P.1 WERRIBEE RIVERKEEPER® Newsletter No.31 Oct 2016 WRivA - Working for the Werribee River since 1981 www.werribeeriver.org.au @werribeerivkeep Riverkeeper® is a registered trademark and service mark of Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc. and is licensed for use herein

Victoria is Embarrassed Dr. Ross Headifen from Beach Patrol Australia then reported on his research on a section of beach at Port Melbourne. By A Billion Times collecting and counting every piece of plastic over a 35 metre strip of beach every day for six months, he has found: Inspirational guest speaker Jeff Angel  the items fit in 14 categories of Boomerang Alliance gave an update  hundreds of items appear daily on the recent moves across Australia  the quantity of items is affected by wind. Calculating the averages attained, and multiplying that by the to container deposit schemes (CDS) length of coastline around the bay, Ross concludes that a and other anti-plastic campaigns at the Beach billion pieces of plastic are washed onto Port Phillip Bay Patrol Australia Annual General Meeting on beaches every year. Thursday 13 Oct 2016, at the Eco Centre, 55A Photo below: Ross Headifen speaking about his research Blessington St., in St Kilda. Photo below: Jeff Angel speaking to the AGM audience

President of Beach Patrol Australia Terry Lobert provided a Jeff outlined the situation in Australia with regard to the states review of Beach Patrol’s activities for the year. Three new which have a CDS. Victoria and Tasmania are the only states groups have been formed, including Altona. That now takes which do not have a CDS in action or planned. the total around Port Philip Bay to 21. Discussions are taking Pressure to change that situation is coming from: place in other locations, adding weight to the argument that  the recent Australian Senate report which says that the community has a widespread level of concern with the something must be done with the appalling amount of problem of litter and plastic in the Bay. plastic entering our waterways & oceans Photo below: Some Beach Patrol groups present at the AGM  data gathered and used in support of past statements has been proven to be faulty - public spaces aren't the only places where litter is accumulating and country Victoria is not counted...  over 80% of the community want a CDS  most retailers have accepted the likelihood of a CDS  the Victorian Government’s usual statement about being the cleanest state is plainly incorrect  Victoria has been outpaced and is in an embarrassing situation. Boomerang Alliance sees this as ideal opportunity to launch a planned program in Melbourne later this year, including the push for a CDS. The Alliance wants to use new tools in the campaign, and asks:  If nurdles (resin pellets) are illegal pollution in Jeff Angel called for an increase in our numbers of media Queensland, NSW & Victoria, then why is there no stories, and Ross Headifen supported that, asking Beach Patrol enforcement? groups to speak with a common data based voice until  If polystyrene packaging is known as being highly toxic and politicians take responsibility for the community’s concerns yet it floats on our streams, blows down our streets about the state of Port Phillip Bay. and is ever present, where are our responsible authorities? WRivA AGM Thur 20 October 7.30pm 28 Ridge Dr Wyndhamvale. Agenda: Major announcement, participation & elections P.2 Frog Census App Ringtail Rescue in Point Cook Recently we trialed Melbourne Water’s new app for its Frog A recent encounter with a baby possum in Jamieson Way Point Census. Melbourne Water hopes that people will make the Cook Victoria, gave a mother a very pleasant surprise, while app part of their life on the phone, and encourage more walking with her children to the local school on Tue 4 Oct 2016, people to record calls and locations of Melbourne’s frog “My husband said there’d be very few native animals around populations. The Frog Census is a community led citizen here because it’s a rapidly developing housing area.” science research project that tracks the location of local frog Debra Langton explained that she was walking with her three populations. The app has been in the planning for some time, children to their local school in Jamieson Way, when a baby and was developed as a result of feedback from Frog Census possum appeared at their feet, and immediately tried to climb volunteers earlier this year. up their legs. After some cries of delight from the children, Naomi Dart of the Frog Census told us: Debra picked it up and wrapped it in her own scarf which she “The app is easy to record and submit frog calls. Date, time was using to ward off the cool wind, as she knew the baby and location are recorded with each submission, simplifying possum needed to be warm. Debra said that she identified it the process! The app contains a field guide, with more as a ringtail possum by its thin tail that ended with a white tip. information on local frogs, where you might expect to see them, photos and calls.” Once at school Debra sought advice as to where she might On Sat 24 Sept, while planning our Werribee River Park find help for the little possum. Following WRivA’s advice, the springtime bird survey, we came upon a rare site, a water filled school office suggested Wildlife Victoria, and so Debra hole in a normally dry billabong in Werribee River Park, just by googled it, and had an easy experience getting help. the golf course. Watched by nesting Galahs above we opened Debra said, the easy to use app and compared sounds from the water “When I gave Wildlife Victoria a call they looked up which against those on the app. Results perfect! Pobblebonks and vets in our area take in wildlife free of charge, and they Common Froglets! recommended Greencross Photo below: Werribee River Park billabong where we used the Vets in Point Cook, who app to confirm the ID of Pobblebonk and Common Froglets. were lovely.” The vet clinic held on to the possum until Wildlife Victoria arrived to look after the animal. All going well, Wildlife Victoria will contact Debra in time to come to arrange a release back into the possum’s home territory. Wildlife Victoria phone number is 1300094535. Wildlife Victoria currently have some good information on windy weather and young animals on their website at: https://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au/

