Christine Forster’s revegetation work. Date: Wednesday 24th November. Meet 4 pm on Port Fairy Rd opposite Langi Logan Rd. BBQ 6 pm at Stephen & Heather Reid’s home cnr Tatyoon Nth & Logan Rds. BYO drinks, a salad and sweet to share.

DrumMuster is happening from Nov 15 – 18 at your local Transfer Station. Phone 5352 2391 to make an appointment.

Notes on Salinity Readings (p5) We are starting to get a good range of water Louise Thomas DPI Ararat sampling data from the area. While these samples Salinity levels have started to come up again since we haven’t really had a are just opportunistic “one- decent runoff event for ages. Highest reading on this round was Good off” grab samples (and not Morning Bill Creek at the end of Burrumbeep Rd with 16400 EC (µS/cm) continuous monitoring closely followed by Lake Buninjon (16100 EC) and Green Hill Lake (15600 EC). data) they do provide a Lowest readings were the Middle creek (200EC) and the Fiery Creek at Raglan reasonable overview of the (300 EC). The Hopkins River is very variable at the moment and is actually ranges of salinity which can be expected in certain better at Rossbridge than it is right at areas. Some sites have the top of the catchment. Cemetery been sampled more Creek on Warrak Rd is slowly being regularly than others – I choked with Watsonia plants (see have now included a photo). The Hopkins at Old Geelong column on the right of the table showing the number Rd has an oily slick on the surface. The of samples the data is free-floating Azolla fern is covering based on, which gives you water on the Hopkins at Robertson’s an idea of how reliable the Bridge and at Helendoite Rd. Great to data is. Thanks to Una for see all the gorse control work being rounding up and testing done on waterways around the the extra samples from the Wickliffe-Lake Bolac area. catchment.

EC (µS/cm) highest lowest average based Stream Road where site 1-11-04 reading reading reading on # accessed *visibly over 3 over 3 over 3 samples flowing years years years Billy Billy creek Warrak Rd dry 500 300 370 3 Captains Creek Tatyoon North Road 400 400 100 240 7 Cemetery Creek Warrak Road 400 1,700 300 860 13 Challicum Creek Porters Bridge Rd dry 16,300 300 9,500 12 Charleycombe Creek Old Geelong Road *1,400 4,600 600 1,400 8 Creek from Rocky pt Port Fairy Rd dry 7,600 3,800 5,060 5 Denicull Creek South end of Denicull Creek Rd 8,000 10,900 2,200 7,060 15 Drainage line Rockies hill rd - railway end 15,500 25,000 9,000 15,600 11 Fiery Creek Lucardies Rd (east) Raglan 300 1,910 200 810 13 Fiery Creek Ballyrogan Rd 1,400 9,280 500 3,400 15 Fiery Creek Yalla-Y- Poora Rd *1,900 10,600 700 3,680 14 Fiery Creek Porters Bridge Rd *1,800 10,500 1,300 5,170 13 Fiery