Member Groups; The Lismore Land Protection Group, Weering-Eurack Landcare Group, Leslie Manor Landcare Group, Cundare Duverney Landcare Group, Weerite Landcare Group & Mount Elephant Community Management
Blue green closes local lakes (again)
Protecting Habitat Along Mt Emu Creek
Revegetation Plantings Growing at Leslie Manor
VVP grants to help keep the information flowing .....
..... and a foot on weeds on Mt Elephant
Grants Provide an Opportunity
Rabbit baiting
Weering Eurack Landcare Group Memberships
2018 Daylesford/Hepburn Springs bus trip
Coming up
Lismore Land Protection Group Meeting
7.30 pm Thursday 8th March, 28 High St Lismore
Mount Elephant Community Management Meeting
7:30 pm Monday 5th March, Mt Elephant Visitors Centre
Mount Elephant open day
Open every Sunday from 1pm to 4pm
(photo - The Standard)
Blue Green Algae Closes Local Lakes (Again)
Tests taken recently by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning confirmed the presence of blue-green algae (Dolichospermum circinale) in Deep Lake. This type of blue green algae was also present in Lake Tooliorook back in January. Its’ presence instigated the erection of signs warning people not to enter the lakes or come in contact with the water.
Direct contact with the blue green algae can cause skin rashes or itchiness, sore eyes, ears or nose, and if injested it can cause nausea or vomiting. In severe cases it can cause death. Similarly pets should not be allowed to come in contact with the water and stock should not drink it. It is also inadvisable to eat fish from the lakes while the blue green algae is present.
The incidence of blue green algae in local lakes seems to be becoming a more regular occurrence each summer, and it has started to show up in farm dams. While algae is often part and parcel of water bodies, the occurrence of the toxic blue green algae in elevated levels can be attributed to an increase in nutrient supply. That is, an increase in the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous in the lakes and dams which inevitably comes in via runoff.
The most likely source of the nutrients are the mid or late season applications of fertiliser that are broadcast on paddocks in August - September, when the soil profiles are either near to full of soil moisture or saturated, leaving little to no room in the soil profile for the dissolved nutrients to infiltrate into. At this time there is also a much higher likelihood of generation of runoff to transport the nutrients from the paddock to waterways and eventually into the lakes.
Early season applications of fertiliser are less likely to be a problem in regard to contributing to elevated nutrients in the lakes, as the fertiliser is generally direct drilled into the soil, the soil profile is much drier allowing greater infiltration of rainfall and the generation of runoff is less likely, except in extremely heavy rainfall events.
While the application of mid – late season fertiliser is important for crops, reducing the loss of nutrients from paddocks is critical to reducing the incidence of blue green algae in lakes. So if we want to be able to enjoy the use of the lakes over summer, to be able to swim, ski, sail or fish in or on them, we need to be mindful of the impacts of land management practices and the amount of nutrients leaving paddocks in runoff.
Protecting habitat along Mt Emu Creek
The LLPG has been successful in receiving funding of $45455 (ex gst) from the Victorian Government Biodiversity On-Ground Action 2017 Community and Volunteer Action grants for the project “Protecting Remnant Habitat along Mt Emu Creek and Nerrin Wetlands”. The funding will enable erection of 7.5 kilometres of fencing along Mt Emu Creek and around nearby wetlands to protect habitat for threatened species such as the Corangamite Water Skink, Stripped Legless Lizard and the Growling Grass Frog.
In conjunction with the 4 kilometres of fencing erected in 2017 under the project “Protecting Corangamite Water Skink Habitat and Victorian Volcanic Plains Woodlands on Mt Emu Creek”, also funded by the Victorian Government’s Threatened Species Initiative Community Volunteer Action Grant, and the 20 kms to be fenced under the Glenelg Hopkins CMA’s Mt Emu Creek Waterway Action Plan (WAP) this will see a considerable area along the creek protected.
Herpetologist (reptile and amphibian expert) Peter Robertson of Wildlife Profiles, who has done considerable work on the Corangamite Water Skink, said “fencing along the creek will have considerable benefits to protect remnant vegetation along the creek and improve bank stability and water quality. However it can also result in overgrowth of phalaris and create a haven for foxes, to the detriment of species such as the Water Skink. It is important for landholders to undertake some form of grazing management of the fenced areas, such as crash grazing a couple of times a year to reduce biomass. Small species such as the Water Skink like it open, as it lets the sun in and reduces potential for predation”. The fencing will also help to improve water quality in the creek which is important for species such as platypus.