In other local sightings, Melbourne Water’s Richard Akers says, Our research revealed that a female possum is called a “Jill,” a “We’ve had a few reports of growling grass frogs along the male called a “Jack,” while young ones are called “Joeys”. Werribee around Presidents Park, I think they’ve been taking Australian possums are clean animals and do not carry advantage of the pools that fill up along that stretch. They’ve diseases. Should you see a dead possum, please check to see also been recorded down at Grahams Wetland Reserve in if it is a female and if it has any young in its pouch. The ringtail Werribee South, it’s a good season for growlers so far.” possum usually has twin joeys while the brushtail possum generally only gives birth to single young. Brushtail possums, Photo below: as their name suggests, have a thick, bushy tail that is black in Growling Grass Frog Paradise Rd Western Treatment Plant colour. We’ll never know if this ringtail has a twin, but at least Debra and her children may have saved this one! Photo below: The ringtail possum in Debra’s scarf. Photo supplied courtesy of Debra’s neighbour Jo Abdou.

Download the app from melbournewater.com.au/frogcensus You’ll have the satisfaction that the data is automatically submitted to Melbourne Water and to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and Atlas of Living Australia, and is used to inform decisions, including threatened species nominations. P.3 Healthy Waterways Strategy Healthier Waterways Wyndham

Melbourne Water’s A community consultation session for the City of Wyndham’s vision is to develop a Healthier Waterways Wyndham Wetlands and GPT Review shared Healthy Project was held on Thur 1 Sep 2016. The purpose of this Waterways Strategy. project was to undertake an audit of Wyndham City Council One that meaningfully Wetlands and Gross Pollutant Traps (GPTs), in order to inform future maintenance programs and budgets with prioritised engages people and is sets of rectification works and costs. Wyndham has at least 37 embraced by all. wetlands and 87 GPTs.

On Fri 2 Sep 2016, WRivA Cr Peter Gibbons said the project would help to ensure the was invited to a launch of future of Wyndham’s waterways: a refreshed collaborative “This project will help to improve the water quality of these co-design of the ecosystems and ensure that they continue to be healthy parts Melbourne Water 2013- of the Wyndham environment for years to come.” 2018 Healthy Waterways Strategy, at the Donkey Consultants from Alluvium will supply an audit template and Wheelhouse 673 Bourke guidelines for use to Wyndham City Council as part of capacity Street in Melbourne. building, enabling staff to identify performance issues and develop maintenance and rectification requirements in the At the workshop participants: future. • Reflected on the current Healthy Waterways Strategy (Melbourne Water, 2013-2018) WRivA attended an onsite inspection of one of the many GPT • Thought about possible outcomes of the regional sites, the poorly operating Bulban Rd drain. The drain is named waterways strategy for the area it services, and is situated in the south west corner • Considered ways to ensure the strategy is owned by all of Bungey’s Hole. It has design faults, has been poorly Perry Wandin, Wurundjeri Tribe Elder started the day off maintained over a period of time and is ineffective. reminding us that we all have a responsibility to care for Photo below: Bulban Rd Werribee, and the malfunctioning GPT site. country, which of course includes waterways.