Creek Runway Swamp Rd 2,300 14,520 2,100 5,270 9 Fiery Creek Ritchies Rd Bridge *2,200 14,350 2,000 5,330 9 Fiery Creek Streatham Reserve *2,600 7,940 2,200 4,670 9 Fiery Creek McCrows Rd/Nerrin Nerrin Estate *3,800 12,620 2,900 8,170 10 Rd Fiery Creek Nicholls/Lewis Boundary *2,800 2,800 2,800 2,800 1 Fiery Creek Railway Crossing Nicholls *3,200 3,200 3,200 3,200 1 Fiery Creek Lake Bolac *3,900 14,310 3,000 8,290 10 Good Morning Bill Creek West end of Burrumbeep Rd 16,400 19,800 2,700 10,920 12 Good Morning Bill Creek west arm 2nd bridge Taits Lane dry 2,100 100 560 5 Good Morning Bill Creek east arm - 1st bridge Taits Lane dry 6,500 6,500 6,500 1 Good Morning Bill Creek and Willaura Moyston Rd 11,600 13,100 300 8,260 16 Nekeeya Creek combined Good Morning Bill Creek and Buninjon West Road *13,300 39,000 300 12,430 14 Nekeeya Creek combined Gorrin Creek Dobie Road dry 800 100 400 4 Green Hill Lake North end of rec reserve road NRT 11,100 3,000 5,440 7 Green Hill Lake Height Gauge rec reserve 15,600 28,800 2,900 10,860 17 Hopkins River Warrak Road *9,900 17,800 1,000 8,870 15 Hopkins River Dobie Road 6,900 11,300 1,300 6,120 11 Hopkins River Old Geelong Rd 9,500 12,120 1,900 7,230 12 Hopkins River Jacksons creek Rd 6,800 11,900 1,500 5,640 15 Hopkins River Burrumbeep Boundary Rd *6,600 11,700 1,400 5,620 15 Hopkins River Tatyoon Rd 7,700 8,900 1,300 4,450 13 Hopkins River Robertsons Bridge 5,700 8,950 1,200 4,820 18 Hopkins River Labrador Rd 6,600 9,800 2,700 6,490 16 Hopkins River Helendoite Rd 6,000 10,800 1,200 6,360 15 Hopkins River Rossbridge *7,500 13,700 2,700 8,500 16 Hopkins River Delacombe Way *8,800 16,400 7,500 11,650 14 Hopkins River Bald Hill Rd ford *8,800 18,600 8,800 13,760 5 Hopkins River Willaura Golf Club Rd *8,800 16,200 8,100 12,070 9 Hopkins River Back Bolac Rd *9,100 23,200 7,900 13,500 10 Hopkins River Major Mitchell Rd bridge *9,300 23,240 8,400 13,240 8 Hopkins River Major Mitchell Rd reserve *9,200 22,700 8,500 13,950 10 Hopkins River Wickliffe - Glenelg Highway *9,100 18,780 7,800 12,580 10 Jacksons Creek Coopers Rd *8,800 13,100 4,000 9,130 12 Lake Bolac Fishermans Pontoon 10,500 12,900 9,600 10,840 9 Lake Bolac East Beach boat ramp 10,700 12,880 9,400 10,940 9 Lake Bolac South Beach Boat Ramp 10,600 13,000 9,500 10,980 9 Lake Bolac Overflow dry 0 0 0 0 Lake Buninjon reserve boat ramp 16,100 51,000 4,500 19,090 15 Middle Creek Willow tree Rd 200 650 100 300 12 Nekeeya Creek Taits Lane dry 900 100 500 5 Rossbridge Swamp drainage Grange Rd dry 28,800 15,300 22,250 4 line Three Mile Creek Warrak Road dry 7,800 400 2,650 8 Three Mile Creek East arm Warrayatkin Rd dry 22,400 3,400 12,770 8 Page 6 Weed Initiative Launched at Buangor by Simon Martin DPI

