MeandersMeanders QuarterlyQuarterly

VOLUME II, ISSUE 1 MARCH 2008 INSIDE

Meet a stakeholder 3 Greening Creekside burble Featured 4 Sweet FROM THE PRESIDENT

Featured birds 5 Summer visitors Last year concluded with a terrific Friends of Christmas Restoration project 6 2008 planting days Party held at Edwardes , including a scrumptious feast prepared by out- Feature article 10 going Secretary, Aliey Ball and her Our restoration partner Mark Thomas. projects explained

Community Alliances 10 The New Year ushered in our new FoEC Business Park Secretary with a dual personality: wel- come aboard Jo Searle and Craig Had- ley who are sharing the Secretary po- sition. WHY During January we also received con- MEANDERS? firmation from the Water Community Grants Program that our The eroding $20,000 grant was successful. So this (Above) Riparian weed workshop held along a peaceful meander of the Creek, North bends of goose- year promises to be busy indeed! Coburg, September 2008. neck meanders You may have noticed temporary signs down by the Creek indicating through the it is a case of choosing between various areas have been sprayed with lesser evils: give the indigenous lower floodplains herbicide. While it is preferable that we plant the best chance of chemicals are not used, unfortunately out competing weeds by killing of Edgars Creek weeds as a part of our planting site (Below) The same meander of the Creek as preparation or giving the weeds free are part of a pictured above after heavy summer rain, licence to dominate. natural process. December 2008.

Apparently, MORE plants there are no 30003000 other areas along for our Creek the urbanised See our 2008 planting sections of Merri day calendar inside. and Edgars Creeks where We need your help to plant these plants. this process can be preserved. Invite your neighbour, invite your Dad, bring along the dog … and join the fun!

PAGE 2 That is why hand weeding is so im- significant rain event. portant while our plants establish themselves. During the last three In this issue of Meanders Quarterly months a small group of Friends you will find a description of our res- have been involved in a series of toration sites for the year and a cal- weed workshops hosted by Alex endar of planting days to stick to Davern from the Man- your fridge. I hope you can join us at agement Committee. some stage throughout the year to help make our Creek a better place These workshops for all: walkers, cyclists, dogs, birds, have helped us lizards, fish and alike. identify weed spe- cies and gain Stephen Northey, President more knowledge about what is re- quired for suc- cessful habitat restoration.

A couple of rain events over the summer have also reminded us what a difficult, labour intensive task this can be.

Alex Davern from During December, our gentle Creek MCMC helping us was transformed into a raging tor- identify saltbush, rent after an afternoon of heavy rain. February 2008 Our planting site on a meander of Send your suggestions to Anita the Creek just below the Kodak Email: [email protected] or mail to bridge received the brunt of the 17 Boyne Street, North Coburg 3058 Sense of place

FROM THE SECRETARY

Craig, my daughter Meg and I have recently moved into a house close to the confluence of Edgars and Merri Edgars Creek Creeks and are excited about being waterfall after part of the Friends of Edgars Creek. significant rain, December 2007 And what a great community we have discovered! It is clear that our streams force and a number of our Friends group has done some terrific plants were washed away or levelled. work over the last year, and with our recent Melbourne Water grant suc- A small number of Friends spent a cess, this year looks like being a lot morning repairing guards and of fun. removing rubbish and debris after this ‘minor flood’. Those plants that We are all looking forward to meet- have survived are now anchoring ing you down the Creek. themselves firmly to the bank and are more likely to withstand the next Jo Searle & Craig Hadley, Secretary

VOLUME I1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3 Greening Australia

