The Coast Action/Coastcare Newsletter ISBN 1329-0835 Edition 50 Summer 2009/2010 Ature Park G An/Philli P I Sland N Ature Igraeme Bur Photo
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PHOTO: IGRAEME BURGAN/PHILLIP ISLAND NATURE PARK Coast Summer 2009/2010 ISBN 1329-0835 The Coast Action/Coastcare Newsletter The CoastAction/Coastcare line Edition 50 1 State Coordinator’s Message By Matthew Fox, State Program Coordinator Summer seems to have come around very quickly this the quality of life it brings to Victorians. I’d like to year! This has been our 15th year as a program. Over take this opportunity to thank and congratulate all that time we’ve worked with more than 100,000 of those who have had a hand in our program’s Victorians, all interested in making our coastline a successes over the past 15 years. After all, our better place. We think that’s quite an achievement. program’s success merely reflects the wishes of I’m sure we count many readers in that number too, Victorians who see the coast as something to be so well done to you too. treasured for all time. Sometimes, the results of our actions are plain Anyway, that’s about enough from me. Have a look to see – new works by groups can make a great at this year’s fantastic Summer by the Sea program. difference at your local beach. But quite often, the There’s something for everyone, so get in quick and results are less noticeable. Often, important works book your places! go largely unnoticed, such as the removal of weeds, For those coastal volunteers reading, be sure to the maintenance of walking tracks, the gradual talk to your facilitator about obtaining a Coastcare replacement of vegetation lost by trampling or Victoria Community Grant to support your work. vehicles on our busiest foreshores. And for those wishing to volunteer, be sure to get in It is this ongoing dedicated ‘behind-the-scenes’ touch with a facilitator near you to find out what’s work that results in the overall picture we have of happening. Coastcare Week runs from December our coastline – not only a wonderful natural asset 7–13, so there’s no time like the present to find out in terms of the diversity of life it supports, but also more about how you can get involved! Contents Summer by the Sea is back in 2010! 3 Sleeping sulfides – Do Not Disturb 4 New group starter kit 4 ‘Build it and they will come’ – frog habitat in farm dams 5 Sieving the past 6 Weed steaming in Sunshine Reserve Mt Martha 7 Integrating community action in the coastal zone 8 Coastcare Victoria Community Grants – now open 10 Coastal Moonah Woodland on the Bellarine 11 Meet the Plovers 12–13 Rotary Clubs band together to protect Griffiths Island 14 The role of corporates in caring for our environment 15 Kayaking fun! 16 Care groups day a huge success 17 Volunteers plant for parrots 17 Tackling a wetland menace in Lake Connewarre 18 Published by the Victorian Government’s Department of Sustainability and Environment, December 2009 Targeting foxes to protect coastal © The State of Victoria Department of Sustainability and Environment 2009 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the biodiversity 19 Copyright Act 1968. Research projects provide lasting Disclaimer — 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 legacy for health of bay 20 liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Regional Updates 21–23 Authorised by the Victorian Government, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne. Printed by Stream Solutions, Spring Street, Melbourne. What’s On 23 For more information contact DSE Customer Service Centre 13 61 86. Coast Action/Coastcare Contacts 24 www.dse.vic.gov.au/coasts 2 Summer by the Sea is back in 2010! For the first three weeks in January, more than 250 fun and educational coastal and marine activities are happening right along the Victorian coast. Walk with dinosaurs, try snorkelling, meet the inhabitants of your local rockpool or try volunteering for a day. Get to know your coast a little better this summer. Summer by the Sea is suitable for the whole family, and many activities are free! Find your program where you picked up your copy of Coastline magazine or online at www.dse.vic.gov.au/coasts. The program provides everything you need to know about these events, including where and when they will be held and booking instructions. 