Acting Premier, Minister for Environment, Water and Victorian Communities, the Hon. John Thwaites launched a new initiative titled “Tackling Weeds on Private Land” on 19 October at the Buangor property of Tom and Clare Jess.

Stakeholders from around the state representing Local Government, Vicroads, Pacific National and CMA’s were invited to the site at Middle Creek, which demonstrates best management techniques for the control of Gorse on waterways. Mr Thwaites announced the allocation of $9 million dollars to the project over three years, prior to addresses from David Clark, Mayor of Pyrenees Shire, and Jeanette Bellchamber, Chair of the Gorse Task Force.

The project manager for the Buangor Landcare group, Perc O’Brien (pictured above) gave an insight into the Middle Creek Project where 5.4 hectares of Gorse was treated in 2003 along 9.5 kilometres of Middle Creek.

Special thanks goes to all those involved in the Middle Creek project, an example of a successful community activity. Those attending the launch were inspired and remain optimistic about the future of projects such as this. The Middle Creek project is an example of the way projects will now be co-ordinated through the “Tackling Weeds on Private Land” initiative. The help of the Buangor Landcare Group is also acknowledged for their involvement in supporting the Project. I look forward to working with the group in future. For further information contact me at DPI Ballarat on 03 5336 6856.

Environmental Burning Western Highway, Ararat

You may have seen a burning operation taking place earlier this year on the western highway just east of Ararat and wondered what was going on? This roadside is host to a number of rare and threatened plant species which require fire to regenerate. Vic Roads and local CFA brigades with support from Department of Sustainability & Environment, co-ordinated a burn to help promote the growth of the rare Spiny Rice- flower, Pimelia spinescens. Andy Arnold Threatened Species Co-ordinator, DSE Ballarat is pictured in the centre of the photo at left with two volunteers Sandra Dillon and Tom Cunningham who helped with the recording of species regenerating after the fire. The Spiny Riceflower plant is shown inset (Photo by Matt Mooney, Vic Roads). Both Andy and Vic Roads Environmental Officer Matt Mooney are very excited about the apparent return of this and other rare and threatened species at the site since the fire. For further information contact Matt Mooney from Vic Roads 5333 8703 or Andy Arnold DSE on 5336 6720. Page 7

CMA Notes by Peter Forster Grants Update: Funds are still available for landclass fencing of wetlands to improve farm management of more sensitive wet areas, waterway fencing and revegetating and gully erosion control in the Ararat Hills. See Louise for salinity projects.

Water Issues; The prolonged dry spell is having many impacts on major streams and recreational lakes in the upper Hopkins catchment. Salinity levels are rising as lakes receive saline water inflows which then evaporate over summer. Low flows and higher nutrient levels have contributed to rapid growth of Azolla and some waterholes in the Hopkins River and Fiery Creek are already covered in a thick coat of this floating plant. However, not all the news is bad with low flows. For example bird diversity can increase as lakes become shallow and new environmental “niches” are created. Grass growth on dry lake beds becomes fish food when lakes refill. If the predicted drier weather trend continues we will need to readjust our thinking about how we care for and use our waterways and lakes, especially recreational lakes where the community has had an expectation that they are refilled by nature on an annual basis!

November Photo Board

1 1. A Blue Tongue Lizard found in fenced-off wetland area. 2. Shingleback Lizard, Langi Ghiran State Park. 3 10 3. Maroona PS students form a ring around an old red gum at Middle Creek - 11 students could fit around the trunk with ease. 4. St Mary’s Ararat students at a recent tree planting day at Middle Creek. 5. Pale Sundew Maroona- Glenthompson rd 6. Poached-Eggs Daisy, Maroona-Glenthompson Rd 7. Andy Arnold from DSE Ballarat identifying native grasses on Nott Rd 9 Ararat during a recent wildflower walk. 8. Ross Aitken with a swan nest on his 4 wetland at Yalla-Y-Poora. 9. Marion College students Richard, AJ, Jackson & Luke who each week do environmental work with Ararat Landcare Group as part of their community involvement. Pictured looking at wildflowers on Nott Rd 10. Ballarat Secondary College East campus students visit an Aboriginal scarred tree at Buangor with Peter Lovett Cultural Heritage officer, Ballarat.

Photos by Louise Thomas DPI

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Why not opt to receive the newsletter by email so that you can see photos such as these in colour? Email addresses are kept confidential in the sending of the newsletter. If interested, email [email protected] with your details. Page 8 Restoration of Black Lead Common

By Brian Simpson DSE Ballarat

Crown Land Management in conjunction with a local farmer, Barry Marx, have been cleaning up an area of crown land known as the Black Lead Common east of Ararat township. To ensure long-term rehabilitation the land has been tendered for grazing on the understanding that weed control be undertaken. Revegetation works are being Before (2002) negotiated and will secure a link between the Black Lead Common and an adjoining reserve. This is an excellent outcome as this area has been of great concern to the local community for more than 10 years.

The 60 ha Black Lead Common contains old mullock heaps and was heavily infested by gorse and other debris. Approximately 20% of the site was covered by gorse, which was spreading. Gorse was impacting on adjoining private land and was contributing via the After (2004) waterway to infestations further downstream. Previous attempts over the last 10 years to clean up the area were unsuccessful and Crown Land Management did not have the funds to adequately manage the land.

As a result of this partnership with the local farmer, a number of successful community or environmental benefits have already been achieved:

• all the Gorse on the site has now been treated • the frontage area is being seasonally grazed, minimising the risk of re-infestation or spread. • the land is now productive due to the removal of weeds and rocks and with some cultivation as part of the weed removal program.

It is hoped that this approach can be undertaken with other landowners or community groups to ensure the improvement of the Hopkins Catchment.

 The State of Victoria, Department of Primary Industries, 2003.2004 Find more information about DPI on the internet at www.dpi.vic.gov.au This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequences which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication

Do you have a new road number? Please ring Louise at Department of Primary Industries Ararat on 5355 0526 if you would like to make any alterations to our mailing list. If undeliverable please return to DPI Shire Hall Barkly St Ararat 3377

‘Blue Star’ Ararat Hills Regional Park

Upper Hopkins Landcare Newsletter November 2004