We then explored what were our experiences of managing waterways and the current Healthy Waterways Strategy. From that we worked on a way to Bulban Rd GPT on develop a shared Werribee River understanding of what we would like in the future, and Werribee how to work together, Racecourse finding opportunities for improvement and doing things differently if need be.

The Healthy Waterways Strategy refresh will re-set the strategic direction for managing waterways, wetlands and estuaries in the Port Phillip and Westernport region. Melbourne Water can renew its support for environmental, social, cultural and economic values.

Photo left: A workshop activity The Healthier Waterways Wyndham project will see a to focus our work on aspects of reduction in pollution, litter and excess nutrients in waterways Wyndham’s rivers and creeks as well as the development of a targeted maintenance program to ensure the health of A co-owned strategy will stormwater treatment assets in the future. The project is enable the collaboration funded by part of an $80,000 Victorian Government grant needed to face the big through Melbourne Water Corporation’s Living Rivers challenges, including a growing city and a changing climate. Stormwater Program. Represented at the workshop were; Parks Victoria, DELWP, WRivA Annual General Meeting Thursday 20th October MAV, Local Government, PPWCMA, Monash University, University of Melbourne, as well as community groups. 2016 at 7.30pm 28 Ridge Dr Wyndhamvale. Thanks to Melbourne Water for the chance to provide our Agenda: Major announcement, participation & elections input. P.4 City of Wyndham’s Volunteer Award Night Platypus Research Update

The City of Wyndham held its annual Volunteer Award night WRivA took part in the collection of Environmental DNA on Fri 19 Aug 2016, when attendees enjoyed a pleasant dinner, samples from the Werribee River in autumn and spring 2015, good music and fine and 2016. Samples were taken at Werribee River Park, and company, and were able to upstream in the CBD at Bungey’s Hole Werribee, and further network with various award up river at Cobbledick’s Ford, Surbiton Park and Bacchus winners, Council staff and Marsh. community members. Results were very positive below the Werribee Weir, and in Bacchus Marsh. Results WRivA representatives saw were sometimes Positive Spring 2015 fellow member Rob Bradley positive elsewhere, receive the Environment & which is still Negative Spring Sustainability Award for his 2015 encouraging news when Positive Autumn 2016 work with Beach Patrol 3030 little had been known and LitterWatch. about platypus Negative Autumn upstream of the town of 2016 Opposite: The Environment & Sustainability Award Werribee. DNA sampling is helping us to fill in the knowledge gaps about Opposite: Citation for Rob where platypus are (and aren’t!) found. This is a citizen science Bradley in the programme. program open to all. Map below: DNA sampling sites Werribee River Rob was presented with his award by Peter McKinnon, the City of Wyndham’s Acting Director Sustainable Development. Western Region Environment Centre (WREC) was also represented by one of its programs Shoestring Gardening which was awarded the Community Group Award. WREC is a partner with WRivA in the LitterWatch program.