MEET A STAKEHOLDER Specifically, Greening Australia is looking to commit to a three year The task of restoring indigenous program of revegetation along the vegetation along Edgars Creek just lower reaches of our Creek, starting “Greening got better! with a select number of sites 200 metres or so below the foot-bridge Australia’s Greening Australia, an independent, adjacent to the waterfall. not-for-profit organisation dedicated Urban Bush- to vegetation management, recently So why Edgars Creek? Thankfully, care program announced a revegetation project Greening Australia shares the vision along the lower reaches of Edgars of the Friends of Edgars Creek and … committed Creek. others that Edgars Creek has the po- tential to be an important wildlife ref- to tackling Greening Australia is a nation-wide, uge in Melbourne’s inner northern non-government organisation estab- suburbs, as well as being an impor- issues lished in 1982 to “protect and restore tant recreational area. the health, diversity and productivity “head-on.” of our unique Australian landscapes.” As we already know, a number of important issues need addressing“Sometimes if One of Greening Australia’s many we are to achieve this vision: water gardening is just programs is the Urban Bushcare pro- quality is poor; rabbits and foxes are gram, which aims to “facilitate out-competing native plantsthat and simple.” ani- crucial on-ground environmental mals; and weeds are rampant. restoration activity and engage Greening Australia’s Urban Bushcare and educate the community in program is committed to tackling regard to urban con- these issues “head-on.” servation.” During October last year, the The Urban Bushcare program was Friends of Edgars Creek attended a established in 1999 with financial launch of the next phase of the Ur- support from the Commonwealth ban Bushcare program. This was fol- Government’s National Heritage lowed by a tour of the Edgars Creek Trust. The National Heritage site hosted by our president, Trust was created with money Stephen Northey, where we had the raised from the private sale of opportunity to share our vision, high- Telstra. light our own restoration projects and identify priority areas. Since the inception of the Urban Bushcare program, Greening Greening Australia is now working Australia has planted more than closely with our friends from the 400,000 seedlings and protected Merri Creek Management Committee and improved in excess of 700 and other key stakeholders to finalise hectares of bushland. the scope of planned restoration works along Edgars Creek. Greening Australia is now seeking Sam Niedra, funding from corporations, phil- You can look forward to more news Project Officer for anthropic organisations and govern- over the coming months about ment agencies to continue the Urban the Greening Greening Australia’s welcome contri- Bushcare program into the future, Australia Urban bution to helping our Community with Edgars Creek identified as a pri- transform the Edgars Creek reserve Bushcare Project ority site for restoration activity. corridor into an asset for the future.

PAGE 4 Sweet Bursaria FEATURED PLANT survival of the Bathurst Copper But- terfly ( spinifera), Eltham Sweet Bursaria is Copper (Paralucia pyrodis- a particularly important habitat plant cus lucida) and the Bright Copper “… sweet along the Creek. While abundant Butterfly (Paralucia a). across much of Southern Australia, nectar attracts this prickly erect which grows For example, the life cycle of the to 3-5 metres attracts a host of in- Eltham Copper Butterfly is intricately a myriad of sects, spiders and birds. linked to the Sweet Bursaria and to of the , which insects During summer, nest around the Bursaria is covered including roots of the plant. with a profusion of beetles, wasps tiny, white, sweetly The female butterfly scented flowers. lays eggs on the and Their sweet nectar shoots and stems of attracts a myriad of Sweet Bursaria. The … ” insects including hatching larvae then beetles, wasps and shelter in nests butterflies. located around the roots of the Bur- Hungry spiders saria. will lay in wait for the summer arrival At night, the larvae of insects. The emerges to feed on spiny branches of the small green Bur- the Bursaria pro- saria leaves, closely vide an ideal struc- attended by the ture for web con- ants who kindly struction. share their home with the larvae dur- These same Sweet Bursaria in flower ing the day. dense, prickly Photo by Graham Stephens branches provide In payment for “Hungry secure nesting sites for small native board-and-lodgings, the larvae se- birds. New Holland Honeyeaters and crete sugar and amino acids upon spiders will lay Brown Thornbills use the spider web which the ants feed. spinnings found within to knit their in wait for the nests together. The special relationship between the two groups and the Bursaria is summer Bursaria spinosa flowers are fol- the key to the butterfly's survival. arrival of lowed by flattened, bronzy and per- sistent purse-shaped seed capsules. When the larvae emerge as butter- insects …” These seed capsules together with flies in late November and January, the spiny foliage of the plant give the flowers of Sweet Bursaria provide rise to its name. a rich nectar source for these small but elegant butterflies. ‘Bursaria’ derives from the Greek word ‘bursa’ which means a sack, Unfortunately, the abundance of the pouch or purse-like structure, while Eltham Copper Butterfly has dimin- ‘Spinosa’ refers to the spiny/thorny ished to such an extent that it is nature of this subspecies. listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, Sweet Bursaria is important for the largely due to habitat destruction.