3 Sleeping sulfides – Do Not Disturb! By Virginia Brook, DSE Coastal Project Officer Thousands of years ago, when sea levels were higher, The aim of the strategy is to protect the environment, soil sediments containing metal sulfides were laid humans and infrastructure and the emphasis of the down along Victoria’s coasts and estuaries forming strategy is on avoiding disturbance. soils, known as coastal acid sulfate soils (CASS). The strategy includes: These soils and sediments formed when sulfate-rich • prospective mapping which identifies areas with water (for example, sea water) mixed with soils that the potential to contain CASS contain iron and organic matter. They were mostly • decision-making principles and actions for formed within the past 10,000 years, after the last managing CASS in Victoria, and major sea level rise, and are found in low-lying • roles and responsibilities of government, agencies environments such as the estuaries, lakes, lagoons, and individuals. marshes, morasses and swamps along Victoria’s coast. They can also occur in coastal dunes and the The key message for managing the risks associated plains behind them. with these soils is – Do Not Disturb. CASS are harmless when left undisturbed in their Further information on coastal acid sulfate soils natural state. However, when CASS are disturbed and the Victorian Coastal Acid Sulfate Soils (CASS) and exposed to oxygen, acid can be produced which Strategy 2009 can be obtained from the Department leaches into the environment and waterways causing of Sustainability and Environment’s website through negative impacts. Such impacts can include the loss the search function at: www.dse.vic.gov.au/coasts of water quality; vegetation dieback; loss of habitat; acidification of waterways; fish kill; damage to concrete and steel infrastructure; and human health issues. In their natural setting, changes to these soils can cause small amounts of acid to be released which NDUSTRIES are generally neutralised by natural, tidal flushing. Y I However, with increasing pressure for urban RIMAR development in coastal regions there is an increased P OF risk from disturbance of larger volumes of CASS whose effects cannot be managed by natural means. epartment For these reasons, the Victorian Coastal Acid Sulfate : D Soils (CASS) Strategy 2009 has been developed to HOTO P assist landowners and managers to identify and Typical low-lying, waterlogged site where CASS assess the risks associated with disturbance of CASS. may be present. New group starter kit Establishing a community coastcare group in most cases should be a relatively simple process. To assist those interested in setting up a community coastcare group, a ‘Start Up Kit’ has been developed to outline, in a logical and sequential manner, the general steps involved and the formal requirements that need to be considered when starting a group. It should be noted that there are no hard and fast rules and the steps involved may vary to some degree depending on the particular circumstance of each group. You may also choose to do things in a slightly different order to what is outlined within this ‘Start Up Kit’ and in recognising these variables, the information provided should be considered as a general guide only. http://www.coastcare.com.au/ 4 ‘Build it and they will come’ – frog habitat in farm dams The Growling Grass Frog is a By David Bryant, Freshwater Ecologist, Arthur Rylah Institute, DSE threatened species in Victoria. PHOTOS: LAUREN DODD, DSE While a dam full of yabbies or fish may attract decline. Researchers at DSE’s Arthur Rylah Institute attention in the local area, we see few people are determining what aspects of different farm dams jumping at the thought of a dam full of frogs. Yet, a make good Growler habitat and vice versa, what Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) aspects make poor habitat. The aim is to increase project focusing on Growling Grass Frog utilisation available habitat for the species across Victoria of farm dams, called ‘Dams to Habitat’, is hoping by increasing farm dam utilisation by the species to lead to just this, dams full of frogs. Move over – encouraging frogs, farmers and farm stock to yabbies, trout and yellow belly, this is also Growler become long-term neighbours in the rural landscape. habitat! It may not have the gastronomic appeal of a Last year the project operated in the western half platter of yabby tails or a plate of fish fillets lavished of the state but is gradually spreading statewide. with lemon, but the summer chorus of frogs, drifting More than 100 dams were surveyed for GGF around across the landscape on a summer’s evening, is known populations of the species. In addition to nevertheless appealing to many people. GGF, eight other frog species were found using The Growling Grass Frog (GGF), Litoria raniformis, dams as habitat, showing the potential of dams also known as the Southern or Golden Bell Frog, for biodiversity. The surveys identified which dams is a warty species, ranging in colour from brilliant were, and which were not, occupied by GGF.