Opposite: Citation for Shoestring Gardening. A brief summary of live trapping surveys from across Melbourne excluding Werribee, in autumn 2016: Below: Rob Bradley o 22 platypus caught (centre) after the o Half the platypus caught were juveniles presentations with (L) John o No platypus captured with litter entanglement Forrester Werribee Photo below: Filter on syringe used in sampling Bungey’s Hole Riverkeeper and (R) Harry Werribee Sun 11 Sep 2016. Van Moorst WREC. Platypus breeding season is here, and during September females retire to their burrows to lay eggs, so that in October young will be on the way but we won’t see them till later in summer. In other news, Melbourne Water recently worked with Australia’s top platypus researchers to produce an up-to-date document on platypus ecological requirements. This will be used to help guide environmental flow releases and other river health works. Thanks to Tiana Preston, Melbourne Water, for contributions to this article. P.5 The Werribee on Nine News Melbourne Some Popular Facebook Posts A City of Wyndham initiative was featured on the CH 9 Nine On Mon 22 Aug 2016, we posted a short 5 second video on News Melbourne at 6.30pm on Monday 20th June 2016. The Facebook of our latest sighting of a platypus in the Werribee story highlighted diversion from landfill, promotion for a River. container deposit scheme, and the Werribee River. Our caption read, “One quick glimpse and gone! Working to protect and Image left: Envirobank’s conserve platypus habitat, and looking for them on evenings innovative Reverse vending like Mon 22 Aug 2016, no matter that it was raining, and the machines were chosen by City temperature was about 8 degrees C, & the sighting was of Wyndham, and one can be limited, makes it all worthwhile.” seen at the 7-Eleven store in Other information about our sighting was that the platypus Duncan’s Rd Werribee. was moving upstream close to the west bank of the Werribee The story, titled “Waste Not,” explored the issues associated River. It was on the surface only for short periods, and each with the City of Wyndham’s decision to launch an initiative of, time it dived and resurfaced some ten-twelve metres further as described by the newsreader, a ‘vending machine with a upstream. The evening was drawing in and conditions were conscience.’ cool and overcast with some light rain. The story highlighted Wyndham’s aspirational target, WRivA’s The video was posted on Facebook 22 Aug, and by one week call for a container deposit scheme and the Werribee River later had reached over 5.3K people, with 179 reactions, 25 itself. positive comments and 22 shares. Speaking on screen about initiating a vending machine scheme Photo Below: A screen shot of the platypus video Mon 22 Aug 2016. to incentivize the collection of containers before they are thrown away, the City’s Peter McKinnon said, “We’ve got an overall waste reduction figure of 90% diversion from landfill by 2040, and this is one way of helping us achieve that.”

Screenshot left: Peter McKinnon City of Wyndham Nine News Mon 20 Jun 2016. Courtesy Nine News Facebook.

Against a visual background of the river in Comben Drive A previous video posted of one of our earlier platypus sightings Werribee, the reporter explained, “The Werribee River on December 29 2014, reached 6492 and had 299 likes with 77 Association says the litter issue has only worsened in the past shares. decade. It says having a vending machine incentive is a step in Also popular were videos of other fauna. For example, a video the right direction, and could pave the way for further of an Eastern Osprey at Werribee River Park, on Sat 18 Jun recycling legislation down the track.” 2016 reached 4700, had 773 reactions, comments or shares. The Werribee Riverkeeper, accepting the challenge of being Coming a close third was a video of billabongs in Presidents’ available for filming at only a few minutes notice, then came Park Werribee with Pobblebonk Frogs calling after recent high on screen in the same location saying, “Over 80% of people flows had a reach of 2300, with 372 reactions, comments or want a container deposit scheme. In New South Wales its 10c, shares. South Australia’s already having it now.” Photo below: A litter blockage across the channel at Guyra Court Screenshot left: The which was on Facebook Sun 13 Mar 2016. Werribee Riverkeeper But perhaps not on Nine News Mon 20 surprisingly, given the Jun 2016. Courtesy Nine News Facebook. community’s concerns with litter and little The story would have government action with had a large audience, regard to litter smart with Nine News in Melbourne regularly having 400,000+ laws, which are sadly audience. Other facts: needed in Victoria, a  Length of story: 2 minutes photo of a litter blockage  Length of time Werribee Riverkeeper on screen: 5 seconds in the river on Sun 13 Mar  Length of time Werribee Riverkeeper spoke: 8 seconds 2016, reached 9443, and  Length of time Werribee River on screen: 20 seconds had 271 reactions,  The Werribee Riverkeeper visual was underscored by the comments or shares. ‘Werribee Riverkeeper’ title. The latest version of the Congratulations to the City of Wyndham for their initiative and blockage was swept achieving good coverage on this popular mass media. downstream and into the Thanks to Nine News Melbourne for excellent coverage. bay in recent high flows. Find out how to take part in Envirobank’s initiatives at: So it appears from our Facebook evidence, that fauna and litter http://www.envirobank.com.au/reverse-vending-machine/ are items visitors find of interest when they visit our Facebook page. P.6 Werribee Fossils at the NHC Come and be a member with us in the WERRIBEE RIVER ASSOCIATION Maarten Hulzebosch spoke on his collection of fossils from the Werribee area, at a talk held in the NatureWest Natural History Centre (NHC) on Thur 8 Sep 2016. Good News Lutheran College Tarneit Maarten illustrated his deep knowledge of the natural history Ten staff from Good News Lutheran College Tarneit worked of the area with excellent specimens of fossils he has found with us as one of their service days on Wed 14th September over many years along the shores of Port Phillip Bay. 2016. Photo below: Maarten speaking to the audience The job was to clean up old rubbish dumped in the river at the ford itself, but which over time had been washed down the river. As part of pre-planning, participants were provided with history information, nature notes and a keyed map of the area. However rising river levels overnight caused us to take a guided tour of the reserve only and some on land litter work. Photo below: Werribee Riverkeeper guided Good News staff around Cobbledick’s Ford with rising flood waters close behind.