VOLUME 1I, ISSUE 1 PAGE 5

Another interesting quality of Sweet disorders such as haemorrhoids. Bursaria is the glycoside named Aes- culin which can be extracted from Prior to the discovery of Aesculin in dried Bursaria leaves. Bursaria, this substance was only extracted in very low concentrations During WW2, Aesculin provided the from the bark of English ‘Horse active ingredient for a sun screen Chestnut’ Aesculus hippocasta- lotion used to protect turret gunners neum, which were felled for this pur- flying in WW2 Bombers from sun- pose. burn. Extraction of Aesculin from dried Aesculin extracted from Bursaria Bursaria leaves curtailed the felling leaves was also used by the Austra- of Horse Chestnut trees and in doing lian Forces to test soldiers for tropi- so further enhanced the habitat con- cal diseases and treat blood vessel tribution of the humble Bursaria. Travelling Birds Our Summer Visitors “Sometimes FEATURED BIRDS Sulfur-crested Cockatoo: a gardening is just Summer is the time for visiting true Australian places. While we have loaded-up our that simple.” larrikin cars and journeyed to our summer holiday destinations, some birds have chosen Edgars Creek as the place to visit.

Over the past few months flocks of raucous pink Galahs Cacatua san- Passing Black Ducks Anas supercil- guinea have passed through, feeding iosa where certainly quick to spy the on seeded grasses. Sacred Ibis Thre- new network of dams constructed on skiornis aetiopica have gathered to the Kodak site to trap the run-off graze the grass flats adja- from the now barren landscape. Build cent to the Edgars Creek a wetland and nature will come. waterfall, oblivious to the Even a Red-kneed Dotterel fact that the land upon Erythrogonys cintus, more commonly which they feed is cur- seen busily running across beaches rently being sold by Vic and estuary sand flats, was recently Roads, and may one day observed along the Creek. A Brown be covered with asphalt Falcon Falco berigora was seen too, and roof tiles. hovering unsteadily, in search of Similarly, Sulfur-crested prey. Cockatoos Cacatua Hopefully decision-makers who ex- galerita have screeched ercise stewardship over this land will irreverently from the dis- remember the contribution this green serted balconies of the old Ibis grazing the corridor makes to the ‘natural’ econ- Kodak administration building. It grass-flats omy and that Edgars Creek will con- doesn’t take long for nature to move tinue, as a result, to provide a tourist in, given half a chance. destination for travelling birds.

PAGE 6 Upcoming 2008 FoEC Planting Days May 18 Restoring a creekline tussock grassland by a waterfall (340 plants)

“… All sites seek to June 15 improve the Tree custodian planting of River Red-gums and landscape Blackwoods (320 plants) quality of July 20 regionally or Planting along an locally exposed Silurian escarpment (1,170 plants) significant geomor- phological features … ” August 17 Feature planting around a high visibility area (305 plants) September 21 Riparian habitat planting along a ‘goose-neck’ meander (360 plants)

All planting days are from 1-3pm. Meet at the Edgars Creek notice board Adjacent to Ronald Street, North Coburg. Melways Map 18 A9. Look for the FoEC sign.

MEANDERS

VOLUME I1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 7 Our restoration projects explained

It is easy to get intimidated by environmental pockets. jargon used when explaining habitat restoration and wonder if those people spouting terms like When we choose to restore vegetation along biodiversity or prattling on about remnant the Creek we need to be mindful of the need to vegetation, ecological vegetation classes or increase biodiversity to help foster a functioning provenance seed collection are being a little too ecosystem; a healthy, sustainable environment; precious about our environment. and to link remaining isolated pockets of rem- nant vegetation. Most of us enjoy the sound of birds in the morning, the shade of a tree as a place for a In this way, we expand the distribution of the picnic and good clean air to breath. Does if gene pool that has evolved to adapt to our spe- really matter what we plant in our Creek re- cific localised conditions. This will prevent our serve? local variety being lost from the treasure chest of genealogical material forever. As much as a Red Flowering Gum from West- ern Australia would provide an attractive dis- BIOREGIONS play of flowers, provide excellent shade for a summer picnic and would attract flocks of hun- The biodiversity of Victoria is mapped into 28 gry parrots, this article explains why we don’t distinct bioregions. Each bioregion shares plant these trees and other forms of vegetation, unique ecological characteristics and environ- but rather plant indigenous vegetation propa- mental features, such as geology, soil and cli- gated from seed collected from surviving rem- mate. nant plants still growing in our local area. Edgars Creek is located with the Victorian In the process of explaining the rationale be- Volcanic Plain bioregion, which is dominated hind our approach to habitat restoration, we by Cainozoic volcanic deposits. also hope to demystify some of the fancy envi- ronmental terminology bandied around.