While funds for this year are committed we will be looking for future funding opportunities. If you are interested in participating in the project please contact Rod.
Revegetation Plantings Growing at Leslie Manor
Leslie Manor Landcare Group will be able to continue their revegetation efforts in 2018 thanks to a grant of $14,500 (ex gst) from the Corangamite CMA under the Victorian Government’s Victorian Landcare Program for the project ‘Linking the Leslie Manor Landscape’.
“A few years ago our group activity had declined to the point where we only had a few landholders planting about 3000 tubestock a year, but now we have 10 or 12 members planting over 12,000 trees to revegetate about 10 hectares per annum” said Group President Rick Horsepole. “It is really changing the local landscape and when you go past places like Ian Gordons which probably has about 17 kilometres of plantings you can’t help but admire their efforts and think of the shade and shelter it provides. Its’ surprising how quickly they grow too. Many of the trees Jock Thornton planted in 2016 along the Camperdown Road are probably over 2 metres tall now, and last year’s plantings are also looking good”. Leslie Manor Landcare Group thanks the Corangamite CMA and State Government for their support to help keep these revegetation efforts going.
VVP Grant to Keep the Information Flow Going…..
Thanks to the Corangamite CMA for providing funding of $3600 from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program Victorian Volcanic Plains Grants to help cover the costs of our monthly Corangamite Lakes Landcare Newsletter.
……And a foot on the weeds on Mt Elephant
The Corangamite CMA also recently provided Mount Elephant Community Management with $3600 from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program VVP Grants to help control weeds. “This will help us to do follow hand spraying to capture weeds that germinated after the aerial spraying in June and any summer weeds that eventuate” said MECM President Geoff Henderson. “The extent and density of Pattersons Curse is significantly less than 4 or 5 years ago, but there are a few others weeds like Wild Mustard and Twiggy Mullein cropping up. It’s a matter of sticking at it and slowly wearing them down. With the rabbit numbers very low we are seeing considerable regeneration of the native grasses such as wallaby grass that are filling the bare spaces where the weeds were.”
Rabbit Baiting
We won’t be organising rabbit baiting this year, but for those that would like to get carrots to bait you can ring Rob Millard (South West Weed & Vermin) on 0428 587919. There are a few rabbits kicking about and given the dry conditions it is a good time to bait them as they would almost eat anything at the moment.
Grant Applications Provide an Opportunity
The Victorian Government recently announced a call for applications for Biodiversity On-ground Action - 2018 Community & Volunteer Action grants and the Australian (Federal) Government has called for applications for their National Landcare Program Environment Small Grants. Essentially both grants will cover projects such as;
weed and pest animal control
fencing
erosion control
revegetation
education and community awareness
Potential projects could include
fencing of waterways (Chain of Ponds, Mundy Gully, Browns Waterholes, Mt Emu Creek) or lakes or wetlands
control of weeds such as boxthorn, spiny rush etc
protection of remnant habitats or native grasslands
So if you have a something in mind along these lines that you would like to do, please contact Rod ASAP to discuss, as applications for the Federal Government Grants close 19th March and applications for the State Grant close 3rd April.
Weering Eurack Landcare Memberships Due
Weering Eurack Landcare Group Memberships for 2018 are due and payable to Donald Lang. Contact Donald on 52 388355. Cheap at $11.00!
Wildlife carers wanted
Are you interested in becoming a wildlife carer? Following the retirement of Lyn Faull, who did a fantastic job for many years, there is a need for a wildlife carer in our region to help injured local wildlife, and in particular to raise and release kangaroo joeys. Information and support is available to you if you have the time to take on this role. If you are interested please contact Shari at llpgsharim@westnet.com.au
COMING UP Daylesford/Hepburn Springs Trip, March 12th-15th
A reminder to anyone interested in our 2018 Landcare bus trip to please register your interest with Shari. The 3 day, 2 night trip will cost about $300 per person (depending on numbers) which includes all meals, accommodation, travel and entry fees. Contact Shari for more information llpgsharim@westnet.com.au
This newsletter has been funded by the Australian Federal Government’s “Victorian Volcanic Plains Small Grants” Program and the Victorian State Government “Local Landcare Facilitator Initiative”
Lismore Land Protection Group
19 High Street (PO Box 28) Lismore, Victoria 3324 Ph: 03 5596 2384 Landcare Facilitators:
Rod Eldridge: 0458 390146 email: llpgrod@westnet.com.au Shari McConachy 0409 070089 email: llpgsharim@westnet.com.au Find us on the Landcare Gateway here