With engaging humor and expert comments he soon had the audience enthralled with stories of giant kangaroos, tapirs and marsupial lions, demonstrated by illustration and pieces of their fossilized skeletons. Much of his collection was gathered along the coastline and even in the Western Treatment Plant (WTP). He provided a most fascinating account of how these animals existed only 40-50,000 years ago, living among the birds and After leaving us, staff carried out another litter clean up at vegetation we now know, and were part of the natural history Riverbend Historical Park en route to their lunch, later scene when the first Australians arrived on our shores. reporting the sad finding of a dead platypus in the water.

Photo below: Some of Maarten’s facts about fossils at WTP Beach Sand Project In our new coastline programs, we have a beach profiles project. Our first activity is to profile three sites at Werribee South where rising sea levels are likely to have effects on the beach profile as a result of climate change. Photo left: An illustration Photo left: Our project team at work on Maarten Thur 22 Sep 2016 showed of our Graph below: Data showing the profile indigenous of one of the sites at Werribee South. Tapir

Other animals in the area at the time were Tasmanian Devils, Tasmanian Tigers, and the famous diprotodon, a giant wombat like marsupial, which carried its young in a pouch. Some items from his collection are on display at NatureWest. A life size model of the diprotodon is being constructed in the heart of the displays. Staff or volunteers are available on most week days to assist enquiries, or can arrange a visit at a convenient time. This work is part of an ongoing project with the Port Phillip The NHC is situated in the Chirnside Homestead, an easy 400 Baykeeper. We will revisit beach sites chosen, repeating our metre walk behind the Mansion itself. research over time, and we welcome newcomers who might http://naturewest.org.au/projects/426-the-homestead help us ensure the success of the project. P.7 Great Sightings Photo below: Exford Weir (Melton Reservoir) Mon 3 Oct 2016 Photo below: Broad-shell Turtle Bungey’s Hole Werribee Wed 31 Aug 2016 Courtesy Erin Carpenter

Photo below: Cobbledick’s Ford Werribee River Mon 3 Oct 2016 Photo below: Osprey, Western Treatment Plant Fri 26 Aug 2016

Photo below: Werribee Diversion Weir at sunrise Sat 17 Sep 2016 courtesy Troy Hixon (via Facebook)

Photo below: Fan-tailed Cuckoo Doolan St Woodlands Werribee Sun 16 Oct 2016

Photo below: Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos Point Cook Coastal Park Thur 29 Sep 2016

WRivA Annual General Meeting Thursday 20th October 2016 at 7.30pm 28 Ridge Dr Wyndhamvale.

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Published by the Werribee River Association Inc. No. A0017169K ABN No. 45 866 719 214 Contact: President WRivA PO Box 74 Werribee Vic. 3030 Mob: 0401 854 560

Email: [email protected]