BIODIVERSITY

Simply put, ‘biodiversity’ refers to the biologi- cal variety existing within the living world, not only the variety of species, but local variations within those species.

The local species variation of , plants and micro-organisms inhabiting an area form unique, interdependent ecosystems or living systems.

Maintaining a high level of biodiversity is im- portant because it maximizes the potential for species to adapt; makes species less vulnerable to changes in the environment; increases the potential for species to evolve to create new species; decreases in-breeding that results in poor health and increased susceptibility to dis- ease; and because a diverse biological environ- ment helps reduce the risk of defective genes dominating the gene pool.

Much biodiversity that once existed has either Source: Victoria. Department of Sustainability and En- been lost or is represented in small vulnerable vironment (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DSE/)

PAGE 8

These deposits have formed an ex- The majority of cover in a Creekline tensive flat to undulating basaltic Grassy Woodland is provided by a “Our plain with stony rises and old lava grassy/sedgy ground layer made up flows. of species such as Common Tussock restoration Grass Poa labillardierei, Common Soils in this bioregion are variable. Wallaby-grass Austrodanthonia caes- projects along On the low plains, like lower Edgars pitosa and Common Reed Phragmites Creek, the soil is generally comprised australis. the Creek of grey cracking clays. Each unique Ecological Vegetation attempt to ECOLOGICAL VEGETATION Class is described in a similar way. CLASSES Our restoration projects along the reinstate Creek attempt to reinstate these Each bioregion supports a range of naturally naturally occurring forest types in an distinct ecosystems and vegetation effort to recreate habitat that had occurring communities, known as Ecological previously adapted to the local envi- Vegetation Classes (EVCs). These ronment. forest types .” unique vegetation communities occur where specific physical characteris- REMNANT VEGETATION tics are present, such as soil, land- form, rainfall, salinity and elevation. ‘Remnant vegetation’ refers to na- tive vegetation that remains after a Ecological Vegetation landscape is cleared, or indigenous Classes comprise specific vegetation that has regenerated plant communities and naturally from remnant seed stocks. forest types, which are identifiable by the range Nearly 70% of the pre–European of plant species that pre- vegetation and 99% of native grass- dominate and the density lands in Victoria are now cleared. of their distribution. Pockets of remnant vegetation and grasslands in the Merri and Edgars Some of the classes of Creek catchment are even rarer. vegetation that would have occurred along Ed- gars Creek before clearing include Creekline Grassy Woodlands, Escarpment Shrublands and Floodplain Riparian Woodlands.

The description of a EVC 68 description Creekline Grassy Woodland (EVC of a Creekline 68), for example, indicates this plant Grassy Woodland community is characterised by a sparse canopy of River Red-gums, occurring at about 15 trees per hec- tare and providing about 15% of to- tal vegetation cover.

An occasional scattered shrub layer is often found beneath this understo- rey. The shrub layer typically pro- vides about 20% cover and includes species such as Blackwood Acacia melanoxylon, Tree Violet Hymenan- thera dentata and Ruby Saltbush En- chylaena tomentosa. Remnant Creekline Grassy Woodland

MEANDERS

VOLUME I1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 9

Remnant vegetation is important because it sourced within the provenance of the Merri maintains a local gene pool for all the species Creek catchment. For example, Lomandras inhabiting it, including plants, bacteria, fungi, were sourced from Brunswick, our Red-gums birds, reptiles, insects and mammals. Remnants from Craigieburn, Tussock Grass from Wood- represent unique, interdependent ecosystems stock. that maintain local biodiversity. There is still some opportunity for us to collect Much of the tube stock planted as part of our and propagate seed from within our own, more restoration projects was propagated from seed localised catchment. For instance, during No- collected from pockets of remnant vegetation. vember this year we have arranged to have an expert from the Victorian Indigenous Nurseries GENETIC PROVENANCE Cooperative too help us collect and propagate seed from remnant River Red-gums and Bur- ‘Genetic provenance’ refers to populations of sarias growing around lower Edgars Creeks. plant species that have specifically adapted to local conditions and in- dividual habitats.

Plants propagated from seed sourced from indigenous plants al- ready growing within the local provenance are more likely to sur- vive and tend to live longer given they have evolved over a long pe- riod of time to suit the local climate, topogra- phy and soils.

Provenance plants are also well suited to un- assisted regeneration, reproducing either by seed or by suckering. They often have clear BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER physical differences, such as flower colour and leaf shape. Planting these plants helps maintain There are, of course, other issues that make biodiversity, gives vegetation communities a species selection for restoration even more distinctive character and supports very specific complex than that outlined above. Who really local ecosystems. knows where the seed originally came from anyway? How local is local? Do you in fact in- Introducing plants from outside local prove- crease the risk of inbreeding by reproducing a nance can upset the balance within these eco- limited local gene pool? What are the risks that systems, which are made up of a network of provenance stock will hybridize with other ex- interdependent relationships between the isting, introduced vegetation and in fact cause a plants, local native animals, insects, and micro- loss of local adaptation? organisms. Despite all these issues, using what we do For example, local species provide habitat for know about biodiversity and the advantages of balanced populations of predators and parasites restoring class of indigenous, localised vegeta- that help control pests. Where the coverage tion; we can at least help recreate the condi- and diversity of indigenous plants is changed tions where plant populations contribute to a local ecosystem become more susceptible to viable and sustainable ecosystem. The rest is pest attack and disease. up to nature …

While access to seed from remnant vegetation … and in the meantime, people will have an en- with the Edgars Creek catchment is limited, joyable, enriching environment in which to walk given the extent of land clearance and distur- or ride, spread the picnic blanket and marvel at bance, the majority of our plant stock was the abundant life, all around.

The Friends of Edgars Creek is a community group established in 2007 to help restore and protect Edgars Creek, the largest tributary of Merri Creek.

OUR MISSION

To help improve the environmental and recreational quality of Edgars Creek reserve by:

• advocating for the management of this Mail to: C/- Friends of Edgars Creek important waterway as an entire freshwater 17 Boyne Street ecosystem NORTH COBURG VIC 3058 • working with local Councils and Melbourne Email: [email protected] Water to ensure any maintenance and Phone: 03 9350 4212 development works deliver a real and direct benefit to the creek corridor

• organising and facilitating events for the community to be involved in restoration works and environmental educational, and We’re on the Web! http://www.freshwater.net.au/foec.htm • communicating with developers to ensure they understand how strongly the community values the creek reserve from both an environmental and recreational perspective.

Supported by the Melbourne Water and Cities of Darebin, Whittlesea and Moreland Community Grants Programs

FoEC Business Park Engaging Business

FROM THE TREASURER the Friends of Edgars Creek Business Park. During our recent committee meetings we have begun to discuss Who would have thought a what we believe will be an exciting Business Park could be condu- Friends of Edgars Creek initiative: cive to a healthy environment! the creation of a FoEC Business Park. This concept will also provide an opportunity for business to No, we are not considering en- support and engage with the couraging noisy panel beating local community as well as workshops and clandestine sweat- connect with activities directed shops to set up their businesses to the care and enhancement along the Creek! of our environment and impor- tant recreational spaces. Rather we have begun seeking sponsorship from businesses, both Look forward to hearing more Anita Morgan, local and non-local, to fund a plant- about this exciting initiative Treasurer ing site that will become known as over the next few months.

VOLUME I1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 11

2008 FoEC Planting Days May 18 Restoring a creekline tussock grassland by a waterfall MORE OF THESE EVENTS. June 15 Tree custodian planting of River Red-gums and Blackwoods TO SEE YOU AT ONE OR July 20 Planting along an exposed Silurian escarpment August 17 Feature planting around a geologi- cally significant feature September 21 CUT ALONG HERE AND STICK IT ON YOUR FRIDGE. HOPE

Riparian habitat planting along a

‘goose-neck’ meander of